Cook Group Technology Blog

Mobile Races: 4 Telling Numbers (Apple vs Samsung)

2012-01-30T16:59:00.004-05:00

Very interesting numbers - not totally surprising at all but is good to see in print.------------------------------------------------------Tablet Races: 4 Telling NumbersHardware makers and network operators provided insight on adoption of the hottest mobile platforms--Android and iOS--via financial reports this week. Here are four things we learned.Complete article here, a bit expanded below,

Intel processor speeds, so many choices so little time

2012-01-25T15:08:00.003-05:00

Below are a couple handy tools for reviewing details specs on various new processors. Hope they are helpful!------------------------------------------------------Intel is rolling out lots of new CPU's these days and manufacturers are building systems with them fast. Here are a couple of tools to help determine actual speeds of various Intel Core i7 and i5 processors.1. cpubenchmark.net: A handy

SSD Drives

2012-01-23T18:01:00.002-05:00

This article is a few months old but I still thought it informative on SSD drives and comparisions and myths to conventional hard drives.-----------------------------------------Solid State Drives for Desktop PCs and Laptops: Ready for Prime Time?by richi on 07-11-2011 11:15 PMAn SSD is a large flash memory drive, usually packaged as a drop-in replacement for a regular hard drive — in the same

Dropbox Teams, excellent concept but too expensive

2011-12-01T10:18:00.005-05:00

The concept of Dropbox Teams is excellent and needed for businesses to use the product in a more comprehensive manner. The additional administrative tools for managing the account for a business are essential for certain business and non profit organizations.But, it's just too expensive - bottom line. I hope they change/update the pricing structure because I would recommend it to a lot of small

Tether your Android device and laptop with Tether.com app and software

2011-11-30T18:12:00.004-05:00

Tether was released for iPhone, Android and Blackberry devices this week. Installing the Tether app on your device and their software on your computer will allow you to connect to the Internet using the 3G connection on your phone without incurring charges from your carrier. NOTE: You must connect via USB cable from the computer to the phone. (There is a bluetooth option but I haven't tried that.

RIM's Blackberry Fusion to manage Apple's iOS, Android and Blackberry (not Windows devices)

2011-11-29T15:35:00.003-05:00

Interesting move by RIM to change company strategy (had to). This is a good move, in theory. The management of smartphones (including security) and mobile devices for the IT Enterprise is very limited. This is a great concept. Let's see if it works in action.------------------------------------------------------------------RIM's upcoming BlackBerry Mobile Fusion management platform supports not

Summary of Cloud Archiving Providers

2011-11-17T17:00:00.003-05:00

Also from: Why Third-Party Email ArchivingSummary of Cloud Archiving ProvidersThe following table provides a review of the pure cloud-based archiving solutions that can integrate with various cloud email solutions.Global RelayMarket Share: 13%Global Relay sells primarily through partners; mostly financial servicesPer user, per month (additional storage fees if allotted limits are exceeded)Limited

Why Third-Party Email Archiving

2011-11-17T16:57:00.001-05:00

From: Why Third-Party Email ArchivingIf you move your email to the cloud, you also have the option of adding on email archiving from a third party. Archiving your email is a smart business decision, but with so many options out there, choosing the best solution for your organization can be an overwhelming undertaking.Some providers, like Google and Microsoft, have developed their own hosted

Instant Search not finding messages - Outlook 2007

2011-11-07T18:13:00.004-05:00

Instant Search is not finding itemsApplies to: Microsoft Office Outlook 2007If searches in Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 don't locate the items you're looking for, the most common reason is that the indexing of your Outlook data files is incomplete. Also, if you or your organization are using encryption for message security, this can prevent some of your e-mail messages from being found during a

Compare Intermedia. Office 365 and Google Apps

2011-10-19T08:38:00.003-05:00

Here's a good piece (table) from Intermedia comparing: Intermedia, Office 365 and Google Apps: Support, Control, Reliability & Security,and additional Services.http://www.intermedia.net/office-365.aspx

More numbers: Tablet sales

2011-09-08T12:43:00.001-05:00

"Tablets are finding their way into organizations anyway; research firm Gartner says tablet sales worldwide will skyrocket from nearly 18 million last year to 108 million in 2012."From article on HP WebOS.

