Online Home Appraisal Tools

December 2018

Real estate appraisal and land valuation is the process of putting a price on the value of property. Buy and sell transactions generally require an up-to-date appraisal because each property is unique...

Beware: Malware Installed in Fake Software Updates

November 2018

In our current environment of hacks, breaches and viruses, it’s standard operating procedure to install all software updates as soon as you receive them. Unfortunately, this practice...

Phone App to Enhance Staff Productivity

October 2018

Is your staff spending too much time in meetings and not enough time working independently? If so, you’re not alone. Since 2008, the amount of time that firms spend in meetings has...

Cyberattack Prevention Planning

September 2018

Every year we experience new challenges in the world of computer hacking – as well as new solutions. Cyber hackers have become aggressive, and so business owners must be more vigilant. Because clients...

How To Write Bot-Friendly Copy for Your Website

August 2018

People are spending less time “Googling” for information on where to shop, where to eat, where to vacation and where to get the best rates. Instead, many are using bots such as Amazon’s Alexa...

Old School and Hi-Tech Ways to Keep Track of Passwords

July 2018

In 2017, nearly one-third of internet users reported being victim to online hacking or similar suspicious activity on their accounts. But as anyone who regularly uses a computer – especially for financial...

Amazon's Alexa as a Virtual Office Assistant

June 2018

Studies have shown that as much as 40 percent of time spent at work is generally unproductive, busy work. Things like checking emails, ordering supplies, fixing the copy machine or trying to figure out...

Business Ethics for Customer Data

May 2018

Many computer users are reluctant to engage in online shopping, banking or investment transactions for fear that their account information will be stolen. According to the Identity Theft Resources...

Deep Learning for Deeper Understanding

April 2018

We all learn in different ways. Some people are book smart, meaning they glean knowledge from reading books. Others learn better through classroom or one-on-one instruction. Still others learn by doing – maybe...

Blockchain Technology - Beyond Bitcoin

March 2018

To many people, Bitcoin and blockchain technology are the same thing. Bitcoin might be the best-known example of a successful application of blockchain technology, but as soon as business leaders understood...

Can the World Economic Forum Tackle Cybercrime?

February 2018

The Wannacry cyberattack in May 2017 highlighted the major problems that bedevil the various nations affected by devastating ransomware crime. Namely, that targeted nations are often slow to track down the...

Net Neutrality - What's All the Fuss About?

January 2018

According to the pundits, the Dec. 14 move by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to repeal existing net neutrality rules is either a major blow to free communication or a storm in a...

Are Cyber Attacks Acts of War?

December 2017

Hacking - Last month, the European Union Community made headlines with their release of a diplomatic document that, for the first time, defines cyber-terrorism by a foreign power as an act of war. The EU document...

The Importance of Quantum Computing

November 2017

To understand what quantum computing is and why scientists find it exciting, we need to understand how traditional computing works. Today’s computers use switching and memory units – known as...

Small Business Embracing Chatbot Technology

October 2017

In the past, small business owners sometimes lacked the resources – both financial and human – to capitalize upon the latest productivity and customer service technologies. Fortunately, the...

Reimagining Entire Industries with Artificial Intelligence

September 2017

About a year ago, at an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Conference in Cambridge in the U.K., Dr. Stephen Hawking noted that, “Success in creating AI could be the biggest event in the history of our civilization...

Smart Suitcases for Tech Savvy Travelers

August 2017

There are several brands of smart luggage out there. The brands you might encounter more frequently are Raden, Bluesmart and Away. Other brands include Horizn and Néit. There are some differences...

Automakers & Cybersecurity Pros Collaborate to Tackle Growing Threat

July 2017

Over the past three or four years, Internet-connected vehicles have become the norm. Accordingly, cybercrooks have turned their attention to cars and trucks, looking for ways to gain access to vehicular navigational systems and to...

What Does WannaCry Teach Us?

June 2017

The global ransomware attack dubbed WannaCry marked an unwelcome precedent in the dark world of cybercrime. It is the first cyberattack that combined ransomware with the self-propagating power of a “worm” to...

What Impact Will the Repeal of Online Privacy Laws Have on You?

May 2017

The recent repeal of an Obama-era law that would have required Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to obtain users' permission before sharing their personal data with marketers and other third parties has created...

Free Up Space on Your iPhone

April 2017

If you keep a lot of data on your iPhone without a periodic cleanup, you’ll reach a point when you don’t have available space for the apps you want to access most. The default settings in your...

Oops! Recalling Emails

March 2017

Perhaps it's a glaring typo in a business email or a hastily written rebuke that you regret sending, but probably everyone wishes at times we could undo the send button. Depending upon which email program you use...

Major Trends at CES

February 2017

Industry gurus and eager consumers often face a tough task separating breakthrough trends from over-hyped gimmicks amidst the clamor and marketing frenzy that characterizes the annual Consumer Electronics Show...

Tech-Fueled Marketing Trends for 2017

January 2017

Technology experts anticipate that certain strong trends that debuted in 2016 will gain further momentum in the New Year. Here are some of the tactics and strategies that marketers expect to see...

