The big difference between Android and the iOS is the fact that, on an Android device, you can play Flash videos. There are times however when this seeming advantage can be a disadvantage as Flash (such as Flash ads) can slow down your browsing experience or even crash your browser. There is a solution.

You can turn off Flash if you choose to. Simply go to your Browser's Settings by pressing on the Menu/Options button, then go to Advanced and change 'Enable plug-ins' setting from "Always on" to "On demand." Flash applications will now appear as an arrow that you must touch to start.

There are times when you may want to capture what is currently being shown on your iPad's screen. That’s easy to do on an iPad.

Simply press the Home button and then the Sleep/Wake button simultaneously. When you hear a click, the screenshot has been taken. You can then go to the photos gallery to see all of your captured screenshots.

Thanks to cloud technology, businesses can now access their software and services via the internet, instead of managing everything on their own hardware. The cost savings and ability to respond to new opportunities can transform the business.

With cloud computing, businesses can tap into software and services as they need them, using an Internet connection and a web browser. Cloud services can help you manage growth and connect with your staff across town or the world.

Manage Growth

One of the toughest aspects of running a small business is predicting what resources are needed to support future demand. If the company grows quickly, more people and equipment need to be added to fulfill the work. Too much investment for the future is risky.

Cloud computing allows companies to quickly access the applications needed to increase capacity, support growth and handle busy periods. If a customer or project demands increase, software in the cloud scales without a big outlay of cash. The flexibility of the organization increases with cloud computing because it is easy to adjust and scale.

Improve Collaboration

Companies with remote employees can particularly benefit from cloud computing. More and more small and medium-sized businesses support home workers and employees that aren’t in the main office every day.

No matter where they’re located, employees can use cloud applications to have meetings, talk to one another, share files, and collaborate on materials in real time. With cloud computing, you can build a team that works together seamlessly, and improved productivity and better communication allows businesses to capitalize on new opportunities quickly.

Find out more about the benefits of cloud computing. We’ll help you find the solutions that fit your business and your budget.

Last week, and 24hrs before a planned trip to an existing client, I started getting lots of emails from one staff member asking questions about iPad’s. The questions were increasingly detailed and it seems that the thrust of the communication was to find out more about how the iPad could be used as a laptop replacement for them at home, and for linking back to their desktop at work.

The client has a Citrix solution, installed by Abussi, and so it would be possible to bring up their ‘virtual’ desktop on the iPad and work from home, the train (with WiFi) or from anywhere. They were pretty much sold on the idea of getting one and so just wanted to make sure they bought the right one (What GB to get, WiFi or with 3G etc).

What seemed to be bringing this discussion forward was the increasingly common sight of ‘iPad Breeding’. If you have not experienced this for yourself then it starts very simply, with one member of your office bringing in an iPad one day. Like a mother with a new born baby, a small crowd gathers and they all coo and pet the new shiny faced device, while secretly envious of their co-worker.

The next stage is that the original iPad you saw a week or so ago suddenly has a brother ……….. another co-worker, so taken by the seemingly endless opportunity bought about by the iPad’s lightweight feel and glossy screen, buys one and starts a trend that see’s the number of iPad’s in your office grow and grow. This is all fine and Apple make’s huge profits, but let me just add a word of caution.

iPad’s are wonderful; they are a dream to use; they can do lots of things; they can bring together music, video, pictures, documents and email ……………… but, they can’t do everything. In the case of this specific user the issue was that a remote screen of their desktop could be bought up on the iPad, but with no full keyboard (only the screen keyboard) the ‘experience’ was poor. Moreover, they work in Accounts and thus on very complex spreadsheets so the half screen, half keyboard or the iPad was too restrictive for them to operate effectively.

The thrust of my post here is not to criticise the iPad …………. I have one and love it …………. but simply to suggest that prior to spending over £500 it would be worth seeking the advice of an Independent IT Professional who can understand your needs and assess the suitability of the product or service you want to buy. In the case of this user, I was able to demonstrate the experience on an iPad (my iPad) and they saw clearly it would not work for them and so was happier to arrange for a replacement home laptop …………… which was cheaper and more effective for their needs.

For more information on the services provided by Abussi, please visit our Website

Headaches using printers usually don't have anything to do with hacking, but now they do. Recent research done by experts from Columbia University have discovered a flaw in many printer systems that are connected to the Internet – a flaw that allows easy entry by hackers into the networks printers serve.

When it comes to printers, we usually think about ink, paper jams and minor irritations – but certainly NOT getting hacked. But recent research suggests that printers can be used by hackers to infiltrate computer systems.

According to researchers at Columbia University, printers that are connected to the are the weakest (and almost always unnoticed) link that can compromise an otherwise secure system. Details are emerging, as the research was done under government and corporate grants. The Federal Bureau of Investigation got the first look at the research results, followed by people from Hewlett-Packard. What is clear is that this new research reveals that printers CAN be used by hackers or online thieves not only to infiltrate networks, but also to steal personal information and even identities.

The security flaw involves the printer software used to run "embedded systems" which enables both advanced functions and connects the printer directly the Internet. Alarmingly, researchers were able to hack into a printer, and give it instructions to continuously heat up the part of the device that dried the ink after it’s applied to the paper. The resulting heat caused the paper to turn brown and smoke.

The implications of this type of security flaw are concerning, but can be addressed properly and promptly with the right planning. HP is looking into the study for their own line of printers and business owners should also take precautionary steps to protect already installed devices on their networks.

