Microsoft is one of the most powerful companies in the world. Its Windows and Office products power computers globally. Microsoft’s chief, Bill Gates, remains to be one of the more important names in the technology field. But one thing…Microsoft is not cool—at least not yet. Having said that, there’s some signs that Microsoft’s new smartphone software, Windows Phone, could possibly change this.

Sure Microsoft’s products are everywhere but, in the eyes of the consumer, they’ve always fallen just short of cutting edge. Microsoft has had a handful of failed products in the past, for instance, the Zune. Do you remember this little mp3 player? How about the Kin phone? These products and others have led to Microsoft’s less then cool reputation.

Windows Phone software, though, seems to be a hit among the technology press. Many media critics say that Windows Phone is one of the best looking and performing smartphone operating systems currently available. That’s heady praise for any company, not just Microsoft.

The praise that Windows Phone receives is predominantly dues to its eye-catching look and the animated home screen tiles, as opposed to the more static home screen of the iPhone. This OS has people fired up as well as it gives users quick access to their social networks. The social media icons on the home screen come to life when a friend posts an update or image, this means you don’t need to click the Facebook icon to get a glimpse of your activity.

Problem is, even with the clever design features of Windows Phone, the operating system has not turned into a big seller. A part of the blame may go to the companies making the actual phones designed with Windows Phone. These phones tend to be fairly bland and blunted Windows Phone sales. At the same time, wireless service providers continue marketing the iPhone and handsets running Google’s Android operating system.

While sales may be lower then desired for Windows Phone the change it is making to Microsoft’s reputation could have a very favourable impact. Where the consumer is concerned, a little cool never hurt a business.

Mouse-free computing is not unknown to us. We navigate on our smartphones, tablets, and e-reader using touchscreen technology. And I’m sure this is just the beginning of interacting with computers without a mouse. So, can we ever ditch the mouse completely for more hands free technologies?

Gesture sensing

Consumers who own Wii or PlayStation video game systems currently have a sense of this. These two game systems offer users the opportunity to play games and explore the web through wireless remotes that synch with body movements. Wii players can smack a tennis ball by swinging their hands when they hold a wireless remote. They are able to jog in place, climb a virtual mountain, or shoot menacing robots in the same way. This is called gesture sensing. The tech isn’t quite ready for standard computing yet. However, it is not hard to imagine a future in which gesture sensing becomes one of the primary modes of interacting with our computers.

Multi-touch technology

But gesture sensing is simply one interaction innovation. There is also multi-touch technology. Again, iPad as well as other tablet users are already familiar with this. By tapping icons on their screen, they are able to open apps and programs. By swiping their fingers across the screen, they are able to flip to a new page on a website. By pinching pages, they are able to zoom on an image to make it larger.

Voice recognition

Another possibility for controlling computers is vocal recognition. This technology already exists and is quickly rising in popularity as developers work out the kinks. One of the most common vendors is Dragon NaturallySpeaking. Vocal recognition technology has a ways to go before it’s perfect, but technologies improve so rapidly these days that I don’t see it being too long before voice-command functionality becomes standard in all devices.

No matter what new technologies arise or how refined the ones we spoke about get, chances are that the mouse is not going to disappear all together. It has served us well, and we know we can easily rely on it.

You use your smartphone to buy movie tickets, download your favorite songs, and make online reservations at the new French restaurant. But, if your smartphone battery dies, it’s not possible to do any of this. And let’s be honest, charging your smartphone the old-fashioned way is a drag. You must plug your charger into an outlet and leave it connected long enough to give it a sufficient amount of power.

But now there is an easier solution to charge your device: a smartphone charging pad.

Charge your phone wirelessly

These flat pads enable users to charge their devices wirelessly. Giving us respite from twisted cords. Another advantage is that several devices can be charged at the same time; and not just smartphone but tablets and iPods too!

Have you ever wondered how these work? They use electro-magnetic induction charging to generate a magnetic field that delivers power to the batteries of your smartphones, tablets, as well as other electronic devices.

Charge pads a technology in progress

Though these charging pads could make our lives less difficult they aren’t as popular as you would think. Primarily this is due to their cost; they are often as expensive as the devices they charge.

One more reason is that they take up space. Consumers who wish to get rid of the mess of cords don’t mind this, but this doesn’t help people aiming to create more space on their desk. 