Cool Tech Gifts for the Holidays

December 2016

’Tis the Season to be racking your brain thinking of gift ideas for family, friends and colleagues. Technology gifts can fit the bill for all ages and for all pocketbooks,...

Handling Negative Online Reviews

November 2016

If you have a business that deals with the public, it is almost inevitable that you’ll get a negative online review at some point. To a small business owner, a highly critical review can be alarming,...

Data Breaches - What To Do

October 2016

It is hard to know which is more alarming – that a security breach can affect more than 500 million people, or that it has taken nearly two years for the public to be informed of such an incursion. Yahoo’s...

Update on Chip Card Technology

September 2016

Back in October 2015, retailers experienced a liability shift when the onus for absorbing the cost of counterfeit transactions shifted from the banks to the individual merchants if the retailers had not migrated...

Biometrics = Better Banking Security?

August 2016

Earlier this year, one of the world's largest banks, The Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corp. (HSBC), announced the largest rollout of biometric security technology in the U.K....

Security Reminders Courtesy of Zuckerberg

July 2016

Being an acknowledged leader and innovator in social media doesn't provide immunity from cyber attacks. It has been reported that Mark Zuckerberg, head of Facebook, recently...

New Payment Options - Smart Cards Versus Smart Phones?

June 2016

Things have changed at grocery store checkout lanes and retailers everywhere. Initially, Oct. 1, 2015 was the date initially established for the majority of liability for credit card...

5 Ways to Safeguard Your Online Privacy

May 2016

There are no fast fixes that will guarantee your online security, but here is a simple checklist that can help keep your data and your identity secure...

Ransomware - Insidious and Growing Fast

April 2016

Imagine a major hospital crippled by a deliberate effort to block its access to patients' records. After the hospital pays online extortionists a hefty ransom, the cyber crooks will...

What's at Stake in the Apple vs. FBI Battle?

March 2016

The encryption issue is not new. It started in the '90s when encryption became more commonplace in consumer products, and has escalated to a full-scale...

Leveraging the 'Gig' Economy

February 2016

The so-called “gig” economy allows individual workers to freelance their skills to meet the on-demand needs of clients by using mobile technology. In 2015, the gig economy...

Encryption and National Security: Will Encryption Become Obsolete?

January 2016

In light of the recent terrorist attacks, domestic and foreign governments have questioned how much access they should have to encryption keys and electronic backdoors. The debate...

Technology: Leveraging Holiday Website Traffic

December 2015

E-commerce is a major factor for most businesses, but never more so than during the holiday season. Online sales figures continue to climb - increasing by a whopping 15 percent in 2014...

Technology: Senate Gives Nod to Long-Delayed Cybersecurity Bill

November 2015

A much-delayed cybersecurity bill aimed at combating cyber crooks by encouraging companies and Government agencies to share relevant information without fear of privacy...

Technology: Ready or Not, Microchip Card Payment is Here to Stay

October 2015

If you travel internationally for business or pleasure, you may already know that magnetic strip credit cards are consider something of an anachronism in many other countries. Offering...

Technology: Google Makes Changes to Local Search Results

September 2015

As if getting listed among local search results on Google wasn't tough enough, recent changes make it even more difficult. Google has revised the results you get from a local...

Technology: Embedded Technology = New Security Challenges

August 2015

Lately the news media has been stirring up concern over yet another computer security issue. This time, the culprit is the spread of embedded technology - the computer technology...

Technology: Data Security is Everyone's Business

July 2015

In today's world, most people know a bit about cyber thieves and data breaches. This being the case, why do we continue to learn of major data breaches here and worldwide?...

Technology: Bitcoin Comes of Age with Embedded Chips for Smartphones

June 2015

There was excitement in the bitcoin community recently when 21 Inc. announced plans to market embedded chips for consumer devices - thus allowing smartphones and other devices...

Technology: Digital Etiquette for Small Businesses

May 2015

The Internet, email and instant messaging give us speed and efficiency, but sometimes the efficiencies come at a price. If you've ever been on the receiving end of a message that...

Technology: Google Announces Pending Search Algorithm Changes

April 2015

When Google officially announces changes to its search algorithm (the sorting mechanism that determines how prominently a specific business or product is ranked by the Google...

Smart Cars, Data Security and Consumer Privacy

March 2015

Internet security - or lack of it - is in the news headlines constantly. Whether it's the recent White House Summit on Cybersecurity and Consumer Protection at Stanford University,...

TECHNOLOGY: CES 2015 - Trends and Innovations

February 2015

The vast Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which is held in January every year, overwhelms attendees with a huge range of new products from automobiles, TVs and skateboards to...

Technology: Resolutions for Entrepreneurs

January 2015

A new year brings fresh determination to establish goals. Alongside the perennial favorites, why not take a minute to think about some resolutions to improve...

Technology: Strategic Technology Trends for 2015

December 2014

As 2014 draws to a close, technology experts across the nation try to predict which technology trends will prove most significant for businesses in the New Year. Here are some ideas...

Technology: Online Banking - A Boon or a Bust?

November 2014

Online banks are increasing in popularity, and many small businesses and individuals are opting to go this route. As a rule, online banking works best for individuals who are comfortable...

