Today, BIIS Solutions launches its Internet Agency. This division of BIIS Solutions is designed to help businesses nationwide reach new clients on the internet. We’re extremely excited about this launch and happy that we can support businesses reach their goals!
Learn more about the launch here: Internet Agency Launch
Andres and John Bugado at an AITP Event
Hello Internet…this is Andres (BIIS Solutions Partner). Last night I attended an AITP (http://sandiego.aitp.org/) event about Business Intelligence (BI). The introduction to Business Intelligence was presented by Nancy Totall. She went over the definition and benefits of BI and how it can be implemented in organizations. With only about an hour and a half, I’m sure we only saw a brief introduction to the subject.
It was my first time at an AITP event and it was very interesting. The room was filled with pros in the IT industry and I got to know a few of them while we ate dinner. At my table, there were students, Project Managers, and an IT Manager…the full spectrum.
It was a nice event, I plan on attending AITP regularly.
While we’re in the middle of an economic shift, there are going to be several opportunities for businesses to startup and help turn this economy around. In these opportunities, businesses will have to answer the question “What kind of IT do I need and who is going to manage it?”
The first step to answering that question is to ask for advice. But who do you get advice from? Who will point you in the right direction for your plan? How much money should be budgeted for technology?
As you can see, determining how to put together your IT strategy brings up a lot important questions that will have a great impact on whether or not your business succeeds. In this series, we will go over what questions to ask and how to get the answers that will work for your business.
Check in with us to get more answers to these questions. Also, if you have any questions of your own, feel free to submit them and we’ll feature them in our “What kind of Technology do I need?” series.
February 15, 2010
Hey guys! Philip Josafat, BIIS Solutions IT Manager, here again to comment on the newly announced Windows Phone 7 Series. Today, at Mobile World Congress, Microsoft announced their newest iteration of their Windows Mobile line called the Windows Phone 7 Series. That’s quite a mouthful, huh? I haven’t read the entire press release, so please excuse my inability to have read all the details from the announcement.
After seeing videos and pictures of the newest phone that was used at MWC, my initial impressions are actually quite positive. I thought, though, that it was a bit odd of Microsoft to not mention many specifications of the phone itself that they used for their demos only because companies like Google and Apple are very specific about what’s inside their devices. However, this may be a good move on Microsoft’s part in order to appease their hardware partners by not singling out one specific partner in their demos. Instead, Microsoft wanted to simply debut what’s coming over the horizon in their mobile space since they will not be releasing this line of phone until “Holiday 2010″.
So you’re probably wondering what’s new with Windows Phone 7? Actually, quite a lot. I definitely have to commend Microsoft for finally cutting its losses and folding with Windows Mobile 6.5, although, there have been newly released phones that still have 6.5 running on them. I think the most striking difference between 6.5 and 7 has got to be the User Interface. 7 is built upon a type of tile system. Microsoft pretty much threw out the conventional Home Screen and gave the users full control of what they are allowed to have on their Home Page.
The best way to describe the new Windows Phone 7 Series is to say it’s the new Zune Phone. The interface is very similar using the same fonts and layering system that the Zune HD uses. In my opinion, this was a good move by Microsoft because it integrates what they currently have in the Zune HD and it creates a new brand for the mobile devices that helps them to unify and define what they offer as a mobile device company. Google did it with Android and Apple did it with iPhone OS. Microsoft’s mistake with Windows Mobile was fragmentation. Too many partners like HTC were customizing Windows Mobile (i.e. Sense) with their own UI to the point that the user didn’t even know Windows Mobile 6.5 was the OS running the show.
Another striking addition to Windows Phone 7 is the integration of Xbox Live. Things like Avatar editing, game updates, game news and actual gaming would be built into the OS so that playing on Xbox Live didn’t matter if it is on a Windows Phone or on an actual Xbox. Yet another smart move by Microsoft because although Apple has the App Store, they certainly don’t have an Xbox Live, so Microsoft is capitalizing on their Live community. This can lead to a new business model that already has a large community that Microsoft can tap into.
