Category: Small Biz Go Mobile

Telepresence gets upgrade from Cisco

by Justin Alcon

As companies scale, they open offices in multiple locations and hire sales staff in various regions.  This has caused many an office worker to dread the Monday morning “all-hands” meeting- that complicated dance of getting everyone in on a conference call for the apparent purpose of shouting at a phone from across the room.  After enduring this a few times, it become obvious that solid, simple telepresence is vital to a growing business.

Currently telepresence means a conference call, or the somewhat-better option of using Skype on your computer.  However, Cisco has recently made a game-changing announcement that it will partner with major cable and internet providers to offer a new product : Consumer or Home TelePresence.

This type of technology would be a better and more affordable solution than the current suite of options available to the average Joe-on-the-go.

With it, per Cisco, people can interact with distant coworkers, partners, customers, or family back home by standing in front of a television set.  The biggest improvement of Consumer of Home Telepresence over current technology is that it uses the existing high-def capabilities of a home television set and applies it to video conferencing. Cisco will use this selling point to contrast itself against competitors like video-calling giant Skype.  This type of technology will also probably be available in business-focused hotels in the next few years.

The lowest, but most heavily subsidized, cost for a small unit could be as low as $200. It would also be possible to offer it at $500 with fewer contractual obligations or lower monthly costs.

Cisco already has a big telepresence business aimed at the corporate meeting market. A drawback of their previous technology is that its deployment can be complex and requires expensive installation of large pieces of equipment. This new personal product is simple, smaller, less complex, and would be perfect for smaller businesses and people that work from a home office.

From Cisco’s Web site:

With Cisco TelePresence:

Scheduling is easy–no IT support required

Launching a meeting is as simple as making a phone call

In-room controls are intuitive–collaboration applications are plug and play

Participants can meet in many rooms at once-up to 48 locations in one meeting

Users can easily bring in collaboration applications like Cisco WebEx Meeting Center

Existing SD or HD videoconferencing systems can be easily integrated

BoomTown reported that Cisco will be holding a press event next Wednesday morning in San Francisco. The invite reads: “Come see a new Cisco consumer experience at an exclusive media event, hosted by Chairman and CEO John Chambers.”

This press event is a continuation of Cisco’s push into the consumer space, offering a variety of products.

WordPress 2.6 for iOS Adds Enhanced Video Support

by BrothaTech

I manage a couple of WordPress sites and write for a couple of others, but I hardly use the WordPress apps for my mobile devices. BUT when I need to use it to adjust something real quick like a typo, or a broken link in a post and I am NOT sitting around a computer, BOY do the WordPress mobile apps come in handy.

So I’m pretty geeked to tell you that WordPress has added some additional features for iOS devices (Apple) that just may get me to use the mobile apps more often.

The “set up” (leading up to the grand finale) features include:

– Autosave feature and improved Local Draft Support so you’re mobile posts don’t get completely trashed if your phone or the app freezes up…and it does happen.

*Drumroll please*

– The WordPress 2.6 for iOS devices now includes enhanced video support. Now you can capture and post videos directly to your WP site without any converting, or uploading to additional video sharing sites, then embedding the video to your WP site. So for all you Vloggers with an iPhone and a WP blog, you can now shoot and post vlogs on the fly.

There are a bunch of other bugs that they worked on, so check out the improved WordPress 2.6 for iOS app – it’s free, but requires iOS 3.0.2 or later.

(No word on any improvements to Android or BlackBerry versions…doh!)

Go Bluetooth Hands-free To Talk While Driving And To Avoid Fines

by BrothaTech

Here in Maryland, the state is putting into effect the “talking while driving law” (that’s what I call it) at the end of this month, that will come with a fine if a cop catches you talking on your phone while driving. Check the hands-free restrictions in your state HERE

if you don’t have wireless calling built into your ride, The alternative is to go bluetooth to make hands-free calls if you MUST talk while driving which I understand can be most of the time for a on-the-go small business owner/entrepreneur. So allow me to give you two bluetooth hands-free options.

Bluetooth Earpiece

You see them everywhere, now it’s time to give up your effort to NOT look silly with one those thingys in your ear all time even when you are not talking (I keep mine in the car for THIS specific reason). But you would be surprised at how cool some of them actually look in your ear.

Brands like Aliph Jawbone and Jabra make some really attractive Bluetooth earpieces that will allow you keep your dignity if you forget to take it out of your ear after a call. They can be pricey (100 bucks and up), but if you want to talk in style and not worry about the cops pulling you over, you should check them out. If looks don’t matter and you just want to comply, most bluetooth earbuds can be had at your local mobile phone/electronics store for 30 bucks and up.

