Operating System

Forget about the brands, specs, and screen resolutions for now. Let's first look at the software installed on the phone. This will make a big difference with what kinds of capabilities and compatibility your phone will have with your business.

iOS

Like many other Apple products, iOS changed the game for smartphones, evolving them from sluggish, unattractive masses of plastic to sleek, responsive powerhouses. With that said, iOS wasn't adopted by businesses quickly - it's a great smartphone OS but until the latest iteration, iOS 5, it hasn't really been geared for businesses.The iOS 5 operating system includes a virtual digital assistant (named Siri) that can schedule appointments, check your mail messages, and send texts through intuitive voice controls. Some regard this feature as a novelty, while others are empowered to ask their phone to remind them about their 3pm meeting.Apple also has a cloud service that lets you sync documents and files between multiple iOS and Mac OSX devices. This is great for businesses who use Apple devices already, however traditional Windows-powered businesses won't gain much from this.In short, iOS phones are easy to use, have a huge library of third party apps, and some light business capabilities along side features that are both useful and fun.

Android

Google's mobile operating system is found across many devices from many manufacturers. Most devices today run one of two versions; Gingerbread or Ice Cream Sandwich. Ice Cream Sandwich is the latest version, but many recent Gingerbread devices are in a queue to be upgraded to ICS.The Android OS has many features geared towards businesses, as well as a slick, easy-to-use interface. While it is capable of connecting to Exchange for syncing mail, calendar, and contacts, Android also has a very nice Gmail interface as well, and supports imap for other mail solutions on top of that.While Apple's iOS has many more third party apps, Google has been growing their Play Store (their freshly named app marketplace) and a wide range of productivity apps and tools are available from file syncing services like Box.com and Dropbox to Microsoft Office tools.In short, Ice Cream Sandwich is a very flexible, capable OS that is designed for both work and play and offers superb business communications and social capabilities. With so many different phone models these capabilities depend on the quality of the hardware.

BlackBerry

RIM's BlackBerry used to be a name synonymous for business smartphone. While there are now plenty of great options out there to compete with the BlackBerry, the BlackBerry 7 OS is still a viable choice for businesses. BlackBerry pushes many features that other phone operating systems have or are capable of with third party applications, such as the ability to remotely access your phone if it is lost or stolen and wipe the data.Like most smartphones, productivity tools like calendars, email, and document viewing are available, but with a BlackBerry much of this is built in.In Short, while BlackBerry isn't nearly as popular in the consumer electronic market as the other options, it is still a relevant option for businesses, however, typical user reviews for various models have been hit or miss; it appears RIM isn't keeping up with the flexibility and power of the two leading smartphone operating systems.

Windows Phone

Microsoft has always been known for understanding what businesses need and the current Windows Phone OS Mango is no exception. With access to feature-rich mobile versions of the Microsoft Office suite and a metro-style interface that displays pertinent information about messages and emails, Mango is pushing very hard to be the premier choice for businesses.However, Microsoft has had a bit of a problem getting their smartphone OS to break through a market dominated by Apple and Google, so there are fewer third party apps available and fewer phone models. Mango has great email syncing capabilities and plays very well with Exchange, and you can save and share Microsoft Office files on your Windows Live SkyDrive and access them from anywhere.In short, Microsoft's Windows phone is certainly business-friendly and offers a lot of productive options, but with a smaller slice of the market, fewer apps and high-end phones are available.

Technical Specs - Gs and Jiggawats and Resolutions

Once you select a phone OS, you'll want to be aware of a few technical specs that will matter. There are a lot of smartphones with various levels of functionality, and sometimes the more budget phones are just that; budget phones. Business users want something fast and capable of handling the apps that need to be used each day, so if the price looks too good to be true, you might be getting a device that's better suited as a paperweight with a monthly contract.

3G and 4G

Most carriers are pushing 4G as the latest and greatest thing, but what is it? 4G is a faster wireless data connection. Web surfing, file transfers, and streaming remote desktop connects and video is much more seamless compared to traditional 3G networks. Check with your carrier to see their coverage map. 4G phones don't require 4G networks (they work just fine on 3G, just with slower download speeds) so don't let that stop you from picking out an otherwise ideal smartphone.