Of course, the Windows Phone 7 will have other Microsoft software integration such as Office and Exchange support so business users won’t be left behind. At it’s very core, the Windows Phone 7 will be a business user’s delight knowing that no longer have the obstacle of fighting Windows Mobile to create their documents or check their email. Plus, they can get rid of their stylus due to the use of a capacitive touchscreen. No more tiny icons to poke at with a stick. Business users will definitely fall in love with the new UI for their productivity needs.
Although this new product has so much upside to it, it also has its pitfalls. Now, I’ll admit that it’s very, very early to nail down whether or not what we saw on the demos will be close to what will be released later this year, but if it’s close to what we saw, there may be some problems for the new Windows Phone. The most glaring is processing. It was mentioned that Qualcomm is one of Microsoft’s partners, so I think it’s safe to say the chip inside the Windows Phone is a 1GHz Snapdragon. However, no matter how fast the chip is, if there are too many processes running at one time, it will definitely hamper the performance of the phone. And how wants to wait for a phone to process in order to register your tap to open an app? I noticed that in multiple demo videos that there would be stuttering of the OS when click on objects that would hinder the user from executing the action that they wanted to execute. There were multiple mishits and incorrect inputs from the OS. Without knowing all the processes running on the OS at one time, it’s hard to tell if the OS itself is naturally buggy or if it was due to the many things that were running at one time. This could be a problem in the future if users decide to flood their Home Pages will multiple apps that have tons of animations that could bog the processor. This would prove Apple’s ideal of allowing the user to only run one app on the iPhone. Hopefully it’s just because of an early demo unit that still needs to be optimized for performance.
Another major problem with Windows Phone? IE. Those haunting letters put together equal one of the most feared browsers ever created: Internet Explorer. Although we’re talking a mobile version of IE on the Windows Phone 7, it’s still IE. What does that mean? Well, based upon the demos, it’s slow. Rendering wasn’t that snappy for a simple Wikipedia page with mostly text on it. Imagine a page with rich text, images and videos that needed to be rendered all at once? That would be a nightmare. I still hold my belief that iPhone’s Mobile Safari can’t be beaten in speed and usability. But Android is certainly catching up.
The last problem with Windows Phone 7 is that Windows Phone 7 isn’t actually a phone. It’s an ideal. So Microsoft is dictating to its hardware and software partners exactly what they are allowed to do with their concept if they decide to build apps or phones for it a la Google Phone. There are visual and software queues that Google has suggested to its partners when building a Google Phone and Microsoft has taken that very same model here and said, “If you want to use our OS, you need to build it a certain way.” Manufacturing partners will be handcuffed in this sense because they no longer control the phone’s hardware, Microsoft does. On top of that, Microsoft chooses their partners unlike in the past when manufacturers would just purchase a license for Windows Mobile and slap it on whatever hardware they were producing. So unless you’re Qualcomm, LG, Samsung, Garmin Asus, HTC, HP, Dell, Sony Ericsson, and Toshiba, there will be no Windows Phone for you.
Overall, however, I must say that I’m quite impressed with Windows Phone 7. It’s a very nice phone with a great UI that legacy-Windows Mobile users will have to upgrade to when it gets released. I’ll be sure to keep you guys updated as more info, like specs, get released. I can definitely see productivity sky-rocketing with a phone like Windows Phone 7. If I were a large corporation and had the budget to upgrade my employee’s phones to Windows Phone 7, I would do it in a heartbeat and I could almost guarantee your employees would love you for it. Plus, they would get a lot more work done, unless they’re stuck playing Scrabble all day on Xbox Live.
January 27, 2010
Hey all,
Philip Josafat, IT Manager of BIIS Solutions, here again with some thoughts on the newly announced Apple iPad. Today was a very intriguing and disappointing day for me. Today was the unveiling and announcement of the mythical Apple Tablet. And let me tell you, I’m very sad. Haha.
