There is no better time to make sure your software and hardware are current and performing at their full potential than at the end of the year! Here at SADA, we are committed to ensuring that all of your systems are in compliance with industry standards and our recommendations for Best Practices.
Some of the risks you face with equipment that is currently out of compliance includes, but is not limited to the following:
Hardware failure Excessive Downtime Costly resolution No current manufacturer warranty on hardware in place Reduced productivity from employees due to substandard computer performance
You may also wish to consider upgrading the random access memory (RAM) in your computer(s). Memory prices have dramatically fallen over the years. Making these upgrades can result in improvements in the following areas:
Overall System Performance Computer response time Increased productivity Preventing the computer from freezing when running several programs concurrently
For a free "Best Practices-Non Compliance" analysis of your computer hardware and software, please contact us here at SADA Systems, Inc. at 1.866.997.0000.
Truth is, the Operating System does not matter - or, won't matter very shortly. Most of the applications people will be using will depend on two things:
a. Internet Connection b. Any modern / standards-based Browser (IE, Firefox, etc...)
More on this later - but the writing is on the wall. Looks like Google and some others get it, and Microsoft does not (not yet at least).
This is the most exciting time ever to be in Information Technology! We are amidst a paradigm shift, as important as the advent of the internet itself, perhaps.
Late last month Google introduced a handy new feature in their Google Maps for Mobile service called "My Location." My Location allows a user to see their location, or their approximate location using Google's Maps for Mobile service with the click of the zero key on the mobile device's keypad. A great feature of this service is that it does not depend on GPS to work. Every time you use your phone it uses a cell tower for reception, and to either place a call or browse the Internet. Every tower has a unique identification and footprint. To find your approximate location the system calculates your position relative to the unique indentifications and footprints of nearby cell towers. While the accuracy of this method may vary from area to area, the service does improve the more it is used. Finally, there is no need to worry about whether or not Google knows where you are. Google's system uses the same towers for its service that you make use of to place a phone call. The tower receives your phone's identification, but your personal information is protected.
Longtime brick and mortar computer and electronics retailer CompUSA is going out of business. Following the closing of 126 stores in February of this year, the remaining 103 stores will be shuttered after the holidays.
After years of sagging sales, customer complaints and financial troubles, CompUSA was sold by Mexico based U.S. Commercial Corp S.A.B. de C.V. to Gordon Brothers, a firm that specializes in liquidating failing businesses. Remaining stores and units of the business will be put up for sale after the closings.
A significant factor in the troubles facing the chain was competition from online retailers. In many cases CompUSA could not compete with the deep discounts for computer equipment found on the Internet.
If your favorite local computer store is closing down, don't worry! ShopSADA.com is open 24 hours, seven days a week with great prices on computers, software, peripherals, storage products and more. For more information on some great ShopSADA deals, please contact Solutions Provider Eric Rosenwald at 866.997.0000, option 3 or via email at eric.rosenwald@sadasystems.com.
Though always appropriate, this time of year is a good time to say how much we do appreciate the relationship that we have with our clients. Without their support, we certainly could not enjoy the success we have had so far!
It hardly seems possible that it is already the end of another year. We at SADA Systems, Inc. wanted to take a moment to recap 2007 and highlight some of the great IT solutions we have available.
SADA YEAR IN REVIEW One of the most exciting things at SADA is our growing partnership with Google. We began as one of Google's original ten Enterprise Partners worldwide and have expanded our scope to become one of the premier experts in the deployment and customization of Google Apps. We have developed and implemented Apps solutions for clients such as Northwestern University, Anderson Merchandisers and the Los Angeles Community College District, to name a few. Lending "street cred" to our experience, we were asked by Google to develop a custom tool for the provisioning of Google Apps accounts.
Another significant development for SADA in 2007 was expansion into Asia. Under the leadership of Senior Developer Johannes Candra, we opened an office in Surabaya, Indonesia which will add greater depth to our web and application development team and expand our marketing presence to whole new markets.
We are proud of the recognition we have received this year. Among the honors; the California Junior Chamber chose SADA President/CEO Tony Safoian as one of "Ten Outstanding Young Californians," SADA was named number 3044 on Inc. Magazine’s "5000 Fastest Growing Companies List," and our philanthropic efforts were recognized by Computech for Humanity, an organization that provides computers, software and training to disabled individuals.
EXCITING SOLUTIONS FROM SADA As an IT services, IT procurement and web/application development firm SADA Systems, Inc. has a solution for you. The end of the year is a great time to take advantage of SADA's various services to boost your business in 2008.