Protect Yourself from Retailers' Security Breaches

October 2014

Target, Neiman Marcus and now Home Depot have all joined the ranks of retailers that have been hacked. Such breaches expose customer data to cyber crooks...

Making Social Media Marketing Really Count

September 2014

Social media marketing is a tool many entrepreneurs just cannot ignore. However, the cost and time needed can be difficult for marketers with relatively small...

Technology: Smart Phones Need Smart Security

August 2014

About 4 million smart phones were either stolen or permanently lost last year. Despite this and the increasing sophistication of cyber...

Technology: Staying Safe on Public Wi-Fi

July 2014

Look around any coffee shop, hotel lobby or airport lounge and you'll see people working online, checking email or any one of a number of different tasks on their notebook, tablet or smartphone. It's...

Technology: Post-NSA Consumers Ponder Security and Privacy

June 2014

In mid-May, the House of Representatives passed legislation in response to the outcry over the wholesale collection of phone records by the National Security Agency. The bill did not include some of the tougher provisions...

Google Search Changes Create a Storm in a Teacup

May 2014

Ever since Google prohibited webmasters from tracking which keywords were driving traffic to their websites from Google, e-marketers have been waiting for the other shoe to drop. In early...

Will Wearable Technology go Mainstream?

April 2014

Predictions that wearable smart technology is about to become a major force in the industry have been around for a while. Previously regarded as a niche market confined to fitness and...

Technology: Who's Tracking You?

March 2014

In the 2002 sci-fi thriller "Minority Report," the hero played by Tom Cruise lived at a time when electronic billboards sensed who was passing by and churned out special ads reflecting...

Technology: Tweeting - Smart Marketing or Spam

February 2014

Like most social media platforms, Twitter offers business owners new ways to reach potential customers and existing clients to build a profile in the community. Used...

Trends and Predictions for 2014

January 2014

In 2013, we saw some major developments as major technology companies tried to wean us from our smart phone dependency and tempt us with wearable technology. What will 2014...

Learning From HealthCare.gov

December 2013

Smart people learn from their mistakes, but really smart business owners learn from someone else's mistakes. That being said, the recent launch of HealthCare.gov presents lots of practical...

Managing Security Risks of Personal Technology in the Workplace

November 2013

When you run a small business, allowing your employees to use their smart phones and other mobile devices for work often just happens without any real concern or discussion. Unfortunately, this...

New iOS 7 has Special Appeal for Business Users

October 2013

Perhaps you were one of the many iPhone, iPod and iPad users who eagerly awaited the new version of Apple's mobile operating system at the...

Facebook and Privacy

September 2013

Most people recognize that despite the various options Facebook provides, the site is not for people who cherish their privacy. Recent media stories have highlighted the plight of...

Government Surveillance Efforts Attract Ire of Tech Leaders, Civil Liberties Groups

August 2013

Civil liberties groups and technology companies - including several that had been frequent targets of privacy advocates in the past - have banded together to urge the President...

Technology: Free Ways to Use Online Recruiting Tools

July 2013

Perhaps you have no trouble finding talented people when you need to fill a position. If so, you're fortunate. Many...

Technology: Online Privacy

June 2013

Much of the media focus on consumer online privacy has centered on major companies and social networking giants. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) continues...

Technology: What's All the Fuss About Digital Currency?

May 2013

Bitcoin, a decentralized virtual currency (which means no coins or notes exist in the "real" world) has been around since 2009 and exists only as strings...

Technology: Six Essential Steps to Thwart a Cyber Attack

April 2013

Don't want to be one of the many companies - two thirds of all those hacked - that end up out of business within six months of a cyber attack? Then take some action right now to put...

Technology: Don't Let Social Media Time Sideline Productivity

March 2013

The Internet, smart phones, email and many of the other innovations we take for granted make our lives easier and our work hours more productive. While we...

Technology: Top Trends From the Consumer Electronics Show

February 2013

Despite Microsoft's decision to not participate in the LasVegas-based show that kicks off every year, the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show did...

Technology: Data Brokers Face Federal Trade Commission Scrutiny

January 2013

Breaches of users' presumed privacy, and social networks' policies on sharing information were constant topics in business news throughout 2012. It's likely that these issues will continue to...

Technology: Website Advice for Your 'About Us' Page

December 2012

Except for your home page, About Us is probably the most popular page on your website. Potential customers will come here to find out if they want to do business with you. With that in mind,...

Technology: Getting the Most Out of LinkedIn

November 2012

LinkedIn can be a powerful tool for making business connections, but its effectiveness is up to you and is dependent on the effort you are willing to put into presenting your information and keeping...

Technology: Do You Really Need the New iPhone5?

October 2012

The question is academic for the throngs who camped outside Apple stores to get their hands on the Apple's latest smartphone - but do you really need the new iPhone5. First of all, improvements...

Technology: Spear Phishing - An Insidious Tactic Targets the Scam-Savvy

September 2012

We all know to sidestep the misspelled email from a temporarily insolvent Nigerian prince who needs a little help and the details of our bank account. This type of clumsy email con typically goes...

Technology: How Small Businesses Survive Search Engine Tweaks

August 2012

Google has again changed the way its search engine ranks websites in an effort to counteract sites suspected of boosting their ratings by dubious means. When this change took effect, many...