Bluetooth Car Kits (In-car Speakerphones)

If you just CAN’T deal with the bluetooth piece in your ear, and don’t want to yank out and replace your stereo head unit with a bluetooth unit, you can opt to get a Bluetooth Car Kit. These gadgets can clip to your visor and allow you to talk away without putting a bluetooth in your ear. Some of the brands like Parrot & Jabra (pictured above) can stream music from your phone, download you contact list for voice dialing, and connect to you stereo via a built-in FM transmitter so you can hear the convo from your car’s speakers. These guys start at around 40 bucks and in my opinion are the way to go just to make sure you’re not a victim of a cop’s ticket quota fulfillment…Honestly, I don’t know if cops just write tickets just to meet some sort of quota, but you might as well keep that phone off your ear and not worry about it right?

BlackBerry’s PlayBook Tablet Screams ‘Business Ready’

by BrothaTech

With its ultra-portable, 7″ inch screen weighing in at under one-pound (compared to the Apple iPad at a “husky” 1.5 pounds for the WiFi only model) and HTML5 AND Flash 10.1 capabilities, RIM has decided to enter the tablet game, but focuses on its tried and true business customer base with the unveiling of the new BlackBerry PlayBook tablet devices set to be released to the masses early 2011.

Of course the business-savvy professional isn’t the ONLY customer RIM had in mind when developing the PlayBook. It also packs most of the entertainment features that are becoming standard of most mobile devices.

– Front and rear-facing HD (1080p) cameras
– 1080p HD video playback
– Mini HDMI output
– MP3, AAC, WMA audio playback
– WiFi (up to 802.11n)
– Bluetooth 2.1

Back to the business side of things – The PlayBook will sport 1GB of RAM and a 1GHz DUAL-CORE processor to power what BlackBerry calls “True multitasking”. Current BB smartphone owners who may be eye-balling the PlayBook will be happy to know that while the first Playbook will be WiFi-only, the ability to tether (share data connection) with their BB smartphone will be as easy as setting up bluetooth connectivity between the two devices. Once set up, the Playbook will display and synchronize data from your BB smartphone – with no extra data plan fees.

The most surprising point about the new PlayBook is the fact that it’s not using the new BlackBerry 6 OS that BB recently unveiled with the new BlackBerry Touch smartphone. BB is putting its acquisition money to good use and tapped QNX to build an all new mobile OS specifically for the Playbook. The company’s founder states that “QNX is going to enable things that you have never seen before”. If this is true and the QNX OS does blow our socks off when the Playbook is released, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this OS take the place of BB 6 OS in the not-so-distant future.

But, we will have to wait and see because “early 2011” is the only solid date we have, and no word as to how much the BlackBerry PlayBook will cost. From the looks of it, there will be two [storage] sizes, a 16GB and 32GB version. And BlackBerry has stated that 3G and 4G versions should be available in the future as well.

My opinion (that is, if you’re wondering) – I’m an app guy, and BlackBerry SERIOUSLY needs to step up its app game to get me excited enough to keep my BlackBerry smartphone AND possibly ditch my iPad for this new PlayBook. Speaking of which, during RIM’s Developer’s Conference (where they unveiled the PlayBook), they also unveiled their new WebWorks Software Development Kit (SDK) in hopes to woo developers back into making some good applications for the PlayBook and other BB mobile devices. So I will reserve judgment for when or if RIM can catch up with iOS (Apple) and Android in the mobile app wars.

What about you? Will you be bugging your company’s IT department about making the new BlackBerry PlayBook tablet available so you can do more Teleworking with your BlackBerry devices? Will you see the PlayBook as much needed companion to your BlackBerry smartphone and your busy, small business lifestyle? Will the PlayBook be a competitor to the iPad? Speak on it in the comments section…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAaez_4m9mQ

Stay On Top of Tasks with Producteev

by BrothaTech

There are SO many task managers out there, so I am not suggesting that you ditch whatever app, service, or method you use to keep you and/or your team’s tasks organized because I think this service is the holy grail of task managers. But you should be on the lookout for any tips, tricks, or apps that can improve your organization and productivity (that’s why we are here).

So I feel it’s necessary that I hip you to Producteev, the cool web service/mobile app that does a good job of managing your tasks, and really shines when managing the tasks of a group. Surprisingly, I found this app not because I was looking for something to write about, but because I was looking for an app so my wife could keep track of my “honey-do list” and I could stay on top of all of our tasks and keep them in one place.

Producteev is available via the web service or iPhone app and like the other tasks managers apps out there, you can add tasks, label them, give them due dates, assign them to others, et cetera. But that’s pretty much were the similarities end. Producteev’s claim to fame is that you can use most of the popular services, in addition to the web and mobile app to add and manage tasks:

– Email
– Instant Messenger
– Google Calendar
– Twitter

Back to me and my wife. We currently use BlackBerries BUT we also use Google Chat. So we can both send tasks to our family “workspace” and assign, label, and add deadlines to tasks, but we can also add notes and collaborate on tasks all through Google Chat. It all synchronizes with the web service, and via Google Chat, we can save our chat history, adding even another layer of our tasks and our conversations corresponding to those tasks.