Google Apps provides businesses of any size with a suite of hosted communication, documentation, and collaboration applications. Bundled in Google Apps are Gmail, Google Docs, Spreadsheets and Presentations, GoogleTalk, and Google Calendar. Google Apps is robust, scalable, offers unparalleled business continuity, anti-virus/anti-spam features - and requires NO infrastructure/hardware investment!
CITO - SADA’s Complete IT Outsourcing programs - provide 100% maintenance and support of Information Technology infrastructure for a Fixed Fee. All CITO customers leverage the benefits of our nSight Managed Infrastructure Services monitoring system. This allows SADA unparalleled visibility into the on-going availability, behavior and performance of every aspect of your infrastructure. Frequent on-site visits help to ensure that your network is 100% operational and stable. With CITO, we make your information and infrastructure challenges our passion.
We look forward to another great year working with you! Here is our wish for a very safe and happy holiday season, and a great New Year to you and yours!
The original printing press created by Johannes Guttenberg quite possibly revolutionized the world. His invention created at least one new industry, announced the forthcoming scientific revolution, and brought literacy to the masses. The creation of the book is quite possibly the single most significant technological contribution in the history of mankind. An easily portable set of information that never becomes obsolete, requires no instructions for proper use, does not require installation, has no batteries to worry about, and may be released in every language in the world. Any attempt to improve on this accomplishment faces a virtually insurmountable uphill battle. The challenges facing the creation of building a better book notwithstanding, there have been several attempts to move books into a digital format. Amazon.com's Jeff Bezos is attempting to do just that with the newly available Amazon Kindle.
Amazon's new e-reader is the latest entry in the emerging market of dedicated 'readers' for electronic books, or e-books. Both software applications and hardware devices have been promoted as the next step in revolutionizing how we think of books and the printed page. Software applications are a difficult sell in this movement as looking at a novel, or journal, or newspaper online fails to transport the reader in the same manner as the printed page. This phenomena referred to as 'transparency' is the major hurdle in developing a truly dedicated electronic medium for ebooks, journals, and news.
Amazon's Jeff Bezos set a number goals for the development of the Kindle. First and foremost among them was it needed to be as 'book-like' as possible. The Kindle is not meant to be a web 2.0 gadget with a bunch of flashy features and gizmos, but a new way to deliver the venerable printed word. To this end the Kindle has been designed to hit the reader's sweet spot, specifically the reading area of the Kindle is the same size as an average paperback novel. The interface is a simple screen with buttons for next page and previous page, and the device includes an integrated hardware keyboard.
Media is delivered to the Kindle wirelessly via Sprint's wireless network, without an additional fee for subscribing to the network. Users can download books directly from Amazon for a fee of $9.00 per book, and the device has sufficient memory capacity to store up to about 200 books. An SD-Card slot provides the user with the option of adding additional storage for even more books. Even if a book is deleted from the device, Amazon has a record of the download and purchase so the book may be reacquired at no additional fee.
The Kindle also provides access to journals and newspapers, though some of these (such as the New York Times) do require an additional subscription fee. Online content such as blogs and RSS feeds can also be accessed using the Kindle.
Aside from generating a significant amount of buzz, Amazon's entry into the electronic reader arena has raised questions about the future of the book. Enough controversy has been raised by the Kindle that it was recently featured as a discussion point on KCRW's program "Left, Right, and Center" (KCRW is a member station of National Public Radio). The major question raised by the Kindle has been, "is this the end of the book?" In all likelihood the answer is 'no'. What the Kindle is likely to do is revolutionize how books are written and how books are published. It is even possible the Kindle will give rise to the next generation of serialized stories, allowing authors to change the arc of a narrative on a continuous basis.
Click the video below to view CNet's review of the Amazon Kindle:
For more information about the Kindle visit the links below:
One number forever. Advanced Tools. Oh, and it's by Google.
Today I started testing GrandCentral, a unified messaging type platform acquired by Google back in July. Why did Google do this? According to them: = A: Google acquired GrandCentral because its communications services fit into Google's mission to organize the world's information and to provide services and features that enhance the collaborative exchange of information between our users. =
I think this supports the following facts:
Phone numbers used to be tied to locations, now they are tied to people. We don't call a place, we call a number becuase we are trying to reach a person.
