Computer Services Auckland Blog - Pulse IT Blog

iPhone 4S game changing technology at your fingertips….

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 03:28:00 GMT

Skipping past all of the cool technical improvements, (faster speed, better screen, better camera and video etc.), I want to focus on the one item which is a potential game-changer for the industry… a little four letter word (name) called Siri.

What is Siri?

In short, Siri takes not only voice activation to a new level, but also has the potential to revolutionise the search engine industry. At its most simplistic level, your phone can now complete a number of tasks by simply talking to it, not in technical speak however - it understands language construct, so feel free to speak in “human” talk.

Everything from sending text messages, booking meetings through to letting you know what the weather is doing – all by talking to your phone.

Why is this a potential industry game changer?

Industry experts are suggesting that ‘search engines’ will be replaced by ‘do engines’ - where instead of you searching for something and the search engine responding with possible options for you to consider, a ‘do engine’ will actually go and perform the task you want performed, taking you right to the transaction or completed service phase.

It is thought that Siri is the largest single threat to Google going forward as ‘one correct answer is worth more than one hundred blue links’.

I too, see this as a game changer for the industry going forward and I look forward to receiving my new iPhone 4s in the coming days to prove my theory… (I think it’s cool, just not cool enough to camp overnight in my pyjamas to get one!)

Tech News…. The Future of Web with Google’s latest ‘HTML5’ Project Site

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 02:50:00 GMT

Historically we have needed add-ons like Flash & QuickTime to enable us to watch a video online. Now with HTML5, a webpage video can play without any add-on products required; a smooth, fast picture stream that is propelling us into the future of internet browsing.

Currently this technology is up and running on Google Chrome, Firefox 4 and Internet Explorer 9 and is making an impact. It’s also a brilliant plus for iPhone users where Flash isn’t supported, this technology steps in and puts you back in the game.

The following website is a very cool example of the HTML 5 being used – you will need Google Chrome for this site to work properly but we think it is a very nifty look at what the future of web browsing can hold.

We trust you will enjoy…

http://thewildernessdowntown.com

Netbooks - an ideal travelling companion

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 21:34:00 GMT

Recently we’ve assisted a number of our clients with redesigning the technology for their remote workforce. In a number of cases this has seen netbooks come up trumps against traditional laptop options. So why is that?

One of the highlights of a Netbook is that it is slimmer and lighter than your traditional laptop, yet still able to offer the key ingredients – Word, Excel, Outlook, Internet browsing and the other tools you’d expect. Netbooks don’t have internal CD/DVD drives but most feature a few USB ports, internal speakers, microphone and headphone ports and an in-built camera for web-conferencing, allowing you to video conference you colleagues, or skype your family when travelling.

The speed of the Notebook is also important to note – it generally has a slower speed processor with lower power consumption which means your battery lasts longer. Whilst they have a slower processor, because the software they run tends to be ‘lighter’ versions, they still move along at acceptable speeds.

Netbooks are perfect for remote accessing work while travelling and combined with the use of Cloud Computing options you will probably find you don’t need up-sized hard drives or faster processors either… something to think about.

Feel free to contact Pulse IT if you have any queries on how Netbooks might fit your business… 09 525 1180

Dave, Pulse IT's "resident-phone-geek" on iPhone vs Windows Phone 7 (WP7)

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 02:44:00 GMT

A few people have asked me why I carry around two phones and I take great joy in extolling the many strengths of each device. I started life (not literally) with an iPhone 3 which has served me well and kept me entertained for hours on end with its rich stream of applications and games. The catch phrase ‘there is an app for that’ holds true and it is clear from the diverse range of apps available that this is truly a consumer’s delight, catering to all tastes.

From a business perspective the iPhone is easy to setup and can collect email from a Microsoft Exchange account with minimal setup. It is, however, limited to a single account and a rather basic interface which is where it begins to show some cracks.

Since having a Windows Phone 7 in my possession I have been nothing but amazed with the Mobile Outlook integration of the phone. Being a true Microsoft product its synergy with a Microsoft network is easy to see allowing me to add multiple Exchange accounts that are easily read and navigated. There is, naturally, Mobile Office which is a cut down version of Word and Excel which also features OneNote and SharePoint. The latter are due to get some major renovations in the upcoming update to make them slightly more usable.