Computing Power

Today, smartphones are processing powerhouses, and you'll want them to be. If you are looking at Android or Windows-based phones, you'll want at least a 1 ghz processor, and check for dual-core CPUs for even better battery life and speed. We're also beginning to see the first few quad-core processors hit phones which improve performance and battery life even more, but those will be a bit more expensive.

Storage

Some phones have built-in storage (usually in options like 16, 32, and 64 gigabytes) while other phones depend on micro SD cards and have a smaller built-in capacity. Having the ability to expand your storage is a great feature but if the phone has a lot of storage it isn't necessary.

Video Output

Many smartphones offer HDMI ports so you can connect them to projectors and HD TVs. This is great for presentations or streaming video content. Newer phones may opt out of the traditional HDMI port and instead have a Mobile High Def Link (MHL) port. This port connects to projectors and HDMI-capable televisions and monitors but also charges the phone at the same time.

Video Conferencing

Science fiction predicted that in the year 2000 we would have flying cars and video phones. We are still waiting on the flying car, but at long last smartphones make video conferencing a reality with front-facing cameras. These cameras are usually standard definition, but that's perfect for smooth video conferencing. You might not think this is a big deal, but if you conduct meetings over the web, being able to transmit your mug makes things that much more personal. Of course, most smartphones have somewhat-decent cameras on the back as well - some better than others. The iPhone 4s rear-facing camera is especially fast and produces good images, and some of the most recent Android phones are catching up to it as well.

Battery Life

If you are coming from a traditional cell phone (you know, the kind that doesn't let you stream Netflix movies and play Angry Birds) you will notice that the battery life on smartphones deplete substantially faster. Expect to plug in your smartphone every night, or every other night if you are lucky, but this is rare. Remember that the estimated battery life posted on phone advertisements is a little bias - you are better off shaving a few hours from that. Check online reviews; if there is a major lack of battery capacity you'll be quick to find out.

Other Stuff

There are plenty of other specifications and features various phone models will have, such as screen resolution, physical keyboards, kickstands, improved audio processing, and more. These are all extra gravy piled on top of already capable devices that may make them more attractive depending on what you want. With huge competition, smartphone price points are fairly straight forward (most phone resellers practically lay out their phones in a tiered fashion with $50, $99, and $199 phones with two year contracts).There is a lot to consider, but if you are looking to implement the latest in mobility for yourself and your business, getting it right the first time will save you a lot of hardship in the long run. Need some help mobilizing your workforce? Contact us at (602)808-4400 to go over your needs. Total Networks can match you with the mobile solution that will match your business's demands.

Viruses, malware, and most other online scams are pretty tricky. Much of the time, in order to be effective, they need to pluck at a user's heartstrings or instill action-driving fear in order to infiltrate a system. That's why so much malware these days comes in looking like a legitimate virus scanner, telling you there are urgent issues with your PC and informing you that the only way to fix these 'issues' is by paying them money.This has been very common over the past few years - fake antiviruses are some of the most annoying instances of malware technicians need to deal with on a regular basis. The latest trend, however, doesn't even pretend to be innocent. This type of malware will simply take over your PC and demand payment to relinquish control. Think of the old mobster flicks where ransom notes were written with demands like bringing unmarked bills to the old port on the south side of town.We urge users who experience strange activity on their computer to contact us at (602)808-4400 - if your computer reports issues or viruses and asks you to pay to remove them, it is likely a scam. Ensuring that you are using updated software like the latest web browser, windows updates, and an updated licensed antivirus will go a long way to protect your PC.

What is a Hard Disk Drive (HDD)?