Managing mobile devices SMB - numbers growing fast

2011-09-08T12:35:00.004-05:00

Very interesting mobile device numbers in this article from Stephen Perciballi. ------------------------------------------------------"Most people feel naked without their smart phones and tablets. The adoption rates of these devices over the last five years have been explosive with an expected 10 billion by 2020, according to Morgan Stanley (to give you an idea of the magnitude – PCs and

HP PCs and what it means for your business (from SoftChoice)

2011-09-08T10:15:00.004-05:00

Here's a news release from SoftChoice (they are a major software and hardware reseller) about what it means for your business with HP's recent announcement about their personal PC division sell off.---------------------------Our take on HP’s landmark announcement to evaluate their PC strategy [HP] August 26, 2011 By Danielle Williams With the media speculation about the future about HP’s PC

Read Outlook 2010 Auto-Complete .dat files: NK2EDIT

2011-09-01T16:54:00.004-05:00

NK2EDIT This is a fantastic freeware app to be able to read .dat auto-complete Outlook 2010 files. (It will read .nk2 files as well, but the key option is reading and saving as .dat files - the new format in Outlook 2010 for auto-complete files). (The .dat auto-complate file is stored in the RoamCache folder under the Windows profile). You can download the very small application from

Trouble with Flash in Browsers

2011-08-31T13:34:00.003-05:00

Here are a bunch of troubleshooting steps from Adobe to address Flash issues in Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc. Installation problems | Flash Player | Windows From: http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/191/tn_19166.html#products If you are having problems downloading or installing Flash Player on a Windows computer, follow these troubleshooting steps: Determine if you are using a 32-bit version of

Gmail Attack Highlights Web Insecurity

2011-08-30T15:38:00.003-05:00

Gmail Attack Highlights Web Insecurity A man-in-the-middle attack that relied on an unauthorized Google SSL certificate has revived concern over whether any Web communication is really secure. By Thomas Claburn InformationWeek August 30, 2011 09:19 AM A user posting to Google's Gmail Help forum under the name "Alibo" claims to have received a warning from Google's Chrome browser that the SSL

Apple iCloud: Four Hurdles For Businesses

2011-06-14T15:41:00.002-05:00

Apple iCloud: Four Hurdles For BusinessesApple's forthcoming file storage and synchronization service isn't quite ready for enterprises.By Thomas Claburn InformationWeekJune 10, 2011 07:01 PM Apple's iCloud may eventually prove to be a godsend for individuals vexed by the challenge of synchronizing and accessing files across multiple devices, but the

Pan Mass Challenge - Riding the PMC

2011-06-07T16:09:00.005-05:00

I'm riding again in this year's Pan Mass Challenge - PMC a 200 mile bike ride from outside Boston, MA to Provincetown, MA. The PMC raises funds for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Children's Boston Hospital. Over 5000 people ride and it is an amazingly successful fundraising event that started in 1980.I just love this video about riding a bike and the PMC. I hope you enjoy it, too!What a

Microsoft Online Web links

2011-05-02T10:56:00.003-05:00

This is handy for URLs...URLs for Microsoft Online Services These tables provide important URLS for Microsoft Online Services. You can add them to your Favorites menu in Windows Internet Explorer to ensure that you have them when you need them. URLsThe following URLs provide access to various Microsoft online services. InformationWeek July 27,

Apple's Magic Trackpad

2010-07-27T13:54:00.004-05:00

Apple's Magic TrackpadHere it is. Connect via bluetooth to your Mac desktop. It works kinda like an iPhone/iTouch screen. Cool! Here's the direct info on the Apple's store website.

Don't drop your Evo

2010-06-29T16:45:00.004-05:00

Don't drop your EvoA friend of mine dropped their brand new Evo - yikes!Be sure to get that Sprint or Best Buy insurance plan on your new Evo.

Google Chrome tops Safari in US Browser Market

2010-06-29T16:40:00.002-05:00

Internet Explorer and Firefox still have the far majority but Chrome is edging upwards...-------------------------Google Chrome Tops Safari In U.S. Browser ShareMicrosoft Internet Explorer continues to dominate with more than half the U.S. browser market, but Chrome has moved past Apple Safari into third place behind Mozilla Firefox.By Antone Gonsalves InformationWeek June 28, 2010 03:02 PMGoogle

Market Share: Microsoft Office vs Google Apps

2010-05-11T18:55:00.002-05:00

From BBC article. 5-11-2010Gartner reports:-----------------------------------Microsoft Office: 94%Google Apps: 4%------------------------------------...Google Docs now offers word-processing, spreadsheet software and a presentation tool, amongst others. Businesses can pay for premium versions. It currently has a small (4%) but growing share of the market. By contrast,

Microsoft Office 2010 takes aim at Google Docs

2010-05-11T18:51:00.002-05:00

From BBC News23:14 GMT, Tuesday, 11 May 2010 0:14 UKMicrosoft Office 2010 takes aim at Google DocsMicrosoft is preparing to launch its latest weapon in its ongoing battle with Google. The software giant will launch its flagship product Office 2010 to businesses on 12 May. The latest version of the software has a free online component - called Office Web Apps.