Technology: Could The Flame Virus Affect You?

July 2012

Since March, cyberland has been seriously shaken by the discovery of a huge and powerful computer virus dubbed Flame - the most complex discovered to date. As if the 20MB size and the complexity...

Technology: Where is Hand-Gesture Technology Headed?

June 2012

If you can't imagine working on your computer without your mouse and keyboard, you might be in for a surprise. Major technology leaders and gutsy startups are exploring the possibilities...

Technology: Anti-Piracy Issue Stirs Up Controversy

May 2012

Legislation to penalize Internet companies that publish or sell pirated content sounds like a good idea, doesn't it? Many legislators and online businesses seemed to feel that way,...

Technology: Low Profile Has Its Merits

April 2012

If you run a business, you’re cautioned constantly about the dangers of being “invisible” on the Internet, or of failing to leverage your website to achieve...

Technology: Marketing the Facebook Way

March 2012

Like it or loathe it, Facebook has more than 800 million users and might be one of the easiest, least expensive ways to connect to customers. You don’t have to be an avid Facebook follower...

Technology: Understanding How Google’s Search Engine Changes Affect You

February 2012

Staying on top of search engine optimization (SEO) is critical for all marketers, whether they are Fortune 500 companies or small businesses. This can be daunting for small firms without IT departments...

Technology: Freedom of Expression Trumps Twitter Stalking Concerns

January 2012

Until a decade ago, many people thought that the Internet might be a panacea for the many ills that afflicted our world in the late twentieth century. Access to information and real-time, inexpensive ways...

Technology: Debate Regarding Cell Phones, Robocalls Intensifies

December 2011

Since 1991, The Federal Communications Commission has provided consumers with legislative protection from pre-recorded telemarketing calls. For years, a lively debate has been going on between various trade groups and the FCC...

Technology: Protect Yourself From Cell Phone Hackers

November 2011

Cell phone hacking caused the downfall of The News of the World, Britain’s largest and most famous tabloid. This scandal has alerted cell phone users to the mayhem that hackers can create. An ever-increasing...

Technology: What You Need To Know About Complying With CAN-SPAM Act

October 2011

The CAN-SPAM law has been around since 2003. Designed to be friendly to Internet business efforts, it was passed to stop marketers from using fraudulent or misleading representation to hook customers, and...

Technology: Pros and Cons of Password Management Tools

September 2011

Have you ever counted the number of passwords you have – for banking accounts, for your email, for online retailers? If you’re like most people, you have a lot and...

Technology: Social Engineering Scams Threaten Computer Security

August 2011

Business owners have learned to delete suspicious attachments that might contain viruses or malware. We’ve learned about phishing and other email-generated scams. With our focus on the technology...

Technology: Mobile Payment Firms Target Small Businesses With Lower Pricing

July, 2011

Consumers are ready to embrace smart phone payment options as long as the systems involved are safe. The question now is: are more small businesses ready to consider using them – especially since...

Technology: SEC Considers Revising Rules for Online Funding

June, 2011

inding new ways to raise capital is important to many small business owners, especially since traditional credit has slowed following the recent financial crises. New challenges require new solutions. To that...

Technology: The True Cost Of High Tech Counterfeits

May, 2011

The most obvious impact of counterfeit high-tech goods might not be the most serious issue emanating from the current flood of fakes. Undoubtedly, fakes hurt the companies that developed and...

Technology: Keeping Email Safe

April, 2011

No matter how careful you are with security and virus protection on your computer, you might still fall victim to unscrupulous individuals who attempt to use your email account to send spam or steal data. There is no...

Technology: Turning Online Prospects into Clients

March, 2011

If visitors to your website far outnumber actual sales of goods and services, it might be time to take steps to improve conversion rates. E-commerce has changed all the rules when it comes to...

Technology: Smartphones Usurp User Privacy

February, 2011

Recent media reports show that smartphone applications are regularly breaching the privacy of their users, sharing personal data widely without the knowledge or permission of their users. The...

Technology: Top Strategic Technologies for 2011

January, 2011

Information technology continues to evolve and change at a breakneck pace, making strategic planning and purchasing decisions difficult for businesses large and small. Here’s a review of some of the major...

Technology: Best Smart Phone Apps

December, 2010

‘Tis the season when tech writers everywhere start compiling their year’s-end Top 10 Lists. When they turn their attention to iPhone apps, this is especially useful because it helps to know which ones among the...

Technology: Boost Customer Traffic with Geolocation Technology

November, 2010

Smart phone users have become comfortable with using programs such as iWant and Yelp to find nearby restaurants, gas stations and almost everything else. Now, savvy small businesses...

Technology: Tracking Technology Inroads Create Consumer Backlash

October, 2010

Online tracking devices – commonly referred to as cookies – and the industries involved in their proliferation are attracting increased attention from lawmakers in response to an...

Technology: Getting Your Money's Worth Out of Ink Cartridges

September, 2010

Have you ever loaded a new cartridge on your inkjet printer only to have the low ink indicator come on within days? Or perhaps your color inkjet printer appears to go through new cartridges at an alarming rate...

