Google Chrome Releases Remote Control Extension

Written by Colin Vander Veen | October 09 2011
Posted in Technology Updates

remote-desktop-client For web meetings and technical support, there is nothing more useful that screen sharing and remote desktop control. Back in "the day", we used pre-installed applications like pcAnywhere and VNC... software that had to be pre-setup and configured and quite often, left security holes. Then came the SAAS (Software-As-A-Service) model used by GoToMyPC, WebEx and LogMeIn. This types of service is usually costly and charged by the monthly. One of my favorites out there now is TeamViewer. This is a commercial software, costs about $800, but can be used personally for free. So now, with extensions coming into play, we may be able to use a quick, easy to install, free extension, loaded in our web browsers and muilti-platform friendly. Next stop... remote control of your smartphone!

'Do Not Track' Internet privacy bill introduced in House

Written by Colin Vander Veen | February 11 2011
Posted in Technology Updates

online-privacy Now this is actually really interesting... even for those of you that think we rant too much about our 'tech-crap'. There is a privacy bill proposed in congress that may just change the Internet all together. As most may know, in the late 90's there was a boom of information technology push towards the 'Internet'... it went down the wrong road and failed. Example: Proposing on-line services to those that cannot actually 'use' the services fail... every time. How can you sell a product or service that's not usable or constructive for the client's ROI (Return-On-Investment). For the rest of us, the ones that just sat though the crash (not the one we're still in, IT actually didn't cause this one) and didn't really feel it, we got the benefits of extensive knowledge for years on end. I mean... really! Who needs a library now! For that, a school! Sorry but if you can learn... you can just teach yourself now.

Microsoft's Bing Gains on Google in U.S. Internet Search Market in January

Written by Colin Vander Veen | February 10 2011
Posted in Technology Updates

Microsoft on the push again to be #1. Google has had the 'search engine' lead for some time. Back in the day, it was Yahoo... and before that, Exite, AltaVista, Lycos, Go.com, Infoseek and (oh yeah, remember this one...) MSN. That's right, the old Microsoft brand that caused us as much pain as passing a quarter-inch gallstone through your new laptop's non-existent modem jack via the pre-installed OS. Now that that's failed, they want a piece of the pie, man-handling their way though as usual. Interesting thing... Yahoo is now using Bing as their engine. Of course, this can only be found on their Privacy Policy page.

Ubuntu Linux Switches From OpenOffice to LibreOffice for 11.04

Written by Colin Vander Veen | February 08 2011
Posted in Technology Updates

Damn! And just as we were getting some positive energy towards some "Windows-to-Linux" platform conversions. (not to worry, we will keep trying)

Anyways, some of the team from OpenOffice have packed their bags after the Oracle take-over from Sun and joined the LibreOffice performa.

Only scary thing... can't find a homepage for the project!

Open Video: Google kills H.264 in Chrome

Written by Colin Vander Veen | February 08 2011
Posted in Technology Updates

Google make a new promise to keep 'open-source' alive! Yet another crack made at Apple's power-handling. As most may know, Adobe Flash was never made available in the Apple iPod, iPhone or iPad IOS (operating system). Some may even have figured out the reason... Flash apps don't need to be installed by iTunes and could run commercial apps without Apple getting it's "cut." So in comes H.264... part of the video solution for Apple to show video without having support for Flash SWF or FLV video.