Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category
by Brian Enright, CPA and Tim Ayler, CPA | Team Members of the Construction Services Group
By most accounts an iPad (or any PC tablet) is considered an entertainment device or simply a convenient, portable way to check email on a business trip. However, with new construction-based applications and tough protection cases, the iPad is showing that it too belongs on the jobsite.
Continue reading “How an iPad or PC Tablet can Boost Productivity on the Jobsite” »
by Rich Wagoner, CITP.CPA | Principal, Manager, Information Technology Services Group
I have had a number of conversations about social media lately with our employees and with a number of clients. I typically hear that they think its important but its just one more thing they have to do. I believe that social media is here to stay and will only grow in importance in enhancing and creating new relationships. The following is an excerpt from Kyle Lacy (author of two books: Twitter Marketing for Dummies (Wiley, 2009) and Branding Yourself (Pearson, 2010)). In it he summarizes 10 ways you can use social media to create customer evangelists.
Continue reading “10 Ways to Create Customer Evangelists with Social Media” »
by Rich Wagoner, CITP.CPA | Principal, Director of Technology
How many times have you received a spreadsheet and one of the columns needs split up into separate cells or maybe you need to combine a few cells into one cell. Excel has a number of text functions that can help with these tasks and reduce your time fixing the spreadsheet.
Continue reading “Excel Text Functions” »
I have had my iPad for awhile now and use it almost every day. One of the biggest advantages for me is the size and convenience of the device. For example, when I am out at the out at the softball diamond with my daughters I can easily pack the iPad and rely on it instead of packing my laptop. I would like to share with you a couple of examples of how I have used my iPad.
The Basics
First I have all of my email, calendar and contacts synced to it from our Exchange server. When I am on the road it is easier to write larger and respond to emails on the iPad rather than on my Droid phone, and can look up contacts and calendar items, while on the telephone if necessary.
I also have Team Viewer and iTAP RDP apps installed on this device. Team Viewer’s iPad version makes it easy to remote support PCs and the iTAP helps remote support the servers we maintain. We have a link on the web to download the Team Viewer client and once I get the ID I can connect to the PC and work on it, as if I was sitting at the machine. This has come in handy during lunch, on the weekends at the softball diamonds and at the firm’s Day of Caring (for example for a client of ours).
I also help maintain the firm’s web site and social sites. I can use the iPad to help here as well. For example, to update Twitter I use the Twitter app or to update the firm’s website I use the WordPress app to help update and make the changes to the firm’s website. I am also looking to use TweetDeck or HelloTXTR to update multiple social sites with ease.
Since my first article on the iPad I have also added the USA Today app and a DNS lookup app to my iPad. I also added the Drop Box app which is nice if you have a couple of sales people with PCs or iPads that need access to up-to-date documents. With this app they can always have the latest versions of the documents at their finger tips.
There really are more and more uses for this device and if you would like to discuss the potential use in your organization, don’t hesitate to reach out and contact me.
by Rich Wagoner, CITP.CPA | Principal, Technology Services Group
If you have been considering the upgrade of Microsoft Office to the latest version, Office 2010, here are some new features that might make the decision a little easier.
Continue reading “What’s New with Office 2010” »
As a technology advisor I get all kinds of questions related to all types of technology. One of the recent ones I have been hearing from clients is: “Have you used the iPad?” or “We bought an iPad and are looking at it to help do…what do you think?” So I have one now and have used it for roughly 3 weeks. The one I bought was the 32GB 3G version (the only version Best Buy had at the time). So initially I thought it was an “oversized” iPod/iPhone; surely I can do all it can do on my iPod Touch or iPhone or Laptop. That is not entirely true.
A Couple of Advantages:
One of the advantages I see with the iPad over my laptop is the size and convenience of being able to take it without all the “baggage” of my laptop and it is easier to see outside. This is good for me when I am at a softball game or away from home when taking the laptop is just not practical. The size is just about perfect to use for remote support and reading PDFs and e-mails (see note below on Box.net), as compared to my iPhone.
A Couple of Disadvantages/Issues:
The cost and cost of accessories make the iPad not quite practical for a lot of potential uses that I can see for it. Additionally, the apps that are useful also come with a price tag, usually $0.99 to $9.99. Another thing I have noticed is without a case or a stand it is not quite as easy to use like a laptop on your lap or on a table. The back is rounded, so it tends to wiggle a bit as you type on it. I maintain a few social media fronts for the firm and myself and have yet to find the perfect app to do this like I can on my laptop with Tweet Deck.
Now for my App List:
- iTap RDP Client: I use this app to connect the servers we manage. I have complete desktop connectivity just like I do with my laptop.
- Team Viewer Pro: this is the tool that we use to connect remotely and work on individual PC issues and help support our clients remotely.
- Evernote: I use this application to take notes to help keep track of the things that I did during a particular day. This syncs to my laptop PC as well.
- eWallet: I have used this application for years to keep track of all my passwords and login information. Now I have the same database of usernames and passwords on my iPad as well as my iPhone and PC, all syncing back and forth.
- Box.net: I use to keep articles and items to read in my PC bag but with this application I can PDF those items and e-mail them to my Box.net account and read them on the iPad at my convenience.
- WordPress: We maintain a couple of websites with WordPress back – ends and this allows me to have access to make changes to these sites from about anywhere I have a cell signal or a wireless access.
- To-Do: This app helps me keep track of my task list and is compatible with the GTD (Getting Things Done) theory of task. I simply add or e-mail my To-Do list with the action and it will help monitor and track the things that need to be done.
- Corkulous: This app is like an idea board that allows you to keep track of ideas and jot down notes quickly and easily.
- Numbers, Pages and Keynote: These are the Apple Office products for spreadsheets, word processing and presentations.
- I-Clickr: have not used this yet but it is a must have if you do PowerPoint presentations. Set your computer by the projector and start the host i-Clickr and then take control with your iPad and click away. Great controls to allow easy access to the slide notes and even a peek ahead option.
I will share more of my findings later, but if you are looking to get an iPad for something specific, let’s chat and maybe we can help you decide on your plan or test the app for you before you spend the money on the hardware.
Business can be generated from social media and we know that there have been a lot of articles written and a lot of discussions regarding social media. We would just like to ask a couple of questions before you dismiss yet another article on this topic. Is your business blocking Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social networking sites? By doing this are you also preventing your company from using them to promote your company? Do you as a business owner understand these technologies?
Continue reading “One in Five Have Generated Business from…” »