Computer Support Blog

In January, activists from all across the political spectrum came together to inform Congress that they did not want the Stop Online Piracy Act to pass.  Through actions like a coordinated blackout on January 18 to businesses lobbying heavily in favor of the bill, the defeat of SOPA stands as a great example of how representative democracy can truly work.  Despite the defeat of the bill, there have been lasting reverberations from Congresses attempt to legislate the Internet.  One of the changes that will become more evident when Congress reconvenes is an active presence of concerned citizens and companies.  The presence is the Internet Defense League. Read more »

With so much to do in the real world and on the Internet, it can be hard to find enough time to watch television these days!  For those who are paying for a satellite service or cable – especially premium cable channels – this can mean the loss of money, as you are paying for a service you are not enjoying.  Fortunately, with improved mobile computing devices and less expensive laptop computers, you now have additional options for getting the most out of your television service.  All you need to take advantage of all your television and portable device have to offer is the Slingbox SOLO! Read more »

People are the lifeblood of every business.  You can have a great idea and a business model, but without a dedicated staff that is working to achieve the goals and vision you lay out, your business venture or company will not amount to anything more than a dream.  That is why, as a company grows, the head of Human Resources becomes increasingly important.  Whoever is in charge of Human Resources for your company needs to be able to make judgments both about applicants and the corporate culture of your business.  That level of discrimination and judgment is part of what makes Diane M. Kaufman so good at her job. Read more »

With so many great ideas in the tech sector, wooing venture capitalists for your start-up can be a full-time job.  Every idea that is pitched to a venture capitalist is competing for the resources and attention of investors; it can be hard to set your website, app, or web-based service apart in order to get funded.  Funding means the difference between having an idea and having a business.  So, when the venture capital specialists at August Capital put money into a company, it is an endorsement of the quality of the idea being presented.  With August Capital leading the three million dollar investment in DITTO, DITTO must be doing something right! Read more »

It is hard not to love food.  In addition to being fuel for our bodies, food can be delicious, artistic, and promote a sense of community.  Whether you are on a diet or enjoy cooking for family and friends, so long as you are cooking food, there is no more essential tool than a good cookbook.  In recent years, the tech sector has contributed to reducing kitchen clutter by developing online cookbooks and cooking software.  One of the more useful pieces of software for cooking is MasterCook 11. Read more »

With the debate continuing in the political arena over the future of healthcare in the United States, it might not surprise you to learn that private entrepreneurs are already looking to pick up the slack from where government programs might leave off.  In fact, many new businesses are utilizing the Internet to spread information and form communities online where users work together toward common health and fitness goals.  One such online community that is currently growing is EveryMove.  As a member of the Board of Directors of EveryMove, Anna Haghgooie is responsible for keeping the venture capital flowing to the start-up! Read more »

If Myspace taught us anything, it was that if you give a teenage girl a cellphone with a camera, she will invariably hold it at arm’s length at a sixty five degree angle above her head, take a picture and post it as her profile photo.  That demographic of youth, with their oft-photographed cleavage, has since migrated to Facebook.  Before they can migrate further, many serious photographers are using the infancy of Google+ to jump ship from Facebook and establish a serious presence on Google+ that promotes art and adulthood. Read more »

Those who are serious about long-term data storage are migrating toward solid-state drives.  Solid-state drives, like flash drives, do not use any moving parts inside, so their life expectancy is exceptionally high.  Reliability is the hallmark of the latest generation of solid-state drives and if you do not want to risk your important files on traditional hard drives, which have a finite lifespan, you should be in the market for a solid-state drive.  One solid-state drive now on the market is the CipherShield 160GB Solid-State Drive. Read more »

Competing against the major companies in the tech sector usually means that smaller businesses must make specialized positions for their emerging markets.  Lacking a global network, smaller businesses devote personnel to making connections with retailers, consumers, and distributors in their new marketplaces.  For Cirago, the manufacturer of cables, cords, storage devices, and accessories for products that other companies make, growth means building their customer base in the United States and becoming a dominant force in the Latin American market.  To achieve the goals Cirago has for those markets, they have Dean Basilio! Read more »

As summer actually begins, it is hard not to turn on the television and see multiple advertisements for smartphones during any given commercial break.  Smartphone advertisers are capitalizing on the idea that their phones can be associated with activity, youth, and vigor; they know that during the summer people travel more and are outside more often.  Many of the advertising campaigns are geared toward making the connection between their smartphone and your outdoor activity.  One smartphone manufacturer is doing that less, though.  Instead, Samsung is focusing on power with their advertising campaign surrounding the Samsung Galaxy III. Read more »