An improving wireless world

Wireless technology is always improving; so we are bound to see charge pad technology improve. Ideally they’ll become smaller and less expensive which may make these items a must-have for modern homes.

Windows 7 has numerous features making it a great improvement over prior systems. However, like most things, if you are unaware of all these features you could be missing out.

By mastering a few simple tricks, you can get the most out of Windows 7.

• If you want to move images to outside disks, you can now achieve this quickly with Windows 7. The operating system enables you to burn ISO images onto CDs or DVDs. To accomplish this, you simply have to double-click on the ISO image, tell Windows 7 the drive that holds your blank disc, and click on the “burn” option. Windows 7 will do the rest.

• Discovering issues and repairing them is also simple with Windows 7. To do this choose the “Control Panel” and select the “troubleshooting” option. This will give you usage of a number of wizards that look for and fix common OS issues. For example cleaning up adware and eliminating clutter.

• Installing a large amount of cumbersome software will slow your system down. You are able to prevent this by utilizing the AppLocker feature. This enables you to pre-approve certain programs for installation. Which inhibits any non-preapproved software from being downloaded.

• Another fantastic aspect is its power efficiency service. This allows you to monitor just how much power your laptop is using. This is often helpful if you are working remotely and have no access to a power source.

Once used predominantly as a blogging platform, WordPress is now probably the most popular website publishing and content management tools on the internet. According to Tech Crunch, about 22 out of every 100 new active domains in the U.S. run WordPress. What’s more, one of the most popular publishers in the world uses WordPress.

Here are 7 things you should know about WordPress:

1. With WordPress you don’t have to rebuild your pages whenever you wish to update your site. Updating your content is fast and easy, as WordPress has dynamic page generation.
2. You can set up a free subdomain within minutes. You can register at Wordpress.com to get a free website (e.g. www.yourname.wordpress.org). This can be great if you don’t have the funds to invest on external hosting and domain services.
3. The ‘Famous 5 minute install’. If you have already purchased and are hosting your domain elsewhere, WordPress can be installed quickly and easily. And have no fear – coding is not necessary.
4. If you do own your own domain there are some minimum requirements to run WordPress. You need to be sure you have the appropriate and compliant versions of PHP and MySQL. This will ensure that you can receive reliable WordPress support when necessary.
5. To help make your site look nice, there is an wide-ranging selection of templates, called “themes”, available online. Some are free, while others are not. Nevertheless, using these it is possible to easily and quickly customize your site the way you like.
6. WordPress offers centralized management for all your pages, posts, multimedia assets, and reader comments. It’s also really easy to manage users and user profiles.
7. WordPress has many plugins produced by users that make e-commerce simple. You can promote, review, and even sell products by using these with no need to look for additional add-ons.

We always read about the most popular gadgets on the market. But for every technology that changes our lives you will find something that flops. It’s tough to judge what the public will take a fancy too, so companies take a risk every time they release something. Here we explore several technologies that fall outside of the “took flight” category.

Famous tech failures

• Apple TV: Apple TV lets customers buy their entertainment straight from iTunes and stream it on their computers, handheld devices, or TVs. The unfortunate part of this, which may be the explanation for its less then popular standing, is that it is somewhat limited to iTunes.

• Sony Mylo: You might not remember the Mylo. That’s because it came and went without eliciting much response from consumers. This Wi-Fi-enabled mobile device permitted consumers to connect to the Internet, send e-mail, and hold online chats. In addition, it came with Skype for free Internet calls. Sadly for Sony, the iPhone and its enormous app store simply overwhelmed the Mylo.

The Segway peters out

• Segway PT: The Segway PT scooter hasn’t exactly been a flop. Nonetheless, it never caught on in the way its manufacturers predicted. This two-wheeled transportation machine was said to be a must-have for commuters traveling to work and for family members taking short trips to their local grocery store. Unfortunately, the scooter makes people look kind of silly when they’re riding it. Maybe this is why the device hasn’t become a mainstream alternative to cars.

The CueCat doesn’t purr

• CueCat: Shaped like a cat, the CueCat was a barcode reader introduced to the public in 1999. It permitted consumers to open a link to an Internet address by scanning a barcode on an item. The concept was that consumers would enjoy surfing to a website without having to enter in that site’s address. This idea proved flawed, and it wasn’t long before the CueCat’s maker, Digital Convergence Corporation, was out of business.