A Hard disk drive is a magnetic storage device with several rotating disks (called Platters) covered in a magnetic material on which data can be written. The data is written with Magnetic heads called Read/Write Heads which hover very close to the surface of the platters and, as the name implies, reads or writes the magnetic data on the disk. HDD's are classified as non-volatile storage devices that, unlike RAM memory, continue to store their data after power is turned off to the device. Hard drives are the primary storage device for the users' data and have been since the 1960'sPros:

• Magnetic storage can be written to exponentially more times than solid state
• Data can be overwritten directly on the disk
• The cost per gigabyte is significantly less than solid state

Cons:

• The moving parts inside a Hard Disk Drive provide several disadvantages
• While each sector can be written to more than solid state, mechanical failure of the drive will occur before the sector will fail
• Because of the moving parts inside, if you drop a hard disk drive, you run the risk of damaging the components. This is especially true if the drive is spinning when its dropped.
• Compared to Solid State, Hard Drives have slower read/write speeds and latencies. In fact, traditional hard drives are the bottleneck of modern computing. Where every other component of a PC has vastly improved in speed, hard drives haven't seen much of an increase over the past few years.

What is a Solid State Drive (SSD)?

One of the primary characteristics of a solid state drive is that there are no moving parts. Data is stored in integrated circuits and provide fast access to the stored data. If you have a USB drive, then you are already familiar with solid state drives. SSD's are also non-volatile storage.Pros:

• Solid state drives are not as susceptible to physical shock (like hitting a hard surface) as a hard disk drive.
• Solid state provides for faster access to data.
• Fragmentation is not an issue on a solid state drive

Cons:

• Solid state will cost you more per gigabyte than a traditional hard drive.
• Each block of memory on a solid state drive can only be written to so many times
• Solid state drives have drawbacks regarding data encryption that may leave your data accessible to someone with the right tools.

It is predicted that traditional hard disk drives will co-exist with solid state drives for many years to come and while many of the pros and cons will remain the same, the gap will continue to narrow and solid state drives will eventually become the standard.  Even compared to a couple years ago, the cost and longevity of solid state drives has improved.  Eventually, it is likely that solid state will take over, but for now it all depends on your needs.So which one is right for you? That will depend on your needs and budget. While each type of drive has advantages and disadvantages, there are times when one will outperform the other. If your not sure which one to choose, give us a call at (602)808-4400.

Windows Key + Arrow Keys

• These key combinations will manipulate the currently open window.
• Windows key + Up will Maximize the window
• Windows Key + Down will either restore down the window or minimize it to the taskbar
• Windows Key + Left/Right will snap the window to the left or right, or center it in the screen

Ctrl + X/C/VThese shortcuts may be the most useful. Ctrl + X will Cut, Ctrl + C will copy and Ctrl + V will paste the current selection. Once you get used to these shortcuts, any copying and pasting you do will be a breeze.Ctrl + Z, Ctrl + YCtrl + Z will undo the last action you made, and Ctrl + Y will redo the action that was last undone. Depending on the program being used, you can undo/redo many times.Alt + Tab/Windows Key + TabHolding Alt and then pressing tab will allow you to cycle through your open windows. Windows will remember the last used window so when you want to switch back, just use the shortcut again. This is very helpful when you have a full-screen program that will not close, press Alt + Tab to get back to your desktop, and from there you can right click and close the program window. Holding the Windows Key and the pressing tab will do the same thing, but in a more fun and graphical way.Alt + F4This shortcut will allow you to quickly close the currently active window. This can be helpful when a window or program freeze and the red X is not working.Ctrl + B/U/IThese shortcuts are great when compiling a Word, Excel or PowerPoint document to apply formatting to your text. Ctrl + B will bold the text, Ctrl + U will underline the text and Ctrl + I will make the text italic.Ctrl + 1/2In a Word document, these shortcuts will set the line spacing of your document to either single or double spacing respectively.Windows Key + LWhen you need to step away from your computer, this shortcut will lock your computer without having to log out. Keep in mind this is only effective if your user account has a password set up.Windows Key + DThis shortcut will quickly minimize all windows and show your desktop. If you press it again, all of your windows will be brought back up.F1F1 will quickly bring up a help page for the program in use. Try it in Microsoft Office, you will find that the online help can be very informative.Some of these shortcuts may not be used every day, but most of them can greatly improve productivity by saving you the time of searching through menus or ribbons.

