Posts for February 2013

Business tech bargain: Add storage to your network with the D-Link DNS-320 NAS

If you need to add some reliable and cost effective storage to your network you could do worse than going with a D-Link NAS (Network Attached Storage).

Ebuyer are currently selling the D-Link DNS-320 for £45.99 (plus delivery) so this offer is sure to run out soon! All you need is to add some hard drives, connect it to your network, and hey presto - you have network accessible storage for everyone on your network. This uses less power and is less noisy than a conventional server - plus you save a great deal of money if all you're after is a file server as opposed to a fully fledged Windows Server. 

This enclosure offers RAID1 which means you have the option to duplicate your data cross the two internal drives for backup. Other features include:

• 2-bay Network Attached Storage for 3.5” SATA drives
• Gigabit connectivity for fast transmission speeds
• User/group quotas for security and confidentiality
• UPnP Media Server to stream media content to compatible media players
• Web file server for easy access to your over the Internet
• Built-in BitTorrent client to download directly from the Internet without a PC
• Touch-button for one-step backup of USB memory sticks
• Print Server to share a printer with other users in the network
• FarStone Backup software included free
• D-Link Green™: energy-saving design

What would you store on this if you had it on your business network?

TOTW: use Google for sums, currency conversions and more

There's always something interesting going on with Google. Just this week it announced Google Glass, a pair of glasses with a camera and display built in.

However, as it'll probably be a little while before you see someone wearing them on your local High Street, for this Friday's tip of the week we thought we'd show you three Google tricks.

1. Do your sums

Google has a pretty advanced calculator built right into it, and you can easily calculate sums by just tapping them in to the search box. Here's an example: 54 + 46 = ?:

Use the +, -, / and * keys and give it a go yourself. You'll never need to us an actual calculator again.

2. Convert measurements and currencies

Google can also convert between virtually any two units you'd care to think about: Six metres in feet. 80 millilitres in fluid ounces. 14 pounds in kilograms.

You can convert currencies too, and Google will automatically use up-to-date exchange rates for you. How many dollars can you get for £150?

3. Get a speedy definition

If you don't know what a specific word means, just type define: into Google, followed by the word. For example: define:disestablishmentarianism.

If you're grappling with another language, Google can help you there too. Check out its translation tools.

What Google tips and shortcuts do you use regularly? Leave a comment to let us know.

• How to save screenshots on your Mac
• How to get the Recent Documents folder back in Windows 7
• What to do when you leave your computer unattended

Business tech bargain: extend your wireless network for under £30

We try to highlight a couple of business tech bargains each week so you can find the best value IT out there. After all, doesn't everyone like a good deal?

If you suffer from poor wireless network reception in parts of your business premises, a cheap way to extend your wireless network is to pick up one of these TP-Link wireless range extenders, currently available from Amazon for just £29.99 all in.

See it now on the Amazon site >>

About this tech bargain

It's easy to extend your wireless network with this tech bargain. All you need to do is plug it directly into a power socket that sits near the edge of your existing wireless network's coverage.

Then you just connect this wireless extender to your main wireless network. In most cases, you just have to press a button on your router, then press a button on the extender.

Once you've done that, the extender will rebroadcast your wireless signal, considerably extending your coverage if you've positioned it well.

This seems like a really good price for a wireless extender that gets good reviews. The next best price we can find it at is £32.99, from Expansys.

Visit and buy from Amazon >>

• See all our previous business tech bargains

What is screen resolution and why does it matter?

Screen resolution is one of those IT terms that people use without necessarily knowing exactly what it means. We thought it was about time we explained it.

Screen resolution is the number of pixels

The image on your computer screen is built up from thousands or millions of pixels. The screen creates the image you see by changing the colours of these tiny square elements.

The screen resolution tells you how many pixels your screen can display horizontally and vertically. It's written in the form 1024 x 768. In this example, the screen can show 1,024 pixels horizontally, and 768 vertically:

Different sizes, same screen resolution

Now it starts getting a little more complicated. Screens that are different sizes can still have the same screen resolution.

For instance, your laptop could have a 13" screen with a resolution of 1280 x 800. And you could have a 17" monitor on your desk with the same 1280 x 800 resolution.

In this example, although the monitor on your desk is larger, you won't actually be able to fit anything extra onto it. The total number of pixels is the same - just everything looks a bit bigger:

This means that choosing the right screen means you have to take note of both the screen's size and its resolution.

