Archive for category General Knowledge
15 Facts about Net Neutrality – An Infographic
Posted by Stephanie in General Knowledge on August 23rd, 2010
Recently there has been a lot of discussion about net neutrality on our blog and elsewhere and it seems the debate is not going to end anytime soon. With the most recent chapter in the debate involving Google and Verizon making a deal, it’s hard to keep track of all the big players and the latest advancements. Most people have probably heard about the debate but not everyone necessarily knows or cares what it means to their everyday internet use and some people still may be having a hard time digesting the concept of net neutrality as a whole. With that we bring you 15 Facts about Net Neutrality – an infographic courtesy of Online MBA Programs. As a visual learner (and someone who has been following the debate closely), I found this helpful and hope you will too.
Quick Fire Tips for Effective Email Marketing
Posted by Damon in Business Intelligence, General Knowledge, Services on August 16th, 2010
For some, email marketing is a golden opportunity to reach numerous customers, increase brand recognition and cross-sell many different things. However, for others, email marketing is a bear; they get less than desirable results and have no idea how to improve their reach. My aim is to expose some simple guidelines to improve your email marketing campaigns. Even though some may seem obvious, many of these tips are often overlooked, resulting in email newsletters that simply don’t get the job done.
Encrypt Data Across Multiple Operating Systems Using TrueCrypt
Posted by Shazad in General Knowledge on August 12th, 2010
Data encryption and security is a serious concern for business and personal computer use. TrueCrypt is free data encryption software that can encrypt volumes on either an individual partition or an entire storage device. It is supported on Windows 7, Vista, XP, Mac OS X and Linux.
In TrueCrypt, there are three different options for Volume Creation.The first option is to create an encrypted file which can be mounted and used as a drive. The file created by using this method can be copied and emailed or moved to a different space and still retain its encryption. The second option is to encrypt a non-system partition or drive like a flash drive or other external storage device. The last option is the same as the second option except it requires the user to enter a password before the OS boots to fully protect the encrypted files. This option can only encrypt Windows XP, 2003, 2008, Vista and Windows 7 operating systems.
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Google and Verizon Take a Positive Step Toward Net Neutrality
Posted by Stephanie in General Knowledge on August 9th, 2010
Late last week reports were circulating that Google and Verizon were in secret talks regarding net neutrality. It appears today that those reports were half right. They have been involved in private meetings trying to reach an agreement but their goal according to a joint announcement today is actually for net neutrality.
It all started when the New York Times published an article alleging the two were in cahoots and attempting to work out an agreement after their group meetings with the FCC and other Internet service and content providers like AT&T and Skype were getting them nowhere. It made sense that perhaps it would be in Google’s best interest to garner a deal with one of the leading ISPs in the business considering Google is one of the largest providers of content on the web and the Google owned YouTube is an easy target for ISPs claiming it slows their service to customers. But Google has been pro net neutrality since the argument began.
QR Codes Unleashed
Posted by Andrew Newby in Business Intelligence, General Knowledge, Solutions on July 22nd, 2010
As mobile application acceptance and influence grows, finding better ways to connect information will evolve. That means not only sharing but also accessing information and application interaction on a device level – bridging the divide between print, mobility and infosharing. One of these methods is the QR Code (Quick Response Code). A QR Code is a 2D bar code configured in a matrix; information is stored horizontally as well as vertically. This differs from a traditional bar code which only contains information horizontally. A QR Code uses blocks (called modules) instead of variable width lines. The benefit of this is the ability to store a lot more information. Here is an example.
A QR Code of the url www.trustyourtechnologist.com
The basic function of the code is to be scanned (laser based 2D bar code scanner – or more likely, a phone’s camera). On a phone the image is analyzed by a QR Code reading application such as QRdvark and the content, link, and info is then available on the device.
An Outside Glimpse into AVATAR
Posted by Stephanie in General Knowledge on July 21st, 2010
This is a guest post by Jake Newby. Jake is the nephew of the owners of AVATAR and will be majoring in Computer Science at Ball State this Fall. He came to observe the office for the week and see what we do everyday.It’s my third day in Toledo and I’ve experienced an atmosphere at AVATAR that can only be described as the genuine small business experience. On one end, you have an engaged business, but given the opportunity for playtime, the gang will not hesitate to poke fun at each other and engage in office shenanigans all in the name of fun. For example, today I decided to eavesdrop on a conversation between Robert and Damon with Damon accusing Robert of eating his last dinosaur Silly Bandz bracelet. Watching this exchange I was reminded of similar situations on the hit TV series “The Office.” This exchange was certainly something that you wouldn’t want to miss! But what’s great is how work still gets done in this atmosphere. One end of the office could be in the middle of a rubber band war while I am sitting across from Kristin and Stephanie who are meeting to discuss AVATAR’s next big step in the social media arena. Moments of raucous fun are quickly followed by the sounds of feverish typing and clicking with everyone hard at work. In short, AVATAR is a small business atmosphere upheld by close-knit friends seldom seen at your typical nine to five job.