The marketplace, Microsoft’s equivalent to the app store, is still in its infancy and is slowly getting better with more mainstream applications coming out of the woodwork as the days go by. This still has a long way to go before it is anything like Apple’s feature rich app store.

Where iPhone uses iTunes to manage its content and updates, WP7 uses Zune. Both similar products but Apple definitely has the design and user interface advantage with these products. Updates are delivered to the devices through their respective applications.

To conclude; The iPhone is a sleek and very pretty device which is geared toward daily use and having fun with apps and games whereas the Windows Phone 7 is more suited to the business focussed individual.

Currently iPhone is only available through Vodafone whereas WP7 is available through both Vodafone and Telecom depending on the model.

Considering Cloud for accounts? Will you comply with IRD requirements?

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 02:45:00 GMT

We thought it worth bringing your attention to a business income alert that IRD released …

There were concerns that companies with ‘cloud computing’ IT infrastructures weren’t meeting the legal requirements of Section 22 of the Tax Administration Act 1994 which states that any company in New Zealand must keep adequate records (in English) for the commissioner to readily access their tax information, within NZ physically – that means if it’s in the cloud, it has to be a NZ cloud.

Online accounting & cloud company Xero, were quick to assuage customers that they have been working with IRD on policies around the cloud for quite some time and that NZ’s Xero customers do comply a-ok.

NZ law hasn’t kept up with developments in technology like Cloud computing, and Xero CEO Rod Drury hopes that NZ is in store for an amendment to the legislation similar to that of our Australian neighbours - where there are no restrictions regarding data storage location, only that company tax information can be produced if necessary.

Very interesting…..

Cure kids $10 Novotel Queenstown Challenge 8th - 10th October 2010

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 20:57:00 GMT

We went, we hitched, we rocked it and we want to say…THANK YOU!!

Mario & Luigi, alias Ryan & Brendon of Pulse IT, crossed the finish line 10th on Sunday afternoon, having helped to raise over $8,000 for Cure Kids!

Along with 17 other teams of two, Team Extreme spent 3 days of early wake ups, physical and mental challenges to grab more points for their team and plenty of
hitch-hiking ops as they made their way from Queenstown to Auckland.

A few $10 Challenge tips we’d like to share with you:

Make sure all your limbs are inside the vehicle before your driver takes off
Don’t expect your GPS to work in the back of a windowless, refrigerated milk truck
If you’re going to play pranks on another team, make sure you give them someone else’s room number
Yes, you CAN do that death-defying challenge - remember it’s all for the kids!

Brendon’s thoughts….

When Ryan first asked me to join him in this “race” from one end of the country to the other I was a little hesitant. After hearing it was to raise money for the Cure Kids charity I was 100% behind it and willing to give it a go even though (after checking out previous race footage on YouTube) I realised I would be tested and put in situations well outside my comfort zone. The highlight of the challenge for me was hitch-hiking from Wellington to Auckland, and in particular the awesome people we met during this journey. Along the way we had to compete in challenges which earned us points, my favourites were; panning for gold in central Otago and the trapeze at the ropes course in Taupo. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who contributed to our cause by donating money; Our team managed to raise over $8000 and the event as a whole raised a total of $263,000 with 100% of that money going to Cure Kids

Ryan’s thoughts….

This was one of the most fun and challenging things I’ve done - Talk about stretching!
It was an awesome time meeting plenty of Kiwi’s who went out of their way to help us get up the country.
A special thanks to the milk truck man who helped us get from Paekakariki – although it was getting rather dark and cold in that fridge after a while!
After learning more about CureKids on the way up the country, I’m very grateful to our sponsors – it’s such a great cause.
Highlight – The Milk Truck, and the general day from Wellington to Rotorua hitch hiking the whole way and coming in 3rd place at the end of day two – we had a lot of lifts with amazing people that day! (not to mention the fun of sending room service up to team Turnstone (Batman and Robin) at mid-night to wake them up and give us the edge going into day three!)
I would recommend anyone to give this a go next year – an amazing way to see the country, a lot of fun, and a fantastic cause.

We wouldn’t have got there without you guys – our generous supporters:

Thanks everyone – see you this time next year!