Allow me to elaborate. I’ll start off by talking about exactly what the device is. This highly rumored and speculated device that Apple created and unveileved today is called the Apple iPad. Yes, my friends, the iPad. I’m not joking, it’s a fact. My nickname for it is “(Mac’s)iPad” (maks-ee-pad). That’s a play on the Maxipad name. Haha. Ya, I know, pretty lame joke. Anyways, here’s the rundown of all the specs:
-9.7″ Capacitive LED-Backlit Screen
-Aluminium Back; IPS Glass Screen
-1.5 Pounds
-0.5″ Thin
-Apple’s 1GHz A4 Chip
-WiFi
-Optional 3G
-30-Pin Connecter (NO USB, HDMI, SD PORTS WHATSOEVER)
-Built-In Speaker & Microphone
-16GB, 32GB, 64GB Versions
-Built-In Battery (Estimated 10 hour battery life using video; 1 month on stand by)
-Accelerometer & Light Sensor
-Bluetooth 2.1
-Compass
-Release Date: WiFi Only = March; WiFi+3G = April
So there’s the basic rundown of the device. Now let’s talk about what it does and what it is. I’ll put it as plain and simple as I can: The iPad is a ginourmous iPhone. That’s right, folks, it’s an enlarged iPhone. Why would I say that? Only because the operating system within this device is exactly the same as the iPhone OS. Nothing has changed. That can be viewed as both a good thing and a bad thing, but in terms of where the market is heading, it is mostly a bad thing. Why? It’s because for the past year and longer, this mythical device was touted to revolutionize computing. Guess what? It didn’t. This is all coming from a huge Mac fan throughout the years when I first purchased my Powerbook back in 2001 (Yes, I’m old). My Powerbook still works, but it was devices like that that changed computing. The experience is something Apple touts and prides itself upon. The fact that the experience of the iPad is exactly the same as in the iPhone really hurts Apple. I’ll admit, however, that if I were to actually have one in my hands, I may have a differing opinion, but the fact is that the UI and OS did not change. This device had so many expectations. And almost none of them were met today. That’s what makes me sad. There was so much potential in this thing, but it just doesn’t have it. Before I move on, let me bring up the pricing of this device:
-16GB WiFi = $499
-32GB WiFi = $599
-64GB WiFi = $699
-16GB WiFi+3G = $629
-32GB WiFi+3G = $729
-64GB WiFi+3G = $829
AT&T Plans: $14.99/Month = 250MB; $29.99/Month = Unlimited Data
Now, if you notice, there are going to be 6 separate versions of the iPad. Two basic models: a WiFi only version and a WiFi and 3G version. The most important thing to note here is that AT&T is not subsidizing the price of the device meaning IT COSTS MORE TO GET A 3G VERSION! That’s ridiculous! How do you expect a user to walk into an AT&T or Apple store and shell out even more money for a device that comes with a monthly plan! And they didn’t even mention about contracting! Can you imagine paying $829 for the 3G 64GB version, then signing a contract for a $30 data plan every month? This doesn’t even include your phone plan, if you have one. Talk about crazy. If the device were subsidized at all, it would definitely sound very appealing, but the truth is that it’s not. (Update: It looks like the device will come without a contract which is nice, but it’s still on AT&T because popping in a T-Mobile sim card will only give you EDGE speeds, not 3G speeds. This is because the iPad does not recognize the 1700 MHz frequency that T-Mobile’s 3G waves are on.)
Ok, so what about the device itself? What does it do better or worse? Well, for starters, the keyboard is going to be a problem. It’s basically a virtual Apple keyboard layed across the screen. Concepts created by fans had speculated a sort of bottom cornered thumb-focused keyboard. That would have definitely been a nice touch, but it wasn’t even considered. The apps on the Home Screen use the same size as in the iPhone, thus, makes the Home Screen look awkwardly spacious, not to mention the 4 lonely apps in the Dock.What really makes it hard for me to support the iPad is the fact that Apple didn’t reveal any killer apps. Yes, it has the new iBookstore which lets you download books and make the iPad an eBook reader, but that doesn’t make me want to run out and buy it. Nothing at the announcement really screamed out for consumers to go out and buy it. What made the iPhone revolutionary was that it had a phone funtion, but was pocketable enough as a computer as well. The iPad is simply a glorified iPhone with built-in eBook reader capabilities and no killer app.