Phone numbers (which are now one element of our identity) should not change. When regulation was finally lifted allowing people to hold onto their mobile phone numbers when switching carriers, that was a major step. However, using a service like this which is not dependant on any carrier or physical location, this gives users the greatest flexibility.
Google likes innovative, simple applications which it can easily integrate into its other platforms.
Can something like GrandCentral soon challange traditional phone systems for businesses? Will they integrate with Gtalk? It's all possible, but Google is not talking yet. There are now dozens of such services available. However, when chosing any service, I have a basic policy - go with the big boys, becuase you KNOW they will be around. Not to mention that Google is one of the only ones around that has the ability to make an acquisition of this type, and take it to market in such a model that it's FREE for users!
So - Who wants an Account? I have at least 5 invitations I can give out to anyone who is interested! Post a comment, and let me know!
When the iPhone was released it started a trend toward rethinking how we look at the web. The Internet is no longer confined to the quietly humming box beneath our desks, or the glowing lap-warmer we carry around in briefcases and notebook cases. The web is going mobile, and the iPhone was released with the intention of spearheading this movement. The screen is larger, it's Wi-Fi capable, and makes use of a revolutionary multi-touch-screen interface for everything from taking a picture, to making a call, to browsing the Internet via a full version of Apple's Safari web browser.
Google software engineer Steve Kanefsky started thinking of ways for Google to best take advantage of these new features in mobile web browsing. Kanefsky, and the mobile team at Google, created a mobile version of the Google home page making use of a web tool-set known as AJAX, an acronym for Asynchronous Javascript and XML. Changes to the mobile version of Google Apps were made to make them faster and easier to use. Optimized features include:
Google Apps mobile version now makes use of Google's suggest engine to complete search terms when entering them using the iPhone's soft keys.
Pages load immediately, which makes browsing on the iPhone just as fast as browsing from a desktop or notebook computer.
Links to Gmail, Reader, and Calendar have been placed at the top of the screen so they can be accessed more easily.
To read more about the changes take a look at the links below:
SADA is pleased to announce the launch today of a new website for Quotidian Home Dialysis (the home page is pictured above). Quotidian Home Dialysis is the third largest provider of home hemodialysis services in Los Angeles. Quotidian Home Dialysis assists patients with learning to do dialysis in their own home on a daily basis. Quotidian Home Dialysis has locations in both Orange County and Glendale.
Quotidian Home Dialysis recognized the potential of a website to provide information to potential patients and their families they might otherwise have been able to reach. It is the hope of Quotidian Home Dialysis that the launch version of the website will prove a valuable tool for providing information about their services and company to patients and nurses. Later Quotidian may add to the website, including information for both doctors and health plan providers.
At the outset of the project Quotidian wished to create a website that was more than just a static online brochure, composed only of text and photos. They wanted visitors to the website to be able to look at articles about home dialysis from the news and medical journals, see patient testimonials, and submit their information as a possible candidate for home hemodialysis treatments. Quotidian will track user metrics on the website by making use of Google's Analytics system. This will help them to enhance the website for their target audience, and to narrow their focus to a specific, geo-targeted demographic.
SADA worked closely with Quotidian Home Dialysis to meet their requests and the finished website may now be seen at http://www.quotidianhomedialysis.com
The NoHo FreeNET network of free community wireless internet service got a big boost Thursday when SADA Systems, Inc. announced that Booster Juice at NoHo Commons joined the network as its latest partner.
NoHo FreeNET – a project developed by SADA – has served the central NoHo Arts District area since 2006 and has eventual plans to blanket all of NoHo with free, wireless internet. The network is supported by business and community partners who agree to serve as locations for “wireless access points,” devices that broadcast an internet signal to laptop computers and other devices that have wireless internet or “Wi-Fi” capability. Increasingly, not just laptop manufacturers but makers of devices such as phones, data devices and game devices are including Wi-Fi in their products.
Booster Juice is a premium juice and smoothie bar chain started in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 2001 and currently counts over 200 stores in Canada, the US and abroad. The NoHo location is their first store in Los Angeles with more locations planned to open in 2008. The store is located at the NoHo Commons Shopping on Chandler Boulevard, just east of Lankershim, across from the North Hollywood Metro Red Line Station.
President and CEO of SADA Systems, Inc., Tony Safoian, said “Our dream of covering NoHo with free wireless internet is one step closer to reality. Thanks to the generosity and participation of premiere businesses like Booster Juice, we’re building a community.”