We are inclined to take Microsoft Outlook for granted. After all, we’ve been using this program to read email messages and control our schedules for many years now. Nevertheless, Microsoft Outlook is a amazingly powerful program. If you want to get the most out of it, it’s time to examine some of its hidden functions. Here are three key tips that can help you save time and work more proficiently when linked to Microsoft Outlook.

Eliminate the Clutter

Using Outlook’s “Conversation View” can help keep your email conversations neatly in one thread rather of being distributed over days of email backlog.  The disadvantage to Conversation View is that frequently these emails are cluttered with repeat material from old emails.  To quickly eliminate this aggravation, simply right-click the conversation and select the “Clean Up Conversation” option.  Now all of the recurring quoted material will be eliminated from the conversation.

Say it in a Picture

Using screenshots in your emails is always a good way to successfully help convey your message, especially for IT support issues. Inserting a screenshot into your email is very simple with Outlook.  All you have to do is click the “Insert” tab and then choose the “Screenshot” option. From here, Outlook will generate images of all the windows open on your desktop.  Choose the correct one and it will be inserted into your email.

Take Out the Trash

It’s not abnormal to leave our email trash folders packed with old and unwanted messages. Sad to say, this trash takes up space. To resolve this, Outlook allows you to easily empty this trash without thinking about it every time you leave the program. Telling Outlook to do this is uncomplicated. Click Outlook’s “File” menu. Click the “Options” tab and then click “Advanced.” Once here, identify the Outlook “Start” and “Exit” options. Add a check next to the “Empty Deleted Items” folder when exiting Outlook option. This way, your trashed email messages will disappear every time you leave Outlook.

When it comes to data security, many people think they have plenty of systems and precautions in position to keep their data safe. Sure, you may have antivirus software and you might even update it regularly. You may even feel that you’re too small of a company to be a target of a hacking attempt. Only big firms that have tens of thousands of clients need to be concerned about cyber criminals, right? Wrong. Hackers and cyber criminals have actually escalated their focus on small businesses. We want to help you understand the dangers your small business might be facing.

Small firms: low-hanging fruit

Regrettably, small companies make easy targets, so hackers are beginning to focus on them. Small firms are quick hacks and the criminals can make more hacks at a faster rate. With more chances, their odds of stealing valuable information goes up considerably. As a small business, you may not think you have any valuable data, but in today’s world even the most basic information can be used to do harm to someone else. Credit card purchases are the most common targets of cyber criminals. Each time your system runs a transaction, it must validate the cardholder’s information. This information can contain card numbers, addresses, names, and more. Your clients don’t want this information stolen!

How hackers gain access to your data

Hackers usually take a multiple-point-of-entry approach when trying to breach your company. Don’t be fooled that email is the only way a hacker will try to infiltrate you. While malicious email attachments are the most popular tactics that hackers use to mine data from a company, they also use low-tech methods as well. Direct phone calls to lower level employees or perhaps a in-office visit pretending to be system administrator are some of the low-tech ways criminals may target your business. You may believe your workers are impervious to these seemingly apparent ploys, but it only takes one error to open your company up to an attack.

The buck stops with you

Many people believe that since credit card companies are usually responsible for any counterfeit charges that occur from a hacking event, that data security isn’t crucial. While this may be true for a consumer, for a business owner the result may be very different. Consumers will hold you responsible personally should their information be stolen. Damage control after an attack can cost an organization thousands of dollars and in some cases a single attack can spell the end of business in general.

An ounce of prevention…

So, with regards to your data security, taking additional precautions is a sensible move. Not only should you update your programs whenever you can, take a look at strengthening your passwords as well. Avoid using obvious phrases, and never leave the default password in place. Also, instruct your staff not to give out their login information or open attachments from unfamiliar senders when checking their email. You can also hire an outside consultant to ensure the security of your customers’ data. Taking these kinds of measures can give you piece of mind, knowing that your systems are safe from attack.

Our previous blog focused on company culture and the effect it can have on your brand. Your company’s culture, good or bad, shows up in your brands reputation. We discussed how to measure the cultural health of your organization, but how do you give your company a cultural transformation?

