Web-Based Email -- Hotmail

AIM Mail, Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, and even Comcast.net Mail -- some are better for business, some for consumers, and all are quite useful.

For many of us, web-based e-mail services are a useful adjunct to our home inbox, allowing us to check e-mail while traveling and to privately communicate outside of corporate messaging. But a review of the latest web mail services shows that you can now consider foregoing desktop programs without compromising your communications flow.

HOTMAIL
Hotmail has the best integration of features for business users, but it is hindered by a lack of storage space and inferior spam blocking.

Workgroups can use Hotmail's calendar to share schedules and set different permission levels for each person. The intuitive interface simplifies setting reminders, inviting peers to meetings and managing your to do list. MSN Premium subscribers ($9.99 per month) can also synchronize their calendars and contacts with handheld devices. (continued...)

Hotmail has the most flexibility in presenting contact information, and the search function can grow your contact database by scanning past e-mails. Although Hotmail supports importing contact files created by Outlook and Outlook Express, I could not successfully load either of two Outlook-created .CSV files that had worked fine with the other programs tested.

Despite my best efforts to flag spam as junk mail, about 40 percent of the unwanted solicitations slip by Hotmail's enhanced filter. Hotmail offers an 'exclusive' filter that blocks everyone who is not on your contact list, but that could prevent useful e-mails too.

Hotmail's tools for managing your inbox compare well with desktop e-mail programs, enabling you to create custom views and filters. The find function lets you quickly track down important messages based on the subject line, body text or folder location.

While Hotmail's 250 megabytes of e-mail storage seemed like a lot of space just a few years ago, it isn't sufficient for folks like me who frequently receive PDF and image attachments and don't have the bandwidth to save them separately.

Source: InformationWeek

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Compare Windows Mobile Devices

Here's a handy chart to evaluate which Windows Mobile Device is the best for your needs. For a better view, visit the full-size chart at the end of this article.


(continued...)




Source:MS Windows Mobile

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Pocket PC Tips and Tricks -- GPS Software

By: The Authors of Pocket PC Tips and Tricks

GPS SOFTWARE FOR NAVIGATING
GPS navigation can be a complex topic because it is dependent upon your location Europe or the USA. Although most GPS software is sold on both continents, some types are only supported in certain parts of the world.

While a great number of GPS Navigation software companies exist, the following four vendors have cartography for both Europe and North America. (continued...)

Destinator, in its third version, has been characterized as being one of the prime companies in incorporating new features, such as 3D graphics. A very stable program, Destinator offers its navigation package at an affordable price.



With their GPS system at version four, Navigon is the only company to offer a GPS with both Bluetooth and TMC. Traffic Message Channel, or TMC, provides real-time traffic information. Other Navigon features include common navigation functions and the option to provide voice guidance for directions.



One of the most popular commercial navigation packages, TomTom Navigator 3 boasts a user-friendly interface as well as effortless access to all of its functions. Without a doubt, this GPS navigation system stands among the leaders in experience and market penetration.



Alturion, currently at version five, serves only the European market. This navigation system stands as one of the top professional applications available.



Source: Pocket PC Tips and Tricks

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Tips For Mobile Security -- Anti-Virus

How can you protect your smartphone from viruses?

Most of you probably already use antivirus software on your laptop. If you don't, then do so immediately and keep the virus files up to date at least daily. (continued...)

I'd be willing to bet that many of you don't have antivirus protection on your mobile phone or PDA, however. There are viruses attacking these devices, so don't wait. Install antivirus software such as F-Secure Mobile Anti-Virus or Trend Micro Mobile Security now.

Also, disable the installation of unsigned applications, which are the primary sources of viruses on mobile devices. And if you receive an e-mail from a company or person that you're not familiar with, don't open it. Instead, delete it.

Source: InformationWeek

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Google Earth -- Too Cool For Words

By: The Editor

Google has just released a beta version of its new Google Earth software that is very impressive. Especially for a FREE application!

Using its Google Maps and Keyhole satellite technology, it allows you to search any address on the planet and get a birds-eye view of the area.

You can zoom in or out of the area and overlay street maps and points of interest. Gas stations, restaurants, ATMs, parks and a whole lot more can be pinpointed. You can also get driving directions and get a 3D fly-through of the route. Just what the road-warrior ordered.(continued...)

This program is great for anyone with a PC but is perfect if you're a notebook user.

In my consulting career, I often find myself in strange cities. It's easy to get lost and being a guy, I hate to ask for directions. I've used MapQuest and other online services of course but what sets this application apart is the unqiue 3D satellite aspect combined with the Google maps data. It gives you a much better persective of the terrain and landmarks you will actually encounter.

The street overlays are nice, but I'd like to see a map view toggle just like on the web.

There are premium upgrades and for only $20 Google adds a GPS option for real-time positioning data. Not sure how well it will work in a mobile setting though.

Because of the amount of data, you need a broadband connection speed to use it effectively which could be an issue when you're on the go. When WiMax becomes widely available this may not be a problem down the road. Only time will tell.

Also, the map data for North America is great but other parts of the world could be iffy. I'm sure Google will update this over time as usage increases.

Anyway, it's worth a look at and I highly recommend you visit:

http://earth.google.com

so that you can download your own version to evaluate.

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Web-Based Email -- GMail

AIM Mail, Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, and even Comcast.net Mail -- some are better for business, some for consumers, and all are quite useful.

For many of us, web-based e-mail services are a useful adjunct to our home inbox, allowing us to check e-mail while traveling and to privately communicate outside of corporate messaging. But a review of the latest web mail services shows that you can now consider foregoing desktop programs without compromising your communications flow.