Line Spacing

Line spacing is the amount of space between lines of text. The higher you set your spacing, the more distance there is between each line. To go from 1 line spacing to 2 means that you doubled the amount of space between each line. To go from 1 to 3 triples that amount of space. Having some space between each line can make a document easier to read and proof after printing.There are two easy ways to set your line spacing; just remember to select your text first, or set the spacing before you start writing. The first method is to use the Line and Paragraph Spacing button, which is on the Home tab in the Paragraph section. If you click on the button, a drop down appears. From here you can quickly choose to set it either 1, 1.15, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3. Alternatively, you could use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+1 or Ctrl+2 to set the spacing to 1 or 2 respectively.You can set other options if you click Line Spacing Options from the Line and Paragraph Spacing drop down. This brings up the Paragraph options window. From here you can change the alignment of your text, Increase indentation, and manually set the line spacing.

Paragraph Spacing

Adjusting the space before and after each paragraph can be done a few ways as well. You should already be familiar with the Line and Paragraph Spacing button on the home tab. From there you can just click to add space before a paragraph or remove space after one. If you click on the page layout tab, you will notice a paragraph section here as well. Changing the values of the before and after fields, will adjust the spacing accordingly. Again you will need to select the paragraph you would like to change, or set these parameters before you start typing.The next time you need to make a little text go a long way, or break up a big block of text or line-items, remember to set your line spacing.Is your business looking for help streamlining your day-to-day interactions with technology?  Contact us at (602)412-5025 and find out what Total Networks can do for your Phoenix business!

Let's start with a short video from the Department of Justice in Victoria, Australia.  They've put together an overview of their social media policy.

Define the Positives of Social Media

Understanding the value of social media goes much further than focusing on the downsides. Sure, users can talk poorly about your company, products, or services. On the other hand, users can carry megaphones announcing how amazing you are, and you can enchant users to develop strong long-term relationships with clients and customers.Clearly define all of the positive aspects and why social media is important. Focus on the things employees can do, not the things they can't. Social media policies are generally not restrictive except where common sense makes it necessary.

Keep it Productive

Many businesses see social networks as a waste of time, and for some, it is. Users are wasting a lot of time harvesting crops on Farmville and chit-chatting with friends and family, however, communication is usually a big part of any business. Consider social networking part of the job, but make sure you execute and find the balance between social media and the rest of the business objectives.

Encourage Responsibility and Authenticity

It's important for employees to be aware that correspondence online is public. That doesn't mean posts need to represent the business, but a user needs to be responsible for the things they say and post online. Common sense and good judgment go a long way here. Opinions are a great thing to have, but being portrayed as a bully or a racist is never acceptable. Employees should consider their actions before they publish content or media online - readers can consist of current and potential clients.

Copyrights and Fair Usage

Pretty straightforward; don't take credit for things that aren't your own, and credit authors in cases where it might be hard to tell if it is your content or somebody else's. Don't confuse this with sharing links and articles, which is entirely okay, because it points back to the original site.

Protect Confidential Information

While transparency is a great thing to have, employees are responsible for protecting proprietary data. Arizona has specific laws for governing business secrets, and defining this clearly in the policy is important so employees know the repercussions and dangers of posting proprietary information online.

Educate and Engage

You might have employees who love what they do and love social media. Employees like this can bring a lot of value to your customers and clients if you release the reigns and let them experiment with social media. Good social media usage can generate buzz and improve relationships. Social media isn't just about posting information and talking at customers, but talking to customers. Sometimes the best official policy is simply encouraging happy, knowledgeable employees to share their experiences and knowledge on the social networks.A great example would be a chef at a restaurant blogging about how to best prepare the perfect Glace au flour. Educating builds authority and trust, and the newfound knowledge of preparing delicious Glace au flour won't prevent customers from coming to the restaurant. This can build personal relationships and strengthen the company as a whole.

Make it Real

Above all else, encourage your employees to take part. Your business won't feel the magic of social media marketing without enchanting your followers, and you can't enchant anybody if you don't put some time into it. It has to be real, honest, and above all else, have fun with it!Keeping your social media policy simple, straightforward, and based on common sense is the best approach.  Check out what big businesses like Coca Cola, Best Buy, and IBM are doing on the social networks - plenty of businesses are finding a lot of opportunity on the social networks and with proper policies and effort yours can too.