What higher resolution means

If you're comparing two screens of the same size but with different resolutions, the screen with the higher resolution (that's the one with more pixels) will be able to show you more of what you're working on, so you don't have to scroll so much.

Because that screen has more pixels, the image will be sharper. However, the higher resolution also means that elements on the screen - like icons and text - will look smaller.

Here's another example. It's a real-life one from Dell, to illustrate the difference between two screens available on its XPS 13 laptop.

On the left, a screen with resolution of 1366 x 768. On the right, a screen of the same size with resolution 1920 x 1080:

The higher resolution screen means you can see more of your spreadsheet at once. But it also means the figures in that spreadsheet will look smaller and sharper.

It's not just about resolution

When you're choosing a new computer or display, don't let yourself be guided by screen resolution alone. Brightness and colour representation can vary across screens, so the best way to choose is to sit down in front of a screen and see if you like it.

Having said that, there are a few rules of thumb to help you choose the right resolution:

• If you're buying a monitor for your desk, go for a screen sized 21" or bigger, with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 or more. This is known as a full HD screen, because the resolution is capable of displaying high definition video.
• If you're buying a laptop that will be mostly used with a separate monitor, the standard screen should be fine. Higher resolution laptop screens can increase costs significantly, and aren't worth the expense for occasional use.
• People who do graphic design work or need to access lots of different windows at once (like web developers) can benefit from specialist, high resolution screens. If you're feeling flush, Apple's 15" MacBook Pro with Retina display boasts the world's highest-resolution laptop screen. The company's 27" display is also one of the best separate displays you can buy.

What screen resolution do you use? Do you ever feel like you need more screen space?

• Computer monitors and projectors
• Tech bargain: grab a great cheap monitor
• What we can all learn from Microsoft's new homepage

Laptop image © Sjgh | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos
Computer monitor image © Teerapun | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos

Cloud telephony: when disruption is a good thing

Image: Flickr user opopododo.

Have you noticed how frequently the term 'disruptive' is used to refer to technology? I often think it's off-putting for many businesses. After all, the last thing that any of us want is more disruption.

Cloud telephony services are often described as being disruptive. But in reality, cloud telephony can be much less disruptive to businesses than other types of telephone system.

However, cloud telephony certainly is disruptive to traditional telecoms service providers and carriers, because it offers features that they cannot provide.  

Let's take a closer look at how cloud telephony compares with traditional on-site telephone systems.

Cost savings

Cloud telephony can offer significant cost savings over traditional digital lines or even VoIP telephone systems. As with other cloud services, you eliminate many of the infrastructure and maintenance costs of an on-site system.

You can either introduce cloud telephony alongside your existing telephone system or as a complete replacement. Either way, you will almost certainly save on line rental and call costs. Expect to pay as little as 0.75p per minute for calls to landlines, or 2p per minute to call mobiles.

In addition, you should get the flexibility of a per-user, per-month pricing plan, without a lengthy contract. The cost can start from around £10 per person per month.

Scalable and flexible

Cloud telephony is inherently scalable, making it ideal for growing businesses. This means you never have to pay for more services than you need at any given time.

Because cloud telephony is delivered over the web, it's easier to bring branch offices and remote workers onto a single phone system.  You can scale up and down easily and economically without the headaches of changing or merging lines.  

Furthermore, employee mobile phones can be integrated with your cloud telephony system, enabling business calls to be logged and even recorded in the cloud.

Employees can be given a business phone number which routes to and from their mobile, meaning they don't have to use their personal number for business. It's a great way to allow staff to bring their own device, without revealing their personal numbers or running up unnecessary call charges.

Overall, you'll get more control over mobile call costs (which can be a significant proportion of your total telecomms bill) and be able to manage employee mobiles more effectively.

Enable, don’t disrupt

Cloud telephony can give your business access to sophisticated features that were once the preserve of large companies.

You may be able to integrate your email, CRM or other business systems with a cloud telephony system. This will allow you to click-to-dial, or display information about a caller on screen before your telephone agent answers the phone.

In contrast, it's usually much harder to integrate traditional phone systems into your other business systems.

Reporting for business

A cloud telephony system also provides flexible call recording. You can choose to record every call, or just those that fit criteria you set.

Call recordings are stored in the cloud, meaning you can access and play them from any internet-connected computer. Recordings can also be linked to customer records in your software.