Pulse IT take on CureKids $10 Challenge

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 01:34:00 GMT

We're taking on the $10 CureKid's challenge

Pulse IT take on a huge challenge for a great cause...

Make a donation:

http://www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/PulseIT/

The team:

Ryan & Brendon disguise themselves as the Mario Brothers...

Dates: Fri 8th - Sun 10th Oct

Track Our Location during the race:

Keep track of where we’re at, on our 3 day journey from Queenstown to Auckland: Where Are We Now?

or catch our tweets on twitter

Info:

Yes you heard it right – Pulse IT have entered a team into the 2010 Novotel $10 Queenstown Challenge for Cure Kids and we need your help!

The Race:

Teams of two undertake a series of innovative ‘physical’ and ‘mental’ challenge’s en route from the starting line in Queenstown to the finishing line in Auckland over 3 days.

The Challenge:

With just $10 we’ll have to use all possible creativity and ingenuity to make it without flying or driving ourselves. We’ll be hoping we meet plenty of generous NZers who won’t mind picking up hitch-hikers on a mission!

Sound crazy but fun??!!!

Well yes it is a little; however this is all in the name of funding vital medical research for children’s life threatening illnesses. (like diabetes and cystic fibrosis). We only have to find the energy and willpower to ‘survive’ these 3 days while the kids we are raising funds for have to find the same determination to face their challenges on a daily basis.

If you sponsor us here's what we'll do for you:

1. Donate $500-$1000 and we will put your logo on the bottom of our E-mail signatures for the next few weeks as either Gold ($500) or Platinum ($1000) sponsors.

2. And remember, you'll get 30% back with your tax return.

Go on - Make a donation. It’s simple, fast and totally secure and the money goes straight to Cure Kids.

If you live in New Zealand your donation is tax deductible and a receipt will be issued.

Can a $1.20 tool really help the mind-set I turn up to work with?

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:37:00 GMT

While browsing the 1000’s of iPhone applications available earlier this month I found a great little app that has the potential to make a big difference for iPhone owners...

Step 1: Set a wake up alarm on your iPhone.

Step 2: Place your iPhone beside your pillow and drift off... While you sleep your iPhone will do all the work! Sensing the motion of your movements during sleep it then makes a recording of them on a graph (see picture). The graph measures the peaks and lows of when you’re in a deep REM sleep, dreaming or near to waking up.

Step 3: Within 30 minutes of your set alarm time the iPhone will sense when you are at the optimum time in your sleep pattern to wake you. Often we wake up feeling groggy and still half asleep, that’s because we peaked to nearly awake and then headed back to sleep, dreaming and deep sleep again.

Looking at my example test on the night of 4th March 2010 – the alarm was set to wake me at 7am. I remember being in and out of sleep, waking up at around 3-4pm in the middle of the night for an hour before falling back to sleep again, just as its recorded. It then woke me at 6:42am as I started to drift back toward deep sleep .

The results – no grogginess or jetlagged feeling - I was awake, alert and ready to hit the ground running!

So far It’s been a true and correct representation of my sleep pattern but to prove its worth its weight in gold, I’ll test it again and post an update soon.

Efficiency in the work place - Single Monitor vs Dual Monitors vs larger Screens...

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:12:00 GMT

During 2009 we went through our entire organisation at Pulse ensuring that everyone had at a minimum dual screen monitors and preferably with large 22" wide screen monitors. Our goal was improving employee efficiency and that certainly has been achieved. To put a figure on it would be difficult, however we have pulled together a number of stats from around the world that more or less line up with our experience.

Having done a little research on what the statistics are saying, it appears there are varied opinions on who wins this debate, but the last place slot definitely belongs to the single monitor option, particularly 17" – 19" screens. It’s a minimal starting platform for your business but if you want to get ahead then it’s not an infrastructure you want to stay with for long.

A University of Utah and ATI Technologies survey of 108 university & non university personnel using Dual Screen monitors reported increases of productivity with 33% fewer errors, 16% faster edits, 6% quicker access to tasks, as well as usability benefits of 45% easier task tracking, 32% faster performance and 24% more comfortable to use than single monitor set ups. Production of work was of a better quality, performed faster and with fewer errors. Task focus of the user along with their speed and ease of learning were also increased.