Technology: Tech Winners and Hot Products for Small Businesses

August, 2010

Keeping up with the constant stream of technology innovations and sorting out the winners from the losers is a mind-boggling challenge for any busy small business owner. It's a real help when someone else does the...

Technology: Do You Need An iPhone App For Your Business?

July, 2010

If your customers or clients are dedicated smart phone users, a mobile application might be an excellent way to keep your services and cutting-edge accessibility uppermost in their minds. When it comes to reaching...

Technology: Use it to protect and strengthen your business

June, 2010

In addition to protecting your company's infrastructure, your IT system can also help you avoid unpleasant surprises and maximize employee productivity in tough times. Consider the following checklist...

Technology: The iPad...decisions, decisions, decisions

May, 2010

If you are as technologically dependent as most bosses and business owners today, you've been watching the launch of the iPad and wondering whether to get one. Here are some thoughts to mull over if you are contemplating...

Technology: Cyber Crooks Target Small Businesses

April, 2010

Don't assume that your business is too small to merit the attention of a hacker. These crooks don't care how big or small your company is. When it comes to stealing...

Manners Matter: Cell Phone Etiquette at the Office

March, 2010

Cell phones in all their forms, from simple to smart, are a fact of life for most of us. They allow us to be accessible, provide endless convenience and help us manage our jobs and lives...

Technology: Cell Phone Signal Boosters

February, 2010

Several manufacturers unveiled new cell phone signal boosters at this year's International Consumer Electronics Show. These new offerings tackle the most fundamental and frustrating problem that can...

Technology: What's Ahead in 2010?

January, 2010

The experts have looked at the fastest-growing segments of the technology sector - and those that are faltering - to try to anticipate what might shape technologyÃ‚Â’s growth in the New Year. Of all the prevailing...

Technology: Avoid the spam ambush

December, 2009

If your legitimate email messages have been caught or blocked by an Internet service provider, you're not alone. Many small businesses and individuals have had perfectly legitimate messages returned or...

Technology: Website Filtering Proves Tricky in the New Web. 2.0 Environment

November, 2009

Few businesses operate without using the Internet for some of their operational needs. The Internet represents big business for crooks, too. The Federal Bureau of Investigation calculates that Internet fraud...

Technology: How to Blog and Why You Should

October, 2009

logging has come a long way since weblogs began as online form of journaling. Today, blogs are well established in popular culture as a way to share experiences, expertise and news. The list of bloggers continues...

Technology: Can Social Networking Boost Your Business?

September, 2009

You might think that your Website is all you need to build business in the Web 2.0 world. That might not be true anymore. Technology in the form of networking sites, where users share information online,...

Technology: Frugal and Smart IT Spending

August, 2009

The economy is showing signs of improvement, but some of our newly acquired financial habits are likely to linger. Business executives and personal shoppers are expected to remain thrifty and continue to look for ways to trim...

Technology: Understanding And Outsmarting Computer Viruses

July, 2009

Viruses are a threat to every computer user - whether at home, on the road or in the office. As computer users turn to the Internet for social networking, work, travel, hobbies and a variety of informational needs, the...

Technology: Introducing New IT Systems

June, 2009

When it comes to embracing new technology, employees, regardless of their seniority or age group, tend to resist change. Perhaps it’s just human nature to get comfortable with a certain way of doing things –even if it’s not...

Technology: Moving photos from your mobile phone to your computer

May 2009

Depending upon which mobile device you are using as a camera, the options you have vary in complexity --depending upon your hardware and, sometimes, on your phone service provider. Here are a few...

Technology: Data Retrieval--Search and Recovery

April 2009

Losing data doesnÃ¢Â€Â™t always spell disaster, but it can cause some big problems. If it hasnÃ¢Â€Â™t happened to you, odds are it willÃ¢Â€Â¦sooner or later. WeÃ¢Â€Â™ve probably all fallen prey to the disappearing file syndrome......

Technology: Malware—Avoiding …and Removing it

March 2009

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This rings especially true when it comes to avoiding the accidental acquisition of malicious software (commonly known as malware). Unwanted software...

Technology: New Functions And More Security Challenges For Cell Phones

February 2009

As hand-held mobile phones continue to evolve –we’ve seem them go from simple cell phones to mini-PCs accessing the Web via WiFi—people have continued to enjoy the convenience and value of their new, expanded functions and...

Technology: PR Online—Simple and Cost Effective

January 2009

The Internet enables small business owners to handle many tasks in-house that previously would have required hiring a specialist or outsourcing the project. Thanks to the proliferation of websites,...

Technology: New Security Requirements for Online Transactions

December, 2008

In the wake of headline-grabbing thefts of confidential data from large retail and financial institutions during 2008, the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Security Standards Council (founded by...

Online Customer Service Basics Are Key

November 2008

If online sales are crucial to your business’ success, it may be time to make sure that the high tech experience your customers receive is also high quality. Providing a quality experience...

Technology: Green Computing

October 2008

Thinking about saving energy and money around the office? There are several simple choices we all can make to cut energy costs—moves that reduce costs with minimum...

Technology: Cloud-computing -- Web-based Applications Take off

September 2008

You may have heard of “cloud computing” but what you may not know is that some of the world’s biggest computing companies are joining the cloud computing bandwagon. Some may approach the new infrastructure...