Combined with comprehensive reporting, you'll get a complete, detailed insight into your company's sales processes, from initial enquiry to closing the deal.

So, with its inherent flexibility, lower costs, and business-enhancing features, cloud telephony can be compelling for almost every company. Since when has this kind of good business sense been disruptive?

• Choose a telephone system supplier
• Freelancers: get a business landline without a landline
• Types of telephone number

This piece was written by Mark Seemann, CEO of SYNETY, a cloud telephony firm.

How undersea journeys hold the internet together

If you have a few moments to spare this morning and a burning desire to learn more about how data travels to your computer from servers around the world, take a look at this map. It shows the vital underwater cables that connect continents and carry the vast majority of the world's internet traffic.

Whenever you visit a website that's located on a server in another part of the world, it's almost certain that the data from that server will reach your computer by travelling through some of these undersea cables.

It's incredible to think that these tiny cables - each usually less than 10cm in diameter - form such a vital part of the internet infrastructure we've come to rely on every day. With each carrying an enormous volume of data, it's no wonder that a single cable snapping can cause big disruption and hit the headlines.

See the full map here >>

So, next time you watch that video of a panda sneezing on YouTube, just think how far it might have travelled to reach you. The internet: isn't it amazing?

• An amazing map of the internet
• What happens in an internet minute
• Internet speed checker - test your connection

Business tech bargain: Philips 24" HD monitor at just £108

If you're looking for a crisp, clear monitor for your desktop or laptop computer, 24" screens currently strike a nice sweet spot between price and screen real estate.

We've just spotted this Philips E-Line 244EL2SB LCD LED 24" HDMI monitor over on eBuyer for just £107.99 including VAT and delivery. (Incidentally, why do hardware companies give their products such awkward names?)

That's a great price for a 24" screen from a reputable manufacturer, and we can't see it cheaper anywhere else at the moment.

See it now on the eBuyer site >>

About this tech bargain

This Philips monitor should be a perfect workhorse display for your business. It's large enough to have several windows open at once, giving you space to spread out your applications.

It's also a full HD screen, which means it has enough pixels to display high definition content (like films and games) at the best possible quality. The 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution is pretty standard for a screen this size.

The 24" screen has HDMI, DVI and VGA ports, which will allow you to connect it to virtually any computer in your company.

If you use a Mac, you'll probably need to buy a DVI adaptor to hook this screen up, and you'll also need a cable to connect it to your computer, if you don't already have one your can use.

This is an excellent price for a 24" monitor. See full details and buy online now.

• See all our previous business tech bargains

Yes, you need to secure your smart phone too

Make sure you keep yours safe. (Image: Flickr user Johan Larsson.)

New smart phones have some strong security measures enabled out of the box. But did you know there are some simple steps you can take to make sure yours is secure?

Set a passcode

The simplest thing you can do protect your smart phone is to set a passcode. Once set, you will be required to enter the code to unlock and use your phone. The minor inconvenience of entering this each time will pay major dividends if your phone is ever lost or stolen.

A thief will be unable to access your phone without the passcode.

• With an iPhone, set your passcode by tapping: Settings > General > Passcode Lock
• On an Android phone, tap Settings > Security > Screen Lock
• If you use a Windows Phone, tap Settings -> Lock + wallpaper

Along the same lines, you should also make sure your phone is set to lock automatically when not in use. This means you won't have to remember to lock it yourself each time.

Keep your phone updated

Keeping your smart phone updated with the latest software is just as important as keeping your computer up to date.

Installing the latest updates helps you avoid any security problems that could affect your mobile operating system. For example, a security flaw in previous versions of Apple's iOS (which runs on every iPhone) could allow an attacker to bypass your lock screen.

You can search our website for details of security vulnerabilities affecting your particular model of phone.

Always be careful

All of the rules you've learned about being safe on your desktop computer apply when you're using your smart phone.

Be careful using public wireless connections, and particularly wary when the network doesn't require you to enter a password to connect. These connections are unencrypted, which means people can easily intercept your data.

Double-check the network you're connecting to is the one you think it is. Some attackers may try to steal your data by posing as a legitimate hotspot.

If you work with sensitive data a lot, consider a secure VPN connection for when you use public Wi-Fi. This should protect data even if you've connected to a dodgy network.

• Where to start with mobile security
• How to protect your phone from theft
• The business risks of smart phone apps

Giri Sreenivas is vice president of Mobile at security specialists Rapid7.