The first step is to ask yourself a couple of questions to get an idea of the “feel” you’d like your company to have:

• How do you want your company to feel? Fun, creative, open, accepting, respectful, etc?
• What are your company’s values and how can the culture mirror them?
• How is information currently distributed in the company and just how does this affect the culture?
• How are employees presently recognized? 
• Does everyone feel noticed in the company? Do people feel free to state their ideas and offer their opinions?

More questions than answers may arise, so brainstorming with your co-workers is a great way to find creative answers. Here are a few ideas to start with:

Suggestion/Thought box – This is an easy way to enable people to share thoughts and opinions regarding the current events within the company. The employee could choose to make the suggestion anonymous or not, and any suggestions or concerns could be addressed in monthly company gatherings.

Empower employees – Let your employees make decisions. Treat the employees as peers; allow them to have a say and listen to their suggestions. Also be a transparent leader. Don’t just tell your employees when things are great, but also inform them tactfully when things aren’t going very well.

Flexible hours – Trusting your employees to get their work done is key. Don’t constantly hang over or micro-manage them. Trusting your employees to get their jobs done gives you less stress, as well as make the general company culture more respectful.

Dress code – Long gone are the days of the suit and tie on a daily basis (at least for most fields), so let employees express themselves with their clothing. This can make them feel free and accepted. Another idea is to have themed clothing days. Examples of this are: wig day, silly t-shirt day, hat day, etc. Let employees make suggestions for themes. A little silly goes a long way.

Celebrate – A company is composed of the people in it, so celebrate together. A monthly movie day, a catered lunch, or lunchtime board game days are just a few ways you can get your employees together to celebrate.

Below is a list of things that real companies do to add some fun to their culture:

• Spontaneous Nerf gun wars
• Painting inspirational quotes on the walls
• Hitting a loud gong when there is a success to let the whole company know
• Foosball tournaments
• Lunchtime Yoga
• Lunchtime Crafting Club
• Monday Mad Libs, whoever wishes to contribute, does, and then the completed Mad Lib is emailed to the company

Often, in business, concentrating on the strategy of the company is the main focus.
Is that because it’s the most important aspect to concentrate on? Many businesses think so, but exclusively concentrating on strategy may lead a company into stagnation. People make up a company and they collectively create the culture of the company. Culture does not just affect the employees in your office, it has effects on your brand, marketing, and how the public in general views your company. Without a healthy prospering culture a brand has little possibility of long-term success.  When we look at brands like Apple, Google, or Starbucks we not only recognize the brand, but we associate a number of feelings and thoughts about these companies. This is mostly due to the culture of these companies.

Why Culture is so Important

If people work in a place where they feel ownership, pride, and empowerment they will put their hearts into the work they do. They will take more risks and be more willing to think outside of the box. A healthy culture fosters creativity and innovative thinking. When individuals feel like they are being stifled by their work or they have no control over their duties, they will do the work assigned to them with no extra effort. This can not only result in a sad individual but a sad atmosphere where every task put toward your brand is given the minimum level of effort. Instead, you want a energetic and alive environment so that your brand stands out from the rest. Nurturing a healthy culture is the responsibility of everyone in the company, from the CEO to HR to the receptionist.

A healthy culture has many benefits. Take a look at a few and the reasons why they could have such a significant impact.

• Focus – When individuals are focused on the same goal, that goal is much more easily attained. Companies that have a healthy culture, have employees that care about the collective goal and genuinely endeavor to reach it. Unhealthy cultures can result in cynicism because individuals do not feel connected to the goal. Their goal is to merely get through the day.

• Cohesion – For a team to have cohesion they should have strong communication. Companies with a healthy culture find that the communication of both success and failure happens more often and more quickly.

• Motivation – A motivated workforce gets things done. That might seem obvious, but companies that don’t pay attention to the health of their culture may be suffering with regards to efficiency. Being motivated to work hard is a trait that ought to be present in every person in the company if the culture is healthy.

Measuring the Cultural Health of Your Company

You should evaluate your company’s culture a few times a year. How can you do this? First, consider how your employees are managed. It is true that a few people may never be happy but, in general, if the opinion is unfavorable begin thinking about adjustments to improve the culture to help your business. Tune in soon for some tips on making your company culture more positive.