Technology: Build Reputation, Customer Loyalty With an Online Forum

August 2008

Looking for ways to stand out from your competitors and build customer ties? An online customer forum may be just what you need. Providing customers with place on your web site to post suggestions...

Technology: new navigation tool links real-time business data with GPS

July 2008

If you are one of those road warriors who can’t function without their GPS, then you may want to check out Dash Express, a new navigation device that...

Technology: Voice Mail to Text Function Makes Smart Phones Smarter

June 2008

Technology has helped us to become more efficient and more accessible to our customers and our business colleagues. With increased accessibility come greater expectations. We expect everyone...

Technology: Top Skills That Businesses Need Today

May 2008

New technology initiatives and an increasingly competitive marketplace mean that the IT skills of five years ago, or even last year, won’t deliver the benefits small businesses need to stay profitable...

Technology: Preventing Online Identity Theft

April 2008

As a business owner, you must do everything possible to make sure customers can shop safely on your website. Visitors to your website should see a prominent display of information that lets them know you...

Technology: Promoting Your Web Site

March 2008

Leveraging Web technology to get the word out about your e-business is a savvy way to expand your customer base. With just a little effort, you can adopt the techniques used by larger companies to generate...

Websites—What’s Legal And What’s Not

February 2008

The Internet has opened up a whole new perspective on copyright and ownership issues. For the most part, the same principles that govern publishing (software, books, magazines...

Technology: Optimizing Software Applications

January 2008

Of all the many high tech features that touch our lives, perhaps none is more important, or more taken for granted, than the software applications we use for work and for play. Keeping your software updated with...

Technology: Software Licensing Enforcers Target Small Business Owners

December 2007

You may have never heard of the Business Software Alliance (BSA), but the odds are good that you might get to know them all too soon, This organization is a global copyright enforcement agency that...

Technology: Ban on Internet Taxes Extended

November 2007

With the expiration of the ban on Internet taxation imminent, the Senate approved a further seven-year moratorium on October 26. The original moratorium, which was...

Technology: Technology Trends And The Small Business

October 2007

As technology continues to evolve, it brings not only new products but also new ways of doing business and new expectations from customers. A recent survey, the Intuit Future of Small Business Report, undertaken...

Technology: Before You Hire A Technical Consultant…

September 2007

How do you find the right person to help you manage and address your IT needs? If you’re not especially technology-savvy in the first place, how do you know what to...

Technology: FCC Moves to Open Access; Boost Cell Phone Freedom

August 2007

Freedom from restrictive contracts may be on the horizon for beleaguered wireless phone users in the U.S. Most of us face a ludicrous proposition if we want to move to another...

Technology: Internet Phone Service –Good and Cheap and Here to Stay

July 2007

A real asset to small businesses, Internet phone service has proved to be both inexpensive and efficient. Despite the legal matters involving patent infringement...

Technology: Big Broadcasters Strike Back!

June 2007

In the past, the Internet’s new media have caused a few headaches for the honchos at the large broadcasting companies like ABC, Fox and Time...

Technology: Measuring your Website’s Success

May 2007

We’ve come a long way since the days when tallying “hits” was the way to determine how well a website was performing. Today more than 70...

Technology: Increasing Online Sales

April 2007

Complacency is the enemy of online sales. What worked last Christmas is probably not going to work in spring 2007. Successful entrepreneurs know that web-based...

Technology: Lawmakers Aim To Revamp Patent System

March 2007

Though disagreements among powerful industry groups have derailed previous efforts to revamp a patent system that many business leaders decry, hopes are high that a new panel, headed...

Technology: Is Microsoft's Vista Right For You?

February 2007

Microsoft's newest operating system, Vista, is finally here. With great new features and offering a smooth, intuitive experience...

Technology: Hard Drive Versus Flash Memory

January 2007

Hard drives are the standard means for computer users to store data, offering large storage capacity at an affordable price. Hard drives have been doing their job...

Technology: Jump-Start That Sluggish PC

December 2006

If you are spending more time at the keyboard waiting for programs or files to open, it may be time to perform a simple "jump-start" effort to see if the...

Technology: Whither Windows...

November 2006

If, like many people, you’ve been waiting for the next version of Microsoft’s Windows before buying new hardware, the long wait may soon be over. Vista, the new...

Technology: Help! My BrowserÂ’s Been Hijacked

October 2006

Malware is everywhere. If a malicious program, or malware, attacks your system and begins to direct your web activity - changing your default home page, directing...

High Tech: Software Mashups - Mixing It Up

September 2006

The term may have originated in the music industry, where parts of two songs were combined to make something completely new, but in the computing world "mashups"...

Technology: Get Your E-Mails Read

August 2006

E-mail marketing used to be a breeze. Fast, easy and cheap, it was a boon to marketers everywhere. But what a difference a few years makes. The sheer volume of...

Replacing Your PC-Is It Time?

July 2006

As a rule of thumb, most small business owners plan on replacing their computers every five years. However, depending upon the type of business you have, or the software...

New Products Offer Solutions to Common Headaches

June 2006

Technology may make our communications and business functions faster and more productive, but with it we also acquire new frustrations and a whole new class of...

