Trying to keep up with the news today is tough! Information moves so fast and there are so many options for getting your news on the Internet that keeping up with what is going on in the world can be a full-time job. I know that just keeping up on the technology industry was using up a lot of my time. I needed something to help me be more efficient. Devices like the iPad are great readers, but it still wasn’t quite enough.

So I took the time to research some iPad apps and found a great service called Pulse. Pulse basically aggregates all the news sources that a reader wants, allowing for easy quick browsing of the articles in a simple interface. The news sources can also include Twitter feeds as well as Facebook, Youtube, and other social media platforms. Pulse has been selected as one of 50 apps in Apple’s App Store Hall of Fame and named one of TIME’s top 50 iPhone apps of 2011

Since I started using Pulse, I am a lot more efficient and can quickly scan through all my favorite news sources on my iPad, choosing to read the ones I am interested in right then. I also have the ability to save articles to my Pulse account. I often do this when I read an article I want to re-read later, and also to have the ability to review all my saved articles on my main computer. If this isn’t enough, the app and the service are FREE!

Pulse is available for the iPad, iPhone, and Android devices. For more information on Pulse, check out their web site at http://www.pulse.me

As companies like HP tumble out of the smartphone and tablet market, others fall from prominence like RIM (“Blackberry”), and yet others like Microsoft try to get a foothold with Windows Phone 7 (and eventually Windows 8?), it can be difficult for an average consumer to filter through all the hype and make the best purchase decision possible. So I’ve prepared a guide to help you make the best purchase possible.

If you really want me to cut to the chase, I’ll do so here. The rest of my guide will simply back up my conclusion: you should only be looking to purchase an Apple iPhone or iPad. All the other products and the platforms they are based on have serious flaws or usability issues that should cause serious concern to anyone interested. If you trust me (you do trust me, don’t you?) then you can stop reading here, or go on and read more specifically which model of iPhone or iPad is best for you. But for the curious, feel free to read on for the gory details. I’ll try to keep it as non-techy as possible, I promise.

Simply click on the links below for a more in-depth look at each major platform in the market:

Apple iPhone and iPad Buying Guide

Google Android Smartphone and Tablet Buying Guide

RIM (Blackberry) Smartphone and Tablet Buying Guide

Microsoft Smartphone and Tablet Buying Guide

HP Smartphone and Tablet Buying Guide

One of our local TV stations ran a segment tonight warning their viewers about potential security risks with smartphones. They basically identified two risks: malicious apps and phishing texts. I have no issue with their warnings about suspicious text messages, and I hope that most people are savvy enough to recognize junk texts as illegitimate (would you really give away your social security number to a random text?). But I have a serious issue with their portrayal of malicious apps.

Simply put, they only speak vaguely about “phones”, “smartphones”, and once mention “tablet”. Yet every device they showed was an Apple iPhone or iPad. And there is the rub. Apple iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch) can NOT get malicious apps. Let me say that again so there is no doubt: Apple iOS devices can NOT get malicious apps. (A few of you out there may argue that jailbroken iOS devices can get malicious apps, but if you are the type to jailbreak your device, then you know well enough what you are potentially getting yourself into.)

This is one of the main advantages of the tight control Apple retains over their App Store. The Apple App store is the only way of installing apps on iOS devices. Every single app must be specifically reviewed and approved by Apple before it is allowed to be made available to the public. By controlling the only method of installing apps on iOS devices, Apple ensures no malicious software can make its way into the iOS “ecosystem”. Other smartphone platforms, namely Android, do not offer any control over the apps that their devices can download. Consequently, there are already many examples of malware for those platforms. Some technical people argue against Apple’s system, claiming that it isn’t “open” or that it restricts the freedom of software developers. But I guarantee you that owners of iOS devices could care less about “openness” or the freedom of developers – so long as there are plenty of useful and malware-free apps available. 200 million iOS devices sold (as of June 2011) seem to back up Apple’s way of doing things.

So while the news segment never specifically mentions the iPhone or iPad, by ONLY showing video of iOS devices, even going so far as to show the Apple App Store, the clear insinuation is that Apple iOS devices are as susceptible to malware as any other platform. As I have explained, this is blatantly WRONG. While I do not believe this news segment was meant to be deliberately misleading, it is unfortunately spreading misinformation.

To be fair, if you own any smartphone besides an Apple iPhone, you should pay heed to this news segment’s warnings. I would also give the same advice to those that own any tablet besides an iPad, but Apple’s complete and utter domination of this market means that likely not a single person reading this article actually owns a tablet that isn’t an iPad. (There is no “tablet” market, there is only an iPad market)

Bottom line, if you own an Apple iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, you have nothing to worry about as long as Apple retains control over their App Store – which there is NO sign of that changing any time soon.

This isn’t exactly a Tech Toy … it’s like a box full of Tech Toys! Many of you have had the unfortunate experience of your local video rental store closing. If you’re like me, the thing we miss the most is the loss of video game rentals. With the ability to rent movies online through services like Netflix or iTunes, we don’t need to pick up movie rentals anymore, but video games for our Wii, Playstation, or XBox still need physical discs. The good news is that Redbox has come in to fill the void left by Blockbuster and other stores.

Having completed a pilot test of 5,000 kiosks, Redbox has just recently started renting video games at all of its locations nationwide. For $2 per day, you can pick up games for the Nintendo Wii, Playstation 3, or Microsoft XBox 360. For more information, see this article or Redbox’s website.

Remember, $2/day may seem inexpensive, but it can add up quickly if you keep the game too long. Make sure you know what a game would cost both new and used before you rent it from Redbox. It may be less expensive to buy a used copy of a game than to rent it for more than a week! Check out Slackers and Play N Trade as good local sources of used video games.

If you have any questions about new technology devices, feel free to contact me any time!