GMAIL
If you think all web e-mail are pretty similar looking ducks, then Google's Gmail beta is a platypus. Google's entry into web-based e-mail leverages the company's expertise in search, but the unique message management features require a steeper learning curve than its competitors. (continued...)

Instead of using folders, Gmail users categorize messages by associating them with labels, such as "contracts' or "travel." Therefore, all e-mails stay in the inbox, unless you want to archive them. Messages that have been archived in the two gigabytes of free storage are still searchable through the All Mail folder.

Gmail reduces the clutter by displaying an e-mail message and its subsequent replies as single conversation -- think newsgroup posting -- with messages listed from oldest to newest. The most recent message lists the number of messages as well as any labels in a subject line that can get rather crowded.

With Gmail you can archive an entire conversation at once, which saves cleanup time after finishing a project. Messages cannot be sorted by name or date to find a piece of information, but instead Gmail offers Boolean searches to look for messages based on the body text, subject line, sender, or a date range.

Gmail also provides options for filtering messages based on several criteria. While these features allow you to control your messages with great precision, it can be difficult to navigate all of Gmail's options.

Gmail provides the standard contact management features you've come to expect from an e-mail client (spell checker, autocompleting contact names, importing addresses from Outlook), but there is no option for syncing data with an e-mail program or mobile device. Business users may be reluctant to move to Gmail due to its lack of a calendar.

Gmail is the only web e-mail service that has a reporting mechanism for forwarding e-mails suspected of being phishing ploys. However, Gmail's brute force approach to virus checking merely blocks all executable files.


Source: InformationWeek

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10 Reasons to Buy a PDA

By: The Editor

Rather than assume that everyone reading my blog already owns a PDA, I thought I'd write an article for the absolute newcomer. If you haven't been introduced to the wonderful world of the personal digital assistant, here are a few good reasons why you should consider getting one.

Most firm administrators juggle the widest range of responsibilities of anyone in their firms and are by definition, amongst the most organized people around. They have to be, to be as effective as they are, and they must use a variety of tools to keep them on track. Traditionally, this involves using a paper “daytimer” type system, but today’s PDAs (personal digital assistants) provide a better solution for a number of reasons. Below, we list some serious considerations to switch to a digital organizer and to help you get more effectively organized than ever. (continued...)

Cost: The cost of digital organizers has come down significantly with excellent Palm or Pocket PC devices selling for under $300. When you add the cost of paper-based systems, the inserts over two years, and the time spent re-recording information into the next year, the cost can be considerably more than that of a PDA.

Maintenance: A significant advantage of PDAs is in the time it saves in carrying forward information, particularly for those individuals with higher billing rates. Addresses are automatically brought forward and new items are inserted alphabetically, which is virtually impossible for a paper-based system.

Access: Searching for a name or event in a PDA can be done electronically in seconds using the “find” feature and entering any string of characters (part of a name). The PDA will look through all dates, contacts, tasks and notes in one pass. Compare this to “flipping” through the pages of a manual organizer, which usually has different sections for each area.

Expandability: Paper-based systems usually hold one year of appointments and provide limited room for writing in new contacts. Once the “A” page is filled up with names and addresses, you have to go to the “B” page, use yellow stickies, or get a new contacts section and write everything in again. PDAs allow you to keep a virtually unlimited number of contacts and appointments. Though the author has had at least four different PDAs in the last six years, ALL appointments and contacts have carried forward without any re-keying.

Size: Paper organizers are very easy to expand by adding pages, sticking in post-it notes, and bits of paper until they become the size and weight of a small novel. Some become so fat that the user needs a rubber band or ribbon to keep the package together. The size of PDAs is much more compact and can fit easily into a coat pocket or purse. No matter how much information you put into it the PDA size does not change and if you have to expand the memory, it is usually done with a microchip about the size of a postage stamp.

Reminders: Personal reminders for birthdays, anniversaries and recurring events can be set to automatically appear in the future by entering them just once in a PDA. A reminder “chime” can be set to tell you to buy a card or gift a week before a critical event. Paper systems rely on individuals writing in important dates at the beginning of the year and regularly looking ahead to see what is coming. The value of never forgetting a birthday or anniversary: priceless.

Avoiding Conflicts: When an appointment is entered into a paper system, the user must verify the entry with the firm’s calendar to make sure that there are not any other items entered. If this is not done immediately when the person gets to the office, there can be potential conflicts. A PDA makes both the firm and the individual aware of potential conflicts immediately upon synchronization. Imagine the time saved by scheduling an owners meeting electronically rather than coordinating paper-based systems manually.

Security: If a paper-based system is lost or stolen, every piece of written information such as passwords, private phone numbers, or any confidential written data such as PIN #s is exposed. With a PDA, passwords can be setup so that the information is erased if the wrong password is entered too many times (protecting the data from prying eyes).

Backups: Unless you make a photocopy of your paper system every time you add information or edit something, your paper system is not backed up. With PDAs, as soon as the data is synchronized to your desktop and the firm network, all information is backed up and protected. In the event the PDA is broken or lost, the information can be easily accessed on a computer or re-synchronized to a new PDA.

Coolness: Paper-based organizers are perceived by most people as being very “old school” and they look the part. Let’s face it, its much cooler to pull out a PDA and enter or access information than to do so with a paper-based system. In addition, today’s PDAs allow you to also carry family photo albums, play music, access the Internet or make a phone call. Try that with an organizer!

To be organized, we need to be able to access, update and coordinate information as quickly and securely as possible. Today, this means doing it digitally and an electronic organizer is the way to go. Make the quantum leap to a PDA and your firm will be better in the long run..

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