So what does this all mean for me? Well, I believe that based upon this device and the lack of innovation in it, I’ve lost faith in good ol’ Steve Jobs. He’s lost his touch. After declaring that this device would be his most important device he’s ever created, I’ve got to say, he didn’t do much. All he probably told his engineers was, “I need you guys to blow up the iPhone OS for the tablet please.” Is that innovation? Is putting a built-in eBook app innovative? Is making a virtual Apple Keyboard innovative? Is simplifying iWork for the iPad innovative? I believe the answers to all of these questions is No. Will I be purchasing this device? Most likely not. I would rather wait for the new iPhone with the much needed front-facing camera on Verizon. That will be my mythical Apple tablet.
January 9, 2010
Today is my last day here at CES and although there is still 1 more day until CES officially ends, CES ends for me.
After perusing the Exhibit Halls for a couple days, most of the booths and products were still the same and there weren’t any keynotes worth stopping for, in my opinion.
In any case, I went ahead and stopped by the CNet awards to see what they thought deserved high praise based on what was unveiled at CES this year. Although they gave awards in 9 categories, Best of Show and People’s Choice were the two categories that mattered.
In the Best of Show category, Panasonic’s 3D TV won for their innovation in 3D technology. I didn’t get to see the actual prdouct in person, but I believe the fact that their 3D glasses didn’t make you look geeky helped them win.
For the People’s Choice award, I felt that a travesty occurred because Intel’s Wireless Display Technology won the award instead of D-Link’s Boxee Box. I’ll admit, though, that Intel’s “WiDi” is a great way to completely lose the need for wires between computers and displays, but I just believe that Boxee Box is a more innovative concept for the everyday user, a.k.a. The People. Perhaps their non-corporate image held them back from being viewed as pioneers for consumer electronics.
Well, I did one more round through the Exhibit Halls just to check for any new updates and nothing came up so I decided to head back home.
Overall, the trip was fantastic. I met a ton of intriguing people, saw exactly where the consumer electronic market was headed and found myself excited about so many upcoming technologies. I hope this is a nice slice of the Consumer Electronic Show 2010, but I highly recommend coming out to see and play with the products yourself. Read CES’s website for all announcements and show coverage. I hope you enjoyed reading. See ya!
January 8, 2010
Talk about a fast start to the day. I decided to go straight to the big boys today and visit the Central Hall where names like Microsoft, Intel, and Samsung reside.
The biggest section in Central was definitely Microsoft. Their section showed off massive amounts of technology that have mostly been unvieled in the past such as Surface, Microsoft Office 2010, or even Windows Media Center. I actually got to play around with Surfae and my impressions of it are very positive. I could definitely see it in a business setting when disussing things like reports as a group or even in a personal use setting such as gaming. Similarly, touchscreen monitors with Windows 7 was quite impressive. Microsoft has a program called Globe which, conceptually, is like Google Maps where zooming in and out using touch worked flawlessly. However, I was not able to locate the newly annouced HP slate that Steve Balmer touched upon a couple days ago.
One of the most amazing things I saw today was Panasonic’s 102″ Plasma LCD screen. It is one of the most intimidating and imposing screens ever made. It’s really hard to imagine a resolution over 4000 pixels big. In fact, I can’t even imagine a home that would fit it through the door.
Probably one of my favorite gadgets at CES has got to be D-Link’s Boxee Box. It’s basically a media-focused computer running a custom built distribution of Linux minus a few features. It has 3 USB ports, HDMI, Ethernet, WiFi N, Audio ports, as well as a remote which has a built-in QWERTY keyboard on the back for searching for media. Think of Boxee as your gateway to Internet media such as Youtube, Hulu, CNet, IGN and other video sites that stream content. But it also can play local media stored in the Boxee itself. It plays 1080p without a hitch and has the newly announced Nvidia Tegra 2 chip which powers the ability to play 1080p smoothly. It doesn’t come out until May but I will definitely be picking up Boxee Box for $199 at Boxee’s website.