That’s just one way to use Producteev to manage tasks. You can also send/receive emails, synchronize with Google Calendar and add widgets to Gmail and iGoogle to quickly manage tasks. Here are some top-level productivity features (if my example of my wife sending me a task to not forget to get diapers from the grocery store isn’t enough):

– Multiple Team Support via workspaces where you can assign privacy settings, add team members to different projects and keep it organized and synchronized all via one Producteev account.

– Filters and reports you can tweak to show accomplishments, team activity, etc.

– Daily/Weekly email digests of you tasks and activity straight to your inbox.

– Hot Task feature that uses magic algorithms that can suggest what tasks to tackle next.

Producteev even has a little game called the “Academy” that turns tasks into a competition with badges and other rewards for banging out tasks.

Producteev is free for up to two users and includes forum support. From there, $5 bucks a month gets you more file storage space, email support, better security and the ability to brand your workspace with logos, and backgrounds. The high-end service ($30 bucks a month) gets you up to 1.5 GB of file storage, Phone support, and the ability to generate reports.

Tasks managers are nothing new, but Producteev does offer a new way to help you cross those tasks off your list regardless of how you choose to manage them. So check it out and drop me a line via the comments section to let me know what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV27q1xVtpY&feature=player_embedded

Guides to migrating to Office 2010

by Jean Westcott

Microsoft has created some handy guides for those migrating to Office 2010.  These should help many of us in getting over the initial frustration of finding out how to do the things you used to know how to do in earlier versions.

This reminds me of a time when one of my supervisors asked me if I liked a new version of a custom software.  I answered with a tinge of whining, “Its different!”  This of course was the point, but it is a common enough situation that any changes bring groans of frustration, even if the changes improve the software greatly.

Sometimes taking a breath and taking the time to familiarize yourself with changes is all it takes to change your attitude to something new in your daily routines.  Microsoft’s Office suite is so ubiquitous, that they realize that the easier they make it for users to adapt to the changes, the better the experience for those users.  Tools such as these ensure that they maintain the loyalty of IT managers, by making the users happier and preventing a deluge of frustrated help desk calls.

Managing communication on multiple devices

by Jean Westcott

Ever feel like your monitors (computers, TV, phone) multiply on their own?  How can you manage all of the interacations that result from being so connected across multiple platforms.  Lifehacker just did a great post on the topic–“How to be Productive with Multiple Devices and Methods of Communication“. 

 One of the takeaways is to use the proper communication ‘tool’ for each situation.  We all tend to have go-to tools that we rely on.  I’m an emailer.  I like to have a written record of the topics discussed and I am often communicating with people in far-flung time zones. 

But there are many other ways to communicate.  Twitter DMs and @ replies.  Phone calls and voice mails.  Instant Messages.  In person meetings or snailmail.  Each of these have their own place.  Consider these questions when deciding how to communicate:

1.  Does this require an instant response?

2.   Does the person I need to communicate with have a prefered method of contact? 

3.  Do they have access to that technology?

4.  Do I need to provide background or have a written record of the communication?

5.  Is this a legal matter or contractual matter that requires proof of deliver?

6.  Is it a sensitive topic that would benefit from a live conversation?

7.  Can I answer with a quick yes or no?

8.  Do I just need to give a simple answer not requiring a response?

9.  Would a formal letter make an impression?

10.  Are we trying to reconnect and in-person would be the preferred method of connecting?

11.  Would a free-form conversation yield new opportunities?

and probably most importantly–

Which method of communication is preferred by my client?

Run a Presentation From ANY Mobile Device with MightyMeeting

by BrothaTech

“No laptop? No problem” is the first thing you notice when going to MightyMeeting’s website. The app/service does just that – Allows you to present from a mobile device without the need for a desktop or laptop.

The way it works is by uploading PowerPoint presentations to your MightMeeting (MM for short) account. Then via the MM app on your mobile device, you can create a meeting from any of the presentations you uploaded, and invite people to view the presentation regardless of what device they are using. So essentially, using your iPhone, iPad or Android mobile device, you can run a presentation directly from your smartphone while people can view the presentation on their smartphone. As the presenter moves from slide to slide via his/her mobile device, so will the slides on the display of the people viewing the presentation.

Now you can still run a presentation using the MM web app and viewers can still view the presentation via laptops or desktops, but where is the fun in that? (We are talking about small business mobility right?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSCtSQ7XOt8&feature=player_embedded

It’s that simple. Primarily, you would create a link to share the presentation via email, but MightMeeting also allows you to share via the popular social media networks as well (Twitter & FaceBook). So if you have connections via social media networks only, you can get them in on the action as well (tip: use those hashtags!)