Finding Online Bargains - Vertical Search Engines Can Help

May 2006

Google is fast, and offers shoppers a simple way to track down information, goods or services. Its no-nonsense approach has made it the king of all search engines, but some...

Data Protection Planning

April 2006

Disasters come in many disguises. Over the last 12 months, we’ve seen major hurricanes and floods in the U.S. hit the headlines. Disasters don’t have to be headline...

Technology Leaders Offer Small Businesses Safer E-Mail; Better Identity Management

March 2006

All companies face constant problems maintaining the security of their e-mail systems. The problem is particularly troublesome for small business owners...

Technology: New VOIP-based Phone Equipment Brings Cutting-Edge Features to Businesses

February 2006

If VoIP advocates have their way, the traditional analog phone is heading for the scrap heap. In its place, they predict we’ll be using a new generation of phones...

Technology: Laptop Docking Stations & Port Replicators - What's Best For You?

January 2006

If you like the flexibility of toting your laptop with you when you visit clients or take a business trip, but also want a full size monitor and keyboard at your permanent workstation, a docking station...

Technology: Hand Held Devices Challenge Laptops

December 2005

Is the day dawning when you can leave your laptop at home and stay in touch with work via a smaller, lighter hand-held gizmo? It is beginning to look that...

Something in the Air - Beware Wi-Fi Security Risks

November 2005

At a time when all PC users are aware of Internet security issues, a surprising number of business executives let their guard down when using Wi-Fi networks on the road. Perhaps they would be a bit more careful...

Technology: Building a Better Password

October 2005

On-line theft and fraud cost its victims some $1.25 billion in 2004. As on-line businesses proliferate, our risk of a security breach - of someone obtaining our credit...

Technology: Gone For Good-Complete Data Erasure

September 2005

First the bad news: even if you have "deleted" files containing sensitive data from your PC using your Windows program, some of the data will linger for a while (months or...

Technology: File-Sharing Technology - Down But Not Out

August 2005

The defeat of the file-sharing companies, Grokster and StreamCast Networks in the Supreme Court was undoubtedly good news for the music and movie industries...

High Tech-Virtualization: Making Computing More Efficient and Cost Effective

July 2005

Hailed as the next revolution in the computing world, virtualization is rapidly becoming a powerful force in the industry. Although the concept has been around for...

Technology: HDTV- Ready For Prime Time

June 2005

Prices have dropped and Americans are buying high definition (HD) TV sets in record numbers. Attracted by the design - a flat screen which can be mounted on a wall - as much as by the technology behind...

Technology: Is It Time To Take Your Business Wireless?

May 2005

Wireless networks have become more affordable, and small businesses are joining the ever-increasing ranks of wireless converts - companies that recognize the benefits...

Satellite Radio - What's All The Fuss?

April 2005

Satellite radio is here to stay. If you had any doubts, the recent flurry of news announcements from the two radio satellite companies, Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Radio, about...

Technology: Radio Frequency Identification Cones of Age

March 2005

Radio Frequency Identification (or RFID) has been around for a long time. But, in recent years, we've seen it evolve from its simpler forms to give mega stores...

Steer Clear of Phishing Scams

February 2005

On-line fraud is a huge problem - especially for small businesses and consumers - and the losses generated are soaring. The Annual CyberSource Fraud Survey estimates that online scammers bilked their victims...

Web Site Visibility - Improve Your Search Engine Rankings

January 2005

You may have a great looking, user-friendly site, but unless it pops up on the first pages from a search engine, chances are that interested customer will...

Website Planning - An Investment That Pays Off

December 2004

Whether your company is large or small, the success of your website depends upon how thoroughly you do your homework before you sit down with your...

Beware Spyware-Tackling Infestations That Slow Computers

November 2004

Spyware is a relatively new problem for small business owners. Almost unheard of a year ago, spyware now has the dubious distinction of being as big a headache...

Technology: Do You Know Where You Are? Your GPS-Enabled Cell Phone Does

October 2004

You’ve seen cell phone ads trumpeting "GPS-enabled," or maybe your phone already has GPS built into its many features. You may have wondered what GPS is, why it is attracting...

Technology-Information Retrieval Gets Faster & Smarter

September 2004

Perhaps the most frustrating problem that any computer user faces-whether they are a Wi-Fi whiz kid or not-is the speedy, accurate retrieval of files, data and...

High Technology - Biometrics - ID At Your Fingertips

August 2004

Imagine paying for your groceries at checkout by placing your fingertip in an electronic reader - no more rummaging in your wallet for cash or for your credit card. If you think this scenario belongs in a sci-fi...

E-BIZ - THE SEQUEL. WHICH INDUSTRIES WILL BE NEXT?

July 2004

After a couple of year’s respite, e-biz seems poised for another growth spurt as it makes in-roads on new areas of business. Once again, large companies are looking over their shoulders at Internet upstarts who are...

TECHNOLOGY - LINUX - A NEW BUSINESS COMPUTING OPTION

June 2004

Linux began as a fun project - a pastime of a student called Linus Torvalds who lived in Helsinki. Torvalds developed the Linux operating system in 1991 and posted his self-described "hobby" on...

