1110consulting

Google Voice (as I first discovered it – Grand Central over 2 years ago) is approaching an Open to the Public State.

David Pogue has done articles for the NYTimes on the solution, and today, NBC’s Today Show also did a segment on it.

For many it appears as if Google is ready to take the wraps off this tool for the public. I have had a number for over 2 years and been pointing the calls to various cell phones or home/work numbers.

I really like the solution for my clients. They do not need to learn a new number, I can “screen” the calls and get a transcribed email if I cannot pick up at a moment in time (which is nice since I do not need to dial in and listen to a message) and call out using the number.

The dial out is not something I have used until today… This is AWESOME. I can call a client from my “work” number from any phone on my list. For example, I dial client A) from google voice and pick my iPhone. A call comes into my cell phone and I pick it up – the the call goes back out of my phone to the dialed number.

Awesome, simple and again a client is not getting confused by a call coming from a unknown number… More to come as google releases this to the general public.

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Anyone who has an iPhone with version 3.0 (released today, June 17 – hop onto iTunes, sync/backup the phone and search for new software) and MobileMe NEEDS to enable FindMyiPhone. TUAW has a great little tutorial about setting it up with the new iPhone software and MobileMe.

I tried it this morning and what the system does is find the location of the iPhone so you can go and find it. After about 3 minutes the system will locate the iPhone on a Google Map so you can know if you left it at home, in the car or at the office (or in the cab you just got out of).

The next neat part is if the device is in a cab for instance, you can send a message to the device requesting that someone kindly return the item to you. If you want to be even more annoying you can sound a tone for 2 minutes as well (which is also helpful if the phone is stuck between a few couch cushions).

Lastly, you can wipe the device – if there is no note or knock on the door from a nice cabby, from the MobileMe page you can wipe the device clearing off all your contacts, movies, photos, music and email so the person that now has the shiny iPhone can only start from scratch (but at least they are not starting with your address book).

Good job Apple!

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One of the most frequent attacks and “backdoors” into the home and business computer has been the fake virus warning and subsequent removal tools. Microsoft is working on protecting the users and Windows from these alerts and software (via CNET).

I know a number of people that are just minding their business and get a very professional and Windows-esque alert telling them they may be infected with a virus or trojan. Many times the alert cannot be closed or informs the user the best and only way to remove the alert and virus is with their antivirus software (generally costing $25-50).

In some cases, paying the money (”extortionware”) will get rid of the alert but not leave you with anything aside from $50 lighter in the purse. In other cases the user will get some kind of antivirus tool, but since it is not from the “big boys” (Mcafee, Symantec or AVG) the updates may not be as good or may not exist at all. The software may also have planted or left a path in the system for keyloggers, malware or other bad software. Keep your eyes peeled and check with Microsoft’s Malware Protection Center.

If you see an alert that does not come from windows or a known AV software, I would highly suggest downloading and running a few of the following tools:

This is something to take seriously since the “infection” could be compromising your machine and all your personal information. Other questions – let us know…

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Google today announced a plug-in that will allow outlook to sync with Google Apps Premiere.

For the last couple of months I have been working on migrating an organization with a number of users to Google Apps, but the sticking points have been with Outlook and the way people are SO comfortable with it as well as the time it would take. This plug-in looks to make it seamless for a number of reasons:

When this plug-in appears I will do a number of tests with some pilot users. First, I will have the plug-in installed and see how long this sync takes and if I start seeing some improvements on the exchange server (from the standpoint of response and total storage). Moving forward this seems to be the best solution to move our reliance from Microsoft’s Outlook right on over to Google.

Thanks guys!

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The improvements and security of using Apple’s MobileMe with the iPhone may keep the subscriptions for MobileMe strong. In the last years, I have been using more and more Google and less of Apple’s solution. This may change (or at least make sense to keep a $99/year subscription going).

Two things I really like about the iPhone 3.0 and MobileMe is the expected release of an iDisk App for the iPhone that will allow the sharing or access of documents or files with the iPhone. Looks to be simple and a good tie in of the MobileMe system, the storage Apple provides with this subscription and an iPhone App.

The second item MobileMe will have going for it will be a locate option (or Find My iPhone). This will do a number of GREAT things that any iPhone owner would appreciate when they go those moments of panic when they feel their pocket or bag and do not see or feel the beloved iPhone.