The new BlackBerry aims to bring Balance to your business

It's make or break time for RIM, manufacturer of the BlackBerry.

Once dominant in the world of business smart phones, the BlackBerry's market share has been steadily eroded by Apple's iPhone and Android handsets from the likes of Samsung and HTC.

But now RIM is fighting back with the BlackBerry Z10, which looks like ... well, it looks like every other smart phone that's hit the market in recent years.

It's a black slab with a big touch screen. Original.

The BlackBerry Z10 does personal too

There are lots of reviews that'll tell you about the BlackBerry Z10's tech specs and performance. Check engadget, TechCrunch and The Telegraph. Overall, it seems like a decent handset.

But there's one feature that sets the BlackBerry Z10 apart from its competitors. It's called Balance. According to RIM, it's the 'simplest and most user-friendly way to balance your personal and work life on a single device.'

Balance means that instead of carrying two phones (one for work and one for business), the BlackBerry Z10 can do both. It keeps company data secure and separate from personal photos, games and other distractions. You switch between the two modes by swiping the screen.

Will BlackBerry Z10 work with BYOD?

While Balance sounds like a really useful feature, for your business to take advantage of it you need to have bought into the BlackBerry platform, and be using BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

And that's where the BlackBerry Z10 is going to hit problems for smaller companies. The current trend is to bring your own device (BYOD) and give staff incentives to use their own smart phones for work.

There's no point in going to the trouble of implementing Balance if only a few staff members have chosen to buy the Z10.

Does that means the BlackBerry Z10 is set to fail? Not necessarily. It's just that the strings attached to Balance make that particular feature less useful for companies that don't have the budget to buy a phone for every employee and set up a BlackBerry-based infrastructure.

What's left is still a very capable smart phone. But given the dominance of Apple and Android, is that enough?

• The business risks of smart phone apps
• Protecting your phone from theft
• Mobile apps for small businesses

Microsoft Office 2013 arrives quietly

Like death, taxes and your train being late when you're in a hurry, having to use Microsoft Office is one of life's certainties.

Competitors have come and gone over the years. There's even an excellent free alternative available. Yet nobody has made an impact on the Microsoft juggernaut, which is responsible for about a third of the company's total revenue and has 90% market share.

Microsoft Office: ingrained and ever-present

Microsoft Office has become so ingrained in the world of work that we never give it a second thought. It's an ever-present piece of software that we take for granted - both the good bits and the bad.

Some of its capabilities are genuinely impressive, and yet it can also be incredibly frustrating. Most of us just get on with it when Word keeps messing our bullets up or PowerPoint keeps reformatting a crucial presentation.

Introducing Office 2013

It was against this background of indifference that Microsoft last week launched Office 2013, the new version of its ubiquitous software.

It has the usual smattering of new features, and a refreshed look and feel. Here are a few of the key changes:

• As with Windows 8, Office 2013 has been redesigned to work better on computers with touch screens. Some buttons are bigger and it's possible to pinch-and-zoom documents.
• Several people can now work on the same Word or PowerPoint document at once, if it's saved to Microsoft's SkyDrive cloud storage. However, early reviews suggest this function is a bit clunky.
• Microsoft has opened Office 2013 up to app developers, who can build their own apps and make them a part of Office. You can downloads apps via an app store - there aren't many available yet, but there's huge potential.

There are many other improvements and tweaks too. PC Pro has an excellent review examining some of the new capabilities in detail.

Rent or buy Office 2013

Although the home version of Office 2013 is available to buy now, the business packages won't be on sale until 27 February. Touch screen users will find it worth upgrading immediately.

It will be possible to rent Office 2013 from Microsoft too. As with many cloud services, you'll pay by the month. Stop paying, and Office will stop working. This version is called Office 365.

Over the long term, paying monthly is unlikely to work out much cheaper than buying the software outright. But renting will be more flexible, because you'll be able to cancel any time after the first 30 days - and you'll receive updates to new versions of Office as they're released.

Microsoft also promises some useful extra features for Office 365, like Office on Demand, a special copy of the software you can temporarily use on any PC.

Business package pricing and options should become clearer in the next week or two, but going by prices currently shown on the Microsoft website, you could be looking at anything up to £15 per person per month for a fully-featured version of Microsoft Office.

• The best free software everyone should know about
• PowerPoint is not the right tool for the job
• Microsoft wants every computer to have a touch screen