INTRANETS AND EXTRANETS-WHAT CAN THEY DO FOR YOUR BUSINESS?

May 2004

Small businesses have embraced the Internet, using it to communicate via e-mail, establishing web sites to sell products or services and tapping its considerable...

TECHNOLOGY--PROMOTING YOUR WEB SITE ON-LINE AND OFF

April 2004

You’ve finally got the great website you need to boost sales and profits. You are happy with the graphics and the content. It is user-friendly, well organized and easy to negotiate. You think you are...

MIGRATING DATA TO A NEW PC - STILL A TRICKY TASK

March 2004

The joy of buying a new computer can rapidly turn sour as soon as you start to think about transferring files, programs and setting from your old PC. It is a tedious, time-consuming process that...

MONITORING TECHNOLOGY TRACKS EMPLOYEES’ PERFORMANCE OFF-SITE

February 2004

For many managers and bosses, the days of strolling through the halls to check on their employees are long-gone. Today, some 25 percent of all employees...

WIRELESS SURVEILLANCE - GIVING BUSINESS OWNERS AFFORDABLE SECURITY

January 2004

Setting up surveillance systems to monitor your retail locations or offices used to be a somewhat clumsy and complicated business. Now, thanks to the spread of 802.11 wireless...

AVOIDING DATA LOSSES

December 2003

If you've ever had the hair-raising experience of seeing your computer screen go blank right in the middle an important task, you are by no means alone. Current statistics suggest that about 1/3 of the 50 million laptops in use today will...

“DESKTOP REPLACEMENTS”—PCS WITH POWER + PORTABILITY

November 2003

If you are in the market for a new computer and conduct business in various different locations, you might want to check out the latest generation of “desktop replacement...

TECHNOLOGY—THE NETWORKED CAR

October 2003

The mainstays of the Information Age--laptops, cell phones, wireless hand-held text messaging devices, and personal digital assistants (PDAs) allow us to keep connected to our offices, business contacts, friends...

HI TECH NEWS---48 HOUR DVDS--A REVOLUTION IN THE HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS AND MORE…

September 2003

The debut of a new 48-hour DVD last month is expected to revamp the video industry—from blockbuster movie rentals to employee training videos—and, in the future, to provide marketing gurus with a slew of new...

HI TECH NEWS - Coming To A Screen Near You

August 2003

A completely new type of screen technology for laptops, cell phones and other hand-held devices is on the horizon. Based on organic light-emitting diodes—more commonly known by their...

Cell Phones--When You Just Want To Talk

July 2003

Today’s cell phones can take photos and let you email them to your family, friends or colleagues. In your idle moments, you can use them to play games or watc...

Going Wireless - What the WI-FI Revolution Means For Your Business

June 2003

Step into a Starbucks in downtown Dallas or pop into a pub in London’s Financial District and along with your beverage of choice, you can get high-speed wireless Internet...

IP Telephony - Latest Developments in Hight Tech Convergence Offer Increased Savings and Productivity Gains

May 2003

Good, reliable communications are the lifeblood of any enterprise. Most recently, Internet Protocol-Based telephony--or IP telephony as it is more commonly...

What Microsoft .NET Vision Means for Businesses

April 2003

Microsoft has created an advanced new generation of software that will drive the Next Generation Internet. This initiative is called Microsoft® .NET, and...

Dangerous Email? Yes, It's Out There

March 2003

Danger is lurking in your email, warns the National Consumers League (NCL), a nonprofit consumer organization based in Washington, DC. Based on...

What Is a Virtual Private Network?

February 2003

A VPN (virtual private network) is a way to use a public telecommunication infrastructure, such as the Internet, to provide remote offices or individual...

Using Holograms to Store Data

January 2003

We have come a long way in storage media, 20 years ago the common way of transferring files from location to location was via a 5¼-inch floppy disk...

Well Folks, Where Do We Go From Here?

December 2002

You’ve all seen the Microsoft advertisements that ask us where we want to go today. This article will ask you where you want to go tomorrow....

Make Sure Your Computer files are Protected, Whether it’s a Personal Computer or a Network

November 2002

Without an internal PC security plan at your business, all of the files on your company PC’s could be available for anyone in your office to see. That could...

The Amazing New World of Wireless Technology

October 2002

During the next decade, the wires connecting our electronic devices to the Internet and each other will disappear. Telephone, computers, handheld devices...

“This Site Cannot Be Found”

September 2002

Don’t scrimp when you pick a Web hosting service unless you want your greeting to be “This Site Cannot be found”. Unreliable Web-hosting services, which are...

What Time Is It?

August 2002

Since most months we have discussed what is new and amazing in the world of technology gizmos, we thought perhaps we would slow down the clock a little this...

I’d Like a Dell in a 42 Regular...

July 2002

“Future” is a common word. Some people are afraid of it. Some people are busy making it. Others don’t care. Some feel, like many good science fiction...

Where In the World Are We?

June 2002

For the lost, the wanderers; for those looking for their place in the world, now there is GPS. What once was spoken only by the most avid Bass fishermen...

What’s In a Word?

May 2002

The Sum Of Silicon Existence constant evaluation and constant consumption the sum never adding up to one human life slowly we drift within...

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