If you want to know more about how you can ensure that your systems are secure, give us a call so we can sit down with you and discuss a security blueprint that meets your specific needs.

Microsoft recently posted a video on its website that is the latest in a series from Microsoft offering a view into where technology is headed in the future through product development at Microsoft. The video offers a fascinating and impressive glimpse into the future of work and productivity that may occur in less than a decade.

The video from Microsoft gives us a glimpse into a day in the life of Ayla, a travelling executive, her daughter Shannon, at home with her Dad, and Qin, Ayla's colleague. The video is the latest in a series from the Microsoft Office team. You can see past videos here, or view a behind the scenes video from Kurt DelBane, Microsoft Office Business Division President, who explains the technological concepts behind the video, such as collaborative technologies, data visualization tools, mobile technologies, and cloud computing.

Interested in finding out more? Check out the actual place where this technology is developed by Microsoft demonstrating some of the video's concepts in real life.

If you own an Android phone, you can use it as a substitute for an external drive or a USB key. You can load files into your phone simply by plugging it in to a PC with a USB cable, then tapping on “Mount” when you are prompted by the system.

This mounts the internal storage of the device as an external drive relative to the PC, and you can easily drag and drop files or create folders on the device as you see fit. Of course, it is recommended you do this on the SDCard that likely came with the device, or one that you buy for your phone.

A hard drive shortage threatens to impact the worldwide computing industry due to the floods in Thailand. The majority of the world’s hard drive factories are located in Thailand and are struggling to recover pre-flood production levels.

In the same way the massive earthquake and tsunami damaged Japan's electronics industry, the flood crisis in Thailand is causing concern for companies that require hard drives for production.

The majority of the world's hard drives are produced in factories located in Thailand, where the flood crisis has put a damper on many industries, hard drive producers included.

According to reports, the shortage is already driving hard drive costs up and may just be the beginning of that trend. As companies like Hewlett Packard respond to the situation, the outlook remains unclear. PC sales could be affected well into 2012 and beyond. With flooding still an issue for some producers the shortage could expand.

As of now, there is still no concrete solution in sight for the problem with the supply of hard drives in the world, and while reconstruction efforts in Thailand are ongoing, getting the hard drive industry on its feet will take a while. As for the effects on the computing world as a whole, PC prices will likely rise as pre-flood inventories are sold out and replacement stock is delayed.

Some companies have decided to tap into the phenomenon of social networking to create similar networks within their own organizations. While this can do wonders with the way every member of the business communicates with each other, it’s important to have proper and specific rules that pertain to its use.

With the waves created by social networking in how companies do business nowadays, many have also utilized the same principle to develop internal social networks to enhance their in-house communications as well. However, the use of this new medium of communication also requires that companies develop new policies to cover its use.

One concern that may leave you apprehensive about creating an internal social network might be the fear that it could be abused by employees. However, reports have shown that introducing an in-house social network has produced generally positive results.

As long as company policies regarding the use of internal social networks are developed and implemented properly, employees will view such a network as an extension of the workplace, and will try to put their best foot forward. Such policies must specifically tackle the use of the internal social network, and many experts recommend revising existing company rules that govern the use of email, IT resources, and even external social networks. To be on the safe side, it's a good idea to consult with a lawyer to avoid any legal problems with the policy in the future.

Who's going to be in charge? Your managers, of course. Since the social network will be for company use, it follows that department heads should be given administrative duties and permissions which they will use for moderating communications and discussions in and pertaining do their respective sections.

While an internal social network can do wonders for your in-house communications, good policies and rules pertaining to its use will be what keep it working like a well-oiled machine.

IT support isn’t just technology support; it’s business support. That’s because using IT as a strategic asset can differentiate your company and increase your profits. That’s the mantra I stick by and use as the yardstick for all my conversations with clients. The key…………. Good IT will result in Good Business.

So, you can imagine my surprise and shock when a new enquiry reached Abussi this week from a prospect who initially outlined a need to update their IT hardware including a server. On the surface it was a straightforward job with new PC’s, Server and a refresh of software. However, it turned out not to be as simple as first thought.

The prospect advised me that the new PC’s must run Windows 98. “Why” was my reply, “well” said the prospect “we have this invoicing software that was setup by a guy that doesn’t work for us anymore and it only runs on Windows 98. We have a Windows XP machine but that won’t run the software and the remaining PC’s running Windows 98 are dropping like flies”. I thought about this for a moment and replied “well I think the key issue here is to look at the software and sort it out first, rather than try to just keep Windows 98 running indefinitely”.

What the prospect was facing is an issue which I see all too often. Software, written or installed by an individual (not an off the shelf product) and which is ‘bespoke’. Great for the first 12-24 months while the person that installed it is around and able to help; bad 15 years later (yes, the prospect said it must have been in place around 15 years!) when the installer or designer is no longer around.

In this case I’m going to look at the software and see what it is before making any further suggestions. I guess its probably some kind of linked Excel spreadsheet(s) or perhaps a bespoke MS Access 97 database, but the key is that this software is hindering the prospects ability to use IT effectively and thus it’s stopping them from being efficient, productive and responsive to new orders.

The lesson for us all here is clear. Independent advice, from IT professionals that understand your business and its needs both now and in the future. Technical people are great and they can certainly fix broken computers, but my experience shows me that they fail to look at the business need, and it’s this which is far more important.

For more information on the services provided by Abussi, please visit our Website