Based in North Hollywood, California, SADA Systems, Inc. is an information technology consulting, outsourcing, and development firm founded in 2000 which designs, delivers, deploys and supports a holistic and cutting-edge suite of best-of-breed technologies.
Mobile is the next great frontier on the web for developers and users alike. Mega-companies like Microsoft and Apple have entered the mobile fray with strong platforms and services for their competing mobile devices. These devices use proprietary operating systems which means that new services and software have to come directly from the developer. Now search giant Google and the Open Handset Alliance are poised to reshape the mobile landscape with the open-source mobile operating system, Android. Android differs from windows mobile, iPhone, and Palm in that the code and SDK are freely available for download.
Rumors have been circulating for weeks of the possibility of a gPhone from Google, after it was confirmed that Google intended to enter the mobile space. This week Google announced that, rather than creating a new, dedicated, and proprietary device in a market saturated with such devices, they are offering a development platform that can be applied to any device. According to Google's Sergey Brin (see the video below) the launch of the Android platform may lead to the creation of thousands of unique gPhones.
An open source platform on which to deliver software and services means an unprecedented level of flexibility in the mobile operating system. Users will conceivably have access to a host of applications developed by independent developers. Open source services and applications developed by third-parties notwithstanding the Android platform already offers a host of attractive features. Following are just a few of Android's capabilities:
Software interoperability: this means if you click on someone's contact information within your mobile device running Android, it can automatically direct you to the maps application and show you the contact's location.
This additional functionality works in conjunction with the standard phone operation, and Android has applications for making calls, sending text messages, and so on. On higher end devices Android takes advantage of any hardware acceleration for the creation of 3D graphics and animation, as long as the application has been written to the Android OpenGLS APIs. In the video embedded below Steve Horowitz demonstrates the 3D rendering capabilities of Android by playing Quake.
Google has now made the SDK and code available for download so developers may begin creating new applications and services for the Android platform. Google believes in supporting and rewarding the efforts of developers in creating new software and services for Android. To reward these efforts and show their appreciation for the contributions of developers Google has set aside $10 million to give to developers who create great applications for the Android.
Google's entrance into the mobile web domain has the potential to change how we think of our mobile devices.
The end of the traditional workday is here - an Introduction
The End of the Nine-to-Five
It happened slowly – and you may not have noticed – but it’s more apparent now than ever: The days of the traditional, 9am-6pm workday are long gone. I say that as I’m typing this out at 9:30pm (Pacific Time, U.S.).It’s not just that I’m specifically a workaholic and the exception –because guess what – I’m replying to emails sent by vendors, partners, clients, and co-workers - which would mean only ONE thing – they are working too.
How did this happen?
Some would say it was all started by the Blackberry – from RIM – the pioneer of the first mainstream device for answering emails from anywhere, anytime (my first was the RIM 950 Pager - pictured here).
Then as more people started to get them (sometimes dubbed the ‘Crack-berry’ for their addictive nature), expectations changed, as did our habits.Remember the days when people checked emails once/day?Now we check emails every 5 minutes – and since we do it, we know other do it too – hence, not only do we feel that we need to reply to emails that are sent to us, but expect others to do the same.All of a sudden, those who don’t reply to emails at all hours are somehow made out to be those who ‘don’t work as hard as we do’.
Disintegration of time and place.
So what came first - the chicken or the egg? One school of thought blames (or credits) the devices and technology for creating this new mindset. But another says it was the "need" to be connected at all times drove the innovation of devices and a change in attributes and expectations. More and more, even very small companies are multinational in nature - have employees, vendors, partners, and co-workers located all around the world - what does that mean? It's always between 9am and 5pm *somewhere* in the world.
Case in point, a typical conference call at SADA could be:
Core Team: North Hollywood, CA, USA: GMT -8 SADA Asia Office Team: Surabaya, Java, Indonesia: GMT +9 Potential Client: Islamabad, Pakistan: GMT +5
We had a conference call which had to be scheduled at 9pm North Hollywood time - just because that's the time that worked for everyone!
I'm pretty certain this is relatively typical for many companies around the world today - and I believe this is at least in part responsible for the disintegration of the typical work day.
Implications... In a future posting we'll discuss implications of this trend! This is just an intro...
SADA has officially launched a Google Apps Set-Up services for Small businesses. The service, called Google Apps for SMB JumpStart - is priced at $299 - and includes all of the basic set-up functions a company would need to get up and running on Apps for up to 50 users.
The services is purchased directly from the SADA Home Page via Google Checkout.
For more information about Google Apps for Small Business, please click here.
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