The more notable events at CES are the CNet awards who award companies Best of Show based upon their product’s category like best media product, computer product, green product and other categories. The winners will be announced tomorrow morning and can be deemed products to look out for in 2010. So I’ll report back the winners in each category tomorrow as my CES trip winds down.
January 7, 2010
After a pretty late night out, I woke up approximately 8am in order to get ready for the long day of technology and gadgets ahead of me.
Upon pickup of my badge, I proceeded into the Las Vegas Convention Center and first entered the International Technology section. The first incredible device I came across was called the X-Mini. It’s basically an Mp3 player/speaker hybrid device. It’s an egg-shaped, collapsible device that plays incredibly clear and loud audio which surprised me coming from such a small device. Probably one of the most amazing things about this tiny thing is the ability to daisy chain as many of them as possible. It’s incredible how clearer the sound gets with more of them connected. It also has an SD slot for up to 16GB of music and can be connected to a computer through USB. Overall, it is an amazing device that will come in second quarter 2010 at around $80.
Another innovative device I saw that I took note of comes from MiMo, a beautiful 7 inch external monitor that connects to a computer through USB. They have been around for a few years now and I have been following them since their start, and the way their technology has advanced has been exponential. They came in with a nice extension of the user’s desktop, but since then, they moved to make it more portable and now they’ve made it to display any content to be 3D without the use of glasses! And the toggle to move between 2D and 3D is a simple switch on the back of it. It’s truly an amazing piece of hardware. I highly recommend it for extra desk space for the cramped desktop and we’ll see the 3D version come to market 3rd quarter 2010.
In the presentation technologies section, I came across a couple interesting presentation devices that definitely show off today’s move towards changing the way people view content. First off is the Greenboard. Simply put, it is a gigantic 65″ touchscreen display with proprietary software that recognizes handwriting and shapes and colors. It can run in Windows 7. It would be a perfect presentation tool on showing new applications, training new employees, or having workers interact with presentations in a fun, new way. The other device was the laser Pico Projector by Microvision. It showed video very sharply from any distance and was quite small; almost the size of an iPhone. The price point for it, however, will be around $500. For a projector that isn’t guaranteed to be used on a daily basis for some users, that is a steep price compared to the other pico projectors that come in around $200- $300.
After taking a break and having a quick bite, we headed over to the Hilton Center to sit in on the Intel Keynote with Intel CEO Paul Otellini. They unvieled some new tech as well as some already mentioned tech, but nothing really stood out. They had some 3D footage shown, some cool wireless TV technologies, and something called AppUp which is Intel’s app store entry for Intel-powered notebooks. Other than that, the presentation was not ground-breaking.
As the night winds down and the Alabama Crimson Tide try to close out Texas, I start to plan out tomorrow’s attack on CES.
Hi Everyone!
This is Philip, IT Manager of BIIS Solutions, and I had a chance to check out the Computer Eletronic Show this year. I blogged about the experience and you can read about it in this post as well as the upcoming posts. Check out the site in the next few days to read about my experience. Here’s my first post:
January 6, 2010
After a 4.5 hour drive from 430pm to 9pm, we have finally arrived in
Vegas and are checked into our hotel.
After settling in, I prepare myself for tomorrow’s event while
wondering what new and interesting gadgets and technologies will be
unvieled.
For starters, the rumored Microsoft Courier was stomped out today so I
have to focus on other vaporware out there that may become real here
at CES. Full coverage begins tomorrow. See you guys then.
On Episode 2, we discuss What’s Hot with Cloud Computing, Pet Peeves: “When not to use technology”, and Perception vs. Reality: “What kind of security do we really need?”
We’re always looking for new topics to discuss and any feedback. Please feel free to send us an email at biisnet@biissolutions.com
Enjoy!
