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Monthly Archive for: ‘April, 2012’

STILL NOT INTERESTED IN SOCIAL MEDIA?

“We don’t have a choice on whether we do social media, the question is how well we do it.” – Erik Qualman, author of Socialnomics: How Social Media Transforms the Way We Live and Do Business.

If you don’t believe the impact that social media has had on our lives, both personally and professionally, click on the link below and listen to this remarkable video. The statistics are several months old, however the message is loud and clear.

http://bit.ly/JFMlbZ

The most interesting statistic I found was the one indicating that 93% of marketers use social media for business – do you?

If you want to discuss what social media can do for you, whether on a personal or professional level, do not hesitate to contact me at 917 921-4518 or by e-mail at jblue@bluetutor.com. Feel free to click here to receive my free white paper on Technology Tips on setting up a home office and becoming a true road warrior.

 

LOOKING TO BUY A NEW COMPUTER? YOU MIGHT WANT TO WAIT

There are plenty of reasons for buying a new computer, especially if your current one is older, slow and in constant need of maintenance.

However, if your only reason is to get the “latest and greatest,” you might want to consider waiting.  In his column in the Wall Street Journal this week,  http://on.wsj.com/IBxfzr,  Walter Mossberg presents his argument for waiting, unless it is absolutely necessary to replace your existing equipment.

Both Microsoft and Apple will be introducing new operating systems within the next few months, and while there might be some excellent deals available now, the preliminary news on the changes indicate that it might be worth waiting.

So, if your incentive to buy is because your existing computer has slowed down, your equipment might just need a maintenance checkup.

If you need advice on whether you should be scheduling a checkup, or any other technology issues, do not hesitate to contact me at 917 921-4518 or by e-mail at jblue@bluetutor.com. Feel free to click here to receive my free white paper on Technology Tips on setting up a home office and becoming a true road warrior.

 

 

 

7 Rules for using your iPad overseas

You’ve just purchased a brand new iPad.  Congratulations!! If you bought the model with the 4G data service from either Verizon or AT&T, here are some things you need to know about using your iPad when traveling out of the United States.

1.  The data service should be turned off before you leave. That means you must switch to Airplane mode.  When overseas, you are roaming which means the cost of using the a US based data plan is very high.

2.  If you want to access the Internet while traveling, use a wireless (wi-fi) connection which is usually FREE. Most hotels offer wi-fi, and while most places offer it for free, you might run into a situation where there might be either a daily or hourly rate.

3.  Most Internet cafes abroad offer Internet access by the hour.

4.  If you are unable to locate a place with wi-fi and need to use a data service, you can purchase a micro sim card to insert into your iPad.  These local data providers offer plans that are significantly cheaper than activating an International program from either Verizon or AT&T here in the United States.

5.  Most public wi-fi “hotspots,” whether hotels, airports, Internet cafes, etc. are not secured, meaning that anyone in the network can see what you are doing on your computer.  In other words, do not use a public unsecured “hot spot” to access bank accounts, use credit cards or any other private information. If you are staying at someone’s house who has wifi, ask whether their network is secured and for a password to access their network.  If no password is required, it is not a secured network.

6.  If you want to stream a video from Netflix, or use an online service such as Skype, make sure you are doing so from a w-fi connection.  Using your data service, whether from the U.S. or a local provider overseas, will use up your allowable data plan quickly.  For example, watch 2 Netflix movies with the 4G service will use up to 90% of your monthly allowance.

7.  Lock your iPad with a password.  If you are doing a great deal of traveling, it is not difficult to leave it somewhere or have it stolen.

If you have any questions about the iPad or any other technology issues, do not hesitate to contact me at 917 921-4518 or by e-mail at jblue@bluetutor.com. Feel free to click here to receive my free white paper on Technology Tips on setting up a home office and becoming a true road warrior.