First using the same system the iPhone uses to locate itself, the iPhone will display on a map giving you a general idea of where the phone is. If you find out it is at home, but maybe squished under a cushion on the couch, send a sound to the phone for 2 minutes to help you locate it. If you left it at the gym, type in a message asking the finder to send you a note to pick it up.

If all else fails, remote wipe will reset the iPhone to factory settings and remove all personal information. If the iPhone is found and reconnected to your PC the iPhone will restore from the last backup and all will be back to normal – if not, the person with the iPhone in hand will have an iPhone, but none of your info – which is a very good thing.

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Apple has been showing off the next generation of the Apple OS (Snow Leopard) which should be available in September 2009. The awesome part is Leopard users will be able to get the update for $29! For those running Tiger (10.4.x) there will be a box set that will include updates to the OS and iLife and iWork (I’m guessing this will cost about $199)

The software will have a smaller footprint on the Mac, be able to run more efficiently with the current generations of Intel Processors and in general do what Apple does best, update the system to work better, smoother and smarter.

Look for it in the fall of 2009!

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Apple yesterday officially updated the MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air lines. One of the first and biggest things people notice is the price drop (which is welcome in the current economy – and lets face it, all the time).

The MacBook (which most have considered the “consumer line”) is the only plastic-cased laptop remaining. For $999 the MacBook is a solid laptop with all the wireless and portability needs most people need. The processor is quick and has all the same capabilities to run current and foreseeable software from Apple (for at least the next 3-5 years). The MacBook can also run Pro apps, but they are not going to be as efficient as running on a “Pro” machine which has a dedicated graphic processor.

The MacBook Pro (15″ and 17″) machines have been joined by the Aluminum 13″ (former MacBook like). All three machines have NVIDIA GeForce mobile graphic cards, can support up to 8GB of RAM (woof!) and support 250-500GB hard drives or up to 256GB Solid State Drives. They also squeezed in an SD Card slot (a slot for most camera memory cards) for quick access and download of images.

Prices have also dropped. The 13″ starts at $1199 and climbs to a reasonable $1499. The 15″ sits squarely at $1699, $1999 and $2299 and the 17″ is still the big-ticket item (though cheaper than before) at $2499.

Last but not least is the Air line. The biggest things here was the cost for these wonderfully small machines was a premium (about $300 more than a MacBook but without a DVD drive and less storage). With the costs of the memory and components coming down, the Air machines have beefed up in storage capacities and processing speeds and slid down from the $2000 price range to $1499 and $1799. Again, if you have been looking at the Air longingly, take another look, this may be the time!

All in all, if you have been looking for an Apple portable, now is the time to buy it. You will get about 6 months out of it before it gets refreshed yet again

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Apple and TomTom announced an iPhone App (this summer) that will put the power of TomTom in the iPhone.

This looks awesome. A solid transition from the TomTom hardware and software to the iPhone along with some TomTom hardware to attach the phone to the dashboard or windshield. Consider this if you are looking for a take-a-long GPS solution.

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Apple’s World-wide developer conference kicks off on Monday (June 8, 2009) and the pieces seem to be coming together. The details are a bit fuzzy, but a number of things are making sense.

First, the iPhone will get an update.

Many people believe the new models will have some improvements, and I would highly recommend anyone considering an iPhone or iTouch wait another week to see what Apple has in store (you most likely will get faster, larger, some new bells and whistles) if you wait.

The MacBook like may also get a bump. With the release last week of the low-cost white plastic MacBook now faster than the aluminum MacBooks, the expectations is there will be some improvements to the MacBook line, but will it just be faster Macs and larger hard drives, no one really has a handle on this.

The release of Snow Leopard (10.6) is coming along and my personal hope is the new OS will be released and available by the middle of the summer (if not sooner). I would love to see 10.6 in stores next week! I would update my machines in a moment.

Anyone have any other thoughts or insight? Let us know. As usual next week will be exciting for Apple and the technology world. The Palm Pre is now available and Apple’s new iPhones and iPhone 3.0 software will be directly compared to the new Pre (which has received some very good reviews).

More to come next week as the rumors become reality…

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