In my many years of helping people with their computers, I’ve noticed a lot of people are still being ineffective with the most basic of input skills. When looked at in a single situation, poor keyboard and mouse skills might only delay people by a few seconds. But inefficient practices repeated hour after hour, day after day, and week after week can add up to hours of wasted time. So allow me to give you one very simple tip to correct a inefficiency I see very often.

When filling in consecutive fields in a computer form – for example a username and password or a street address – instead of using the mouse to click into every single field, simply use the Tab key on the keyboard. In almost every software or web site, the Tab key moves the cursor to the next field allowing you to continue typing without the interruption of using the mouse. Your hands are already on the keyboard. Taking your hand off the keyboard, your eyes off the screen, moving the mouse and clicking, then putting your hands back on the keyboard can use up at least a few seconds. That may not seem like a lot, but again over time it can add up quickly.

A simple follow-up tip is to use the Return or Enter key on your keyboard instead of clicking the “Continue” or “Next” button on forms (similar buttons include “Go”, “Finished”, “Login”, or “Done”). Again, the idea is that with a single keyboard press you can move along instead of taking the few seconds to move the mouse into just the right spot on the screen to click.

If you are currently not using the Tab and Return/Enter key effectively, pay attention and really try to use these tips over the next few days. I bet you’ll be surprised at how much time you’re saving!

If you have other questions about basic computer skills, please contact me and I’ll be happy to help!

Having been in the technology industry for nearly 17 years now, I have seen my share of technology horror stories. Many businesses have suffered through disasters such as:

- Losing data without a backup

- Spending a lot of money on the wrong technology

- A disgruntled employee or web designer takes all of the company’s passwords with them

- A virus cripples their network in the middle of a deadline

- Losing credibility (and business opportunities) because their web site or social media presence was neglected or tampered with

The sad fact is that nearly all of these horror stories could have been avoided had the business taken the time to stay on top of their technology and related business processes. Of course, business owners and professionals are busy people and don’t have the time to conduct detailed reviews of all the technology that affects their business. And the rapid march of advancing technology makes this task more difficult every day.

That is why I am excited to introduce my new Technology Review service for businesses and individual professionals! For one low fee, I will perform a detailed review of:

- all key business technologies, looking at things like PC utilization, network efficiency, data backup processes, virus safeguards, and power protection

- supporting and/or 3rd party technology services, such as communications, mobile and remote data access, printing, e-mail, and security systems.

- core business processes that are affected by technology, covering accounting, payroll, document management, and customer service.

- ALL of a company’s or individual’s on-line accounts including Internet domain, web and e-mail hosting, and social media

- Individual professionals will receive a similar Technology Review, with emphasis given to technologies that target personal organization and communication as well as small group collaboration.

My Technology Review will allow businesses and professionals the opportunity to identify areas they can improve their technology usage and ensure they are keeping pace with their competitors, as well as maintaining control over their valuable on-line assists.

Schedule a Technology Review with Marcel Brown today and avoid writing your own Technology Horror Story!

This is point number four given in the recent blog post by Lauren Stiller Rikleen, president of the Rikleen Institute for Strategic Leadership titled: Eight Lessons Millennial Women Can Learn From Elizabeth Taylor. You can read the entire list here.

I have to admit, I was a little sad when I heard the news of her passing. Not really being a fan of her film career, I was a bit young, I was always a fan of what she was up to. Intrigued early on, probably because my mother loved watching her, I was more intrigued with how she seemed to be everywhere. And I wasn’t wrong. I was on the treadmill this weekend and listening to various talk show hosts speculate how much her estate is worth. Capitalizing on her star power, Elizabeth Taylor literally still has money coming in the door from real estate she owns, perfume sales and jewelry collections that are still very popular. Who can forget the early White Diamonds commercials? And the one fragrance that was always in a stunningly beautiful purple bottle. My mom always bought that one. It made her feel special.

And there is the connection that I am talking about. Not only did she make a lot of money with multiple streams of income, but she made connections. I truly believe that is the only way you will succeed in business, and in life. Whatever road you are traveling on, whatever path you choose to take in your career, focus on the connections you will make, and how they can help sustain not only your business, but your life.

I know I will.

Thursday April 28, 2011 – Thursday April 28, 2011

7325 Marine Road

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Thursday March 17, 2011 – Thursday March 17, 2011

7325 Marine Road

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Welcome to the first seminar in the “It’s Time for Your Business to Grow Up” educational series:

It’s Time for Your Social Media to Grow Up

Social media has taken the world by storm in only a few short years. Due to the rapid pace of the changes in social media technology and trends, many business professionals are having a hard time keeping up. In this seminar we will:

• Identify the major mistakes that are costing businesses time, opportunities, and profit
• Explain the repercussions of a poorly planned or executed social media strategy
• Review the major social media platforms on the market: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn
• Show how to leverage these platforms successfully to increase your business

Seating is limited. Sign up today!

Business people today are commonly making many mistakes due to outdated or inefficient business concepts and technologies. This is not unexpected – much has changed in the world of business and technology over the last several years. However, most small businesses people have no resource to turn to for information on current business trends or the latest technologies. This new series of seminars will help entrepreneurs in all industries gain the knowledge necessary to better compete in today’s fast-changing business environment.

Register

So, obviously, I am not a good example of someone who blogs all the time. It was my New Year’s resolutions to improve on this. So in doing so, I have been researching how to become a better blogger. I hope that I can become as good as some of the ones I have found.

One in particular that I recommend is Kikolani.com by Kristi Hines. She is full of wonderful information, tips, tricks and how tos on making your blog a success, as well as some great business tips.

I especially enjoyed her post, which oddly enough was a guest post, on how to get through writers block. I hope you find this as helpful as I did.