A survey undertaken for Apple on its larger high definition 30in Cinema screen in comparison to using smaller monitors also offered statistics boasting at least a 45% increase in productivity across the board. This was then disputed as inhumanly possible by one productivity expert who stated that a 5% increase was a more likely figure for larger screen use and around a 30% increase in productivity potential for Dual Monitor use. Although it’s advantageous to having more space to work, it will help some more than others depending on what they are working on. Larger screens could also have positive health benefits for workers such as less eye squinting.

On the whole, viewpoints from professionals in the business of promoting and evaluating productivity through hardware and work habits are recommending the dual monitor option as having more verifiable productivity gains than larger screens. The bottom line comes down to how much you can view simultaneously, after that they are looking for increased speed, accuracy, time-saving, ease of use and comfortability. An interesting mix might be the combining of dual monitors and larger screens – a sure fire “win win” situation.

If you are interested in increasing the efficiency and productivity in your business then drop us a line at Pulse and we’ll advise you on the best solution for you... 09 525 1180

Apple Launch new iPad

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 03:32:00 GMT

Apple have decided to wow us again today with the much anticipated launch of their new “iPad”. Looking like an iPhone on steroids the iPad is just as thin, with the same layout but seems larger than life and its list of credentials make it worth a second look!

With a high definition screen you’ll be able to watch movies clearer and better than your home TV. No it doesn’t remove your wide screen black bands but who cares when the picture is supposed to be that good! Boasting a built in accelerometer the iPad can detect motion like a Wii and repositions your picture to suit – meaning there’s no technical up and down – whatever’s good for you is good with the iPad. This combined with the almost full size keyboard should make emailing a dream without the weight and space-taking of a traditional laptop.

The iPad claims it’s going to be the best Net browsing device on the market and to be honest I expect it will be . I envisage it being like an electronic magazine on your coffee table, with in-the-moment information at your fingertips, requiring an effortless ease to browse wherever, whenever. If it’s anything like my iPhone the iPad should give you a human friendly kind of experience that will make it a lifelong companion you won’t want to leave behind - definitely a device I can’t wait to try.

Along with Apps like Bluetooth, Wifi and a GPS it also has the iBook. I suspect that the “Kindle” book reader devices may be left in its wake due to all the amazing extra applications it comes with. Like Apple has iTunes for music and AppStore for games and software, iBook allows you to download exceptional quality electronic books to read from its own personal store. You’ll be able to literally flick pages at your own pace with its advanced sensors and high definition.

The iPad battery life sounds good with enough juice to run for a solid 10 hours and one month on standby which is a great bonus. The release date into New Zealand is yet unknown but you can count on us to keep our fingers on the Pulse!

A new reason to blog

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 04:03:00 GMT

I haven’t done this before, but looking at the devastation in Haiti, I find myself with no choice.

A very big thank you to one of our clients TEARFund for the amazing work that you do around the world in times like these.

To Jon and the team, my hat off to you

If you find yourself moved as I have been, and wish to assist, then one of your options is clicking the link below:

Thanks, Ryan

Do you qualify for a free Windows 7 upgrade?

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:43:00 GMT

If you have purchased or plan to purchase a name-brand vendor’s laptop or desktop (eg Lenovo/ HP etc) with one of the following eligible Vista versions listed below, between 26 June 2009 - 31 January 2010 then you are entitled to a free Upgrade to Windows 7.

Note: This offer only applies for those who have a network of 25 PC’s or lower. Larger clients required Software Assurance on their Windows Licences to receive the upgrade.

Version Eligible Windows 7 Upgrade Entitlement

A few points to also note are these:

• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic, Windows Vista Starter Edition and Windows XP (all versions) do not qualify for free upgrades

• XP Pro Downgrade models with Vista Business Licence are eligible for the Windows 7 Upgrade

SO if you think you qualify for a FREE Upgrade then contact us on service@pulseit.co.nz and we can double check for you!

Blackle - Saving the Planet One Search at a Time

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:52:00 GMT

“Blackle” - the search engine choice that saves the planet one search at a time.

If you haven’t seen it yet - its black and it’s supposed to be good for you. Blackle is a Heap Media creation powered by Google Custom search. It claims that because the screen is mostly black it’s doing the environment a favour and saving energy in the long run.