Verizon: We're making a tablet with Google

2010-05-11T18:46:00.002-05:00

I love my iPad but some competition would be great. Devices need Flash and multi-tasking capabilities!From CNET.comMay 11, 2010 2:43 PM PDTby Tom Krazit Verizon: We're making a tablet with GoogleVerizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam confirmed plans Tuesday to release a tablet computer running software from Google at some point, but did not elaborate on timing. The Wall Street Journal spoke to

Syracuse Climbs to No. 1

2010-03-01T16:42:00.002-05:00

OK, so this is not tech related but it is awesome news! Go SU!from USAToday 3-1-2010Syracuse climbs to No. 1 in latest Top 25After a stirring win over Villanova Saturday night -- Syracuse's 14th win in its last 15 games -- the Orange have climbed back to No. 1 in the USA TODAY/ESPN coaches' poll.The appearance at No. 1 is Syracuse's first during the regular season since the first week of January

Getting ready for iPad March release? Try Best Buy

2010-02-26T18:44:00.002-05:00

Well, you'll be able to head on over to Best Buy, if you do't have an Apple store near you...Posted February 23, 2010 5:59 PM PSTApple will sell iPad at Best BuyConsumers will be able to buy the iPad at a variety of locations besides Apple's retail store, Apple's chief operating officer said Tuesday.The comments came during Tim Cook's speech at the Goldman Sachs annual tech conference in San

Simple network tool

2010-02-26T18:32:00.006-05:00

Simple, networking site with basic IP and DNS tools. Works well.

The 3 Facebook Settings Every User Should Check Now

2010-01-24T18:07:00.003-05:00

The 3 Facebook Settings Every User Should Check NowBy SARAH PEREZ of ReadWriteWeb (nytimes.com)Published: January 20, 2010In December, Facebook made a series of bold and controversial changes regarding the nature of its users' privacy on the social networking site. The company once known for protecting privacy to the point of exclusivity (it began its days as a network for college kids only - no

FAQ: Cloud Computing, demystified

2010-01-19T16:33:00.001-05:00

FAQ: Cloud computing, demystifiedWhat is cloud computing, and can it be trusted? Key questions answeredBy Jon Brodkin, Network World May 18, 2009 12:03 AM ETEveryone in the IT industry is talking about cloud computing, but there is still confusion about what the cloud is, how it should be used and what problems and challenges it might introduce. This FAQ will answer some of the key questions

Help Haiti, send donations with a text message

2010-01-13T17:03:00.004-05:00

Want to help Haiti? Just send a text to donate. (But do be wary of scams)Group's like Wyclef Jean's Yéle Haiti and the Red Cross are offering services in which you can donate $5 or $10 for Haiti relief efforts just by sending a text message from your cellphone. But watch out for scams.By Matthew Clark Staff writer / January 13, 2010Following the success of "text to donate" services made famous by

Google Docs To Store Any File

2010-01-12T14:11:00.000-05:00

Google Docs To Store Any FileIt's not quite "GDrive," Google's long-rumored cloud storage service, but it's a step in that direction.From informationweek.com--------------------By Thomas Claburn InformationWeek January 12, 2010 09:00 AMIn a few weeks, Google plans to allow Google Docs users to upload and store any type of file, up to 250 MB in size. "No, this is not GDrive," said Google product

iPhone or Blackberry: Which is Better for Business

2010-01-04T20:31:00.003-05:00

iPhone or Blackberry: Which is Better for Business? By Chuck Goldman, CEO Apperian, and Brian C. Reed, CMO and VP Products, BoxTone, Network Worldfrom pcworld.com Business Center. Artwork: Chip TaylorThe Blackberry has been the smartphone of choice in the enterprise for some time, and for good reason. It mastered the most important business app, e-mail, and comes

Google Android vs iPhone: Let's get ready to rumble

2010-01-04T20:20:00.002-05:00

Google Android vs. iPhone: Let's Get Ready to Rumble JR Raphael timestamp(1262652300000,'longDateTime')Jan 4, 2010 7:45 pm Smartphone fans, prepare the ring: Some new research released this week is sure to send the Android-iPhone rivalry into overdrive. With the Droid's debut, followed by the buzz surrounding Tuesday's expected revelation of

Blackberry: 2 Recent Outages, What does this mean for RIM?

2009-12-23T19:54:00.002-05:00

From a Wall Street Journal posting.DECEMBER 23, 2009, 7:29 P.M. ETBlackBerry Maker Is Strained by GrowthBy ROGER CHENG And PHRED DVORAK The second BlackBerry outage in a week shows how Research In Motion Ltd., the maker of the popular smart phone, is feeling the strain of a ballooning customer base and intensifying competition. Associated PressBlackBerry devices throughout the Americas

Google's Nexus One - iPhone, Droid killer?

2009-12-23T14:52:00.003-05:00

Looks like it's coming to T-Mobile!------------------------------------------From AppleInsider.Wednesday, December 23, 2009Google's Nexus One compared to Apple's iPhone, Motorola DroidBy Katie Marsal Published: 10:05 AM ESTNew photos and a hands-on description have compared Google's custom-built Nexus One handset, rumored to be for sale to the public next month, with Apple's iPhone [

Most Viewed Articles from Technical Section of Washington Post

2009-12-18T19:47:00.002-05:00

Interesting, but not surprising, that 3 of the top 10 most viewed articles in the Washington Post Technology section in this afternoon's Washington Post, are security related items.