Reflecting on my visit so far, I’d say that two very valuable things have come of it to this point. First, I’ve learned quite a bit about web development. Second, don’t try something just because someone tells you that it tastes good — you may regret it the following morning.
A Case for “Adaptive” Websites
Posted by Damon in Business Intelligence, General Knowledge, Solutions on July 1st, 2010
Recently, I came across an astonishing article written by Ethan Marcotte for A List Apart titled Responsive Web Design. The concept of the article is quite simple: can a website be designed & developed in such a way that it is smart enough to adapt to the size of the window it’s in? Marcotte’s article attempts to answer this question.
Happy Social Media Day!
Posted by Stephanie in General Knowledge on June 30th, 2010
Today marks the first annual celebration of social media. Earlier this month, Mashable announced the creation of the first annual Social Media Day to honor all things social media. Social media is constantly evolving but one thing is for sure, it has a tremendous impact on our daily lives which only increases as the different media progress. If you would like to get involved and celebrate Social Media Day, head on over to Smday.com and join in. You can find Flickr photos, tweets, and Facebook comments celebrating social media. You can even join in by going to one of the 600+ Social Media Day Meetups worldwide.
And in honor of Social Media Day, take the leap and join one of the many social media services out there. Facebook and Twitter are two of the most popular services that will almost always help move you and your business forward. Already involved on Facebook or Twitter? Consider setting up a Flickr account or a YouTube channel. At the very least, every business needs a blog. There are a number of other social media tools out there so give it a try. And if you’re afraid to dive head first without a life jacket, give us a call. Our social media team can walk you through the entire process. So take the time to celebrate the revolution of media becoming social and happy Social Media Day.
The Mobile Experience
Posted by Robert in General Knowledge, Solutions on June 11th, 2010
Mobile Safari displaying Apple's full homepage
Internet is the fastest growing media outlet, representing 28% of total media consumption; this is surpassed only by television. Mobile internet represents over 20% of internet traffic and is growing faster than the internet as a whole. Mobile web traffic increased by 110% last year alone, and is expected to grow even faster in coming years due do skyrocketing sales of 3G smart phones. This growth is expected to cause mobile internet usage to overtake desktop usage by the year 2014. Meaning by 2014, the number of people who view your site through the window of the mobile internet will exceed the number of views from desktops.
Many popular websites have already rolled out mobile versions, such as Google, Facebook, Yahoo, Wikipedia, Bing, eBay and all major news outlets. Mobile browsers have recently taken large steps to improve compatibility with standard websites starting with Apple’s iPhone mobile Safari, which included upgraded rendering and navigational capabilities. This allows mobile browsers to rival desktops in display quality giving mobile users full access to websites.
This does not mean they are without their shortcomings, as a heavy mobile internet user myself, I am always disappointed and irritated when I visit a website that does not render properly on my phone. Screen sizes on phones (which are the most popular mobile device by far) are relatively small, making navigation difficult on websites that aren’t optimized for mobile viewing. When viewed from a mobile device a cluttered or busy page can become all but impossible to navigate, with parts overlapping or not showing up at all, rendering an otherwise fully functional website obsolete and useless to potential customers.
A site that is not optimized for mobile view will deter viewers from staying very long and they will take their business to other, better optimized sites. If you were to visit the mobile pages of any of those sites I mentioned earlier, you would notice they are all very simple, and straightforward. There should be no clutter and ample spacing for finger navigation; links to other important pages need to be large, well placed and easily noticeable while extra content is hidden or collapsible. Users of mobile devices are generally avid users and it can be assumed that they understand the advanced functionality of compressed data techniques.
Mobile web use is accelerating very quickly, as are its abilities to accurately display websites, but due to size limitations, a mobile experience will never be the same as one on the desktop. However, that does not mean that content or the overall user experience should be abridged. It is the job of developers and content providers to accommodate for this difference in order to reach their mobile audience more readily or risk losing them.
Understanding the Future of the Web & Your Business
Posted by Damon in Business Intelligence, General Knowledge on May 21st, 2010
Harnessing the power of the internet is something that most, if not all, businesses are striving to do. With the advent of social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Flickr (among the most popular), it’s easier than ever to connect with potential customers. However, without a solid, structured approach to this new wave of marketing, your business could very well fall behind the times. This is also true when speaking of your website. There has been much talk around the internet lately of the forthcoming HTML5 and CSS3. Is your business on the forefront of this new technology?
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