According to Blackle screen type does matter – the old style CCFL backlit LCD’s are constantly backlit but the newer monitors like LED backlit LCD screens, Plasmas and OLED’s don’t have the constant back lighting so Blackle becomes more effective with these types of monitors.

However, Google claims that when they turned the “lights out” for Earth Hour in 2008 - it saved no energy, it was merely a gesture to bring about awareness of the cause. Google advised that modern screens use the same amount of power no matter what they are displaying, thus being the reason they don’t permanently keep their Google search engine black.

A test done for Techlogg.com on different screen types advised that CRT screens do save a very small amount of power using Blackle. They suggest that those with LCD screens 22” or smaller should stick with Google, if you have a 24” LCD or larger you will also find a miniscule saving of energy with Blackle, though it’s not always guaranteed.

So “to Blackle or not to Blackle” seems to be a personal choice and if the saying ‘every microscopic bit counts’ has anything to do with it then it could be worth using Blackle and doing your tiny bit to help. As a reminder to save energy Blackle is a pretty good advocate though - here are
some simple energy saving tips for your office:

• Set ‘sleep’ features on your computer and any electrical appliances that power down after they’ve been idle for a while. Even better turn them off at the wall when not in use, even machines on standby use up to 30 watts of power.
• If computers must be left on, turn off the screen (they consume more than half of the total energy used to run your PC). OR turn down your screen’s brightness.
• Think about buying a laptop for your next computer upgrade; they use 70-90% less energy than desktop computers.
• If you can, use ink-jet printers - they consume 90% less energy than laser printers and only print what you need, re-using paper if possible for scrap or drafts
• Buy energy conscious equipment (Energy Star rated etc).

Get an inside look at history’s first ever Dual Screen Laptop...

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:59:00 GMT

Lenovo’s funky new W700ds laptop offers you the world’s first dual-screen option complete with in-built Wacom digitiser in the palm rest and fingerprint scanner.

Weighing in at a hefty 5kg (that’s without the 1 kg power supply), it’s primary screen is 17 inches featuring a remarkable graphic display far better than any other laptop around, while the 10.6inch smaller screen which slides out of the lid to the right, is only slightly dimmer and can bend to sit parallel or at a 45-degree angle to the main display.

It’s an all-in-one workstation with all the power and desired features of a first-class desktop in a transportable bundle with your choice of processors from a 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo T9400 all the way up to a 2.53GHz Core 2 Quad Extreme QX9300 with 12MB of L2 cache, 4GB of DDR3 and NVIDIA Quadro FX 2700M or 3700M graphics, fantastic for professionals who require as much screen space, connectivity and processing muscle as they can afford in a machine that can take the journey with them!

So if you are familiar with carting other heavy necessities around you probably won’t even notice the substantial kgs of the W700ds and if that’s the case – you’ll be overjoyed to know you can have two hard drives, but don’t count on setting up shop over the Pacific with it on your lap! It’s an ideal option if you are wanting to put down roots for a few weeks in several locations and will use less work space than a fixed machine and less juice as well. It’s not going to fit in your average laptop bag but Lenovo will be more than happy to sell you one large enough!

If your curiosity has peaked and you're dying to part with a few $$ then email Ryan for a quote ryan.balemi@pulseit.co.nz

Mobile Handsets

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:09:00 GMT

About to change your mobile handsets? Then STOP and read this info first – it could save you $$...

As a rule of thumb if you have an exchange server and you want full synchronisation between your new handsets/phones and your workstations then you’ll want to know if there are any hidden requirements or future costs that could come out of the closet down the road....

• The Blackberry: Yes – these guys have a lot of bells and whistles but the surprise set up costs may curve your opinion

• The iPhone: Sleek, stylish and ready to go - straight out of the box, no secrets with this one

• The Palm: A smartphone option that generally works but depends on the model you run with

• The Nokia: Some of these will tie in with your system, others won’t – once again it depends on the model so it’s worth finding out before you buy

Conclusion – if you are planning on changing smartphones and telecommunication providers soon – give the team at Pulse IT a call and ask us what we think – we can advise and recommend the best option for you based on your company’s IT setup and business needs. A little short term research could save you in the long term pocket!