MM is working on the ability to brand your meetings with custom UI skins. Right now, there are only three themes: default, Apple & Facebook. But check with MM to find out when they will release complete UI customization.

MM has updated their features to now include VOIP calling so you it can eventually compete directly with other well known online meeting/conferencing services like WebEx, GoToMeeting, etc. Via the MM web app, you can give viewer the option to “call in” to your active meeting. As I write this the MM the VOIP-enabled application for iPhone users should be on Apple’s desk waiting for approval, with the Android app soon to follow. Until then, you can just doll out your smartphone number to accompany your meeting room information, or get creative and use MM in conjunction with Google Voice or Skype Mobile.

The only gripes I have with MM is the fact that right now, only powerpoint files are accepted (pdf’s are good too). So for you Keynote fans, you will have to convert to either PowerPoint or make a PDF before you can upload to MM.

If you are a on-the-go business person, entrepreneur, or professional and need a quick way to do presentation, check out MightyMeeting.

Then visit iTunes to download the iPhone app

Or use your barcode scanner to download the app on your Android:

…Did I mention MightyMeeting is free!

Evernote Updates its Android App

by BrothaTech

Staying on my Evernote kick, Android users will be happy to know that Evernote updated its Android app with some cool new features to keep you connected to all of your important stuff.

In addition to a bunch of bug fixes…

– Fixed a problem that kept an edited note from updating properly
– Fixed a problem that removed intentional white space within notes
– Added higher resolution iconography (Android 2.1 and later)
– Placed the Save button onscreen on the audio notes screen
– Fixed a problem that kept the app from loading tags properly

…Instead of opening the Evernote app on your Android smartphone, you now can add an Evernote widget to your home screen to quickly browse through your stuff without opening up the app first.

Another feature is pinch and zoom support. So now you have more control over how you view your stuff in Evernote. No longer do you have to be subjected to the pre-determined views by just clicking on “zoom”.

Finally, any Android app that has a Sharing or “send to” option will list Evernote as one of the options. So if you want to save a website or a tweet for later, you can now “Share via Evernote” and send the content to your account…all without even opening up Evernote, or sending tons of emails with the content attached to my Evernote account (my current process since I am using a BlackBerry).

*Shakes fist at Evernote for BlackBerry app*

So if you are a heavy Evernote user, or need one place to store/access your info, and recently jumped on the Android smartphone bandwagon (for good reason) this is an update you should check-out

Evernote Widget For Your Site/Blog Pays You Back!

by BrothaTech

If you’re not familiar with Evernote, it’s a cool depository for all your online stuff. Notes, links, images, voice memos, you name it, you can store it in Evernote. The cool thing about Evernote is you can access/synchronize your stuff from ANY device. To put it in SmallBizGoMobile terms, if you are on the go and need to refer to some notes you left yourself for a business meeting, but don’t have your laptop, you can access those notes on your mobile device if you used Evernote to save the notes.

If you wanted to save a website to Evernote, you could drag a bookmarklet onto your favorites bar, click on the bookmarklet while on the site and BOOM! (BANG! Is already taken), the website was saved. You can now use your iPhone, iPad, Android, or BlackBerry smartphone to view the site later.

Now that’s no different than similar apps like Instapaper that also allow you to save web pages for later reading. So Evernote decided to up the ante and offer a widget for your blog/website that will allow readers to save your page to their Evernote account.

Now I know what you are thinking, “in addition to the Tweet button, the Facebook “Like” button, the Google “Buzz” button, now I am gonna have to deal with adding Evernote Site Memory button? Well yeah, if you want to get paid anytime somebody signs up for a premium Evernote account. But before I get to the money…

If you are a site owner, and you sign up for Evernote’s premium service and become an Evernote affiliate, you will have more control over your Evernote Site Memory Button. You can change items like the title of the note, the url (if you want to use it on your site’s homepage instead of/in addition to individual blog posts), and a bunch of styling options.

Now to the money – When somebody clicks your Site Memory Button, they will be asked to sign in to their Evernote account (if they don’t have one, they will be given the option to do so). If at any time in the future they decide to upgrade to a premium account, you collect the first $10 bucks Evernote collect from their upgrade.

Disclaimer: You don’t have to upgrade your Evernote account or become an affiliate in order to use the Site Memory Button for your site/blog. But a premium subscription is only $5 bucks a month, and with it now comes the opportunity to give your site’s viewers more options to save/share your page, and potentially get a little kick-back anytime someone saves your site in their Evernote account.
For more information, and how to get the button on your site/blog, visit the official Evernote blog.