2014 World Cup Gadget Go Bag

How to stay connected even if you're touring the 2014 World Cup

Lets face it, we live in a highly connected world and being away from the office is becoming a greater challenge as our need to interact at a moments notice becomes the norm. So if you're a road warrior, busy executive, or a journalist traveling to report the latest of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, I'll help guide you to getting the 5 essentials into your Go Bag. Lets go...

1. ---TABLET/Smartphone---
   Even with tablets and smartphones becoming faster and flexible (ie Samsung Galaxy Tab), you could leave the laptop in the office provided you have a bluetooth keyboard to go along with you. If you use an Android or Windows tablet, you'll be able to connect wireless (or USB wired) mouse as well which can make things easier. For those of us that travel internationally, having a removable SIM card is a HUGE win as you'll see below how it helps.
2. ---Longer USB Cables---
   While battery life is very important, the cable that came with your device is far too short to be practical. You'd want a 6-10ft USB cable or at least an extension cable so that you aren't hovering near an outlet. A major point to keep an eye on is the thickness of the wire in the cable. Also called the gauge of the wire, listed as AWG on the white print on the wire itself. Having a wire that is too thin (cheapo generic cables on e-bay for example) may be a bargain, but the wire itself wont be able to reliably carry the electricity to your device, especially on longer cable runs. A tell-tale sign of the wire being too thin is erratic behavior from your device while charging, charging stops after a short period of being plugged in, or not charging at all. The lower the AWG rating, the more power it can carry. A good rating for your kit would be 22 AWG. The data pins can be 28 AWG since they dont need to support heavy power loads.
   Example: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812189234
   
   Notice how thick the cable is going into the USB connectors, you should be able to clearly notice the thicker wire inside.
   
   
3. ---Universal USB Charger---
   Thirsty devices like high end smartphones and tablets need 1-2 amps [respectively] of power from the charger to fill the battery in a reasonable time. Make sure you bring a charger that can supply more Amps than your device would need. A good travel charger should have a minimum of 2 USB ports that can supply at least 2.1 amps collectively. If you are charging a tablet AND a smartphone at the same time, you'll need at least 3.1 or a 4.2 amp charger to charge both devices at the same time. Don't forget international power compatibility.
   Example: http://www.ianker.com/product/71AN7105-W5A
   
   
   A USB charger like the one above helps cut down on wire clutter and having to drag around wall chargers especially if you are traveling with other people.
4. ---Microsoft Lync with IP Phone Integration---
   Microsoft Lync much more than just a messaging platform when it teams up with an IP Phone System. You can have your desk phone travel with you abroad without using international calling minutes on your cell. Launch conferences, live chat (voice, video and text) with team members and collaborate in real-time all from your tablet or phone. Hosted PBX systems like CallTower give you all the features without having to foot the bill for all the technology on the back-end to make it work. It works wonders with your desk phone which I'll post Hosted PBX reviews in a later blog. When traveling international, Lync and hosted IP phone can cut your need for international roaming minutes which is a major money saver for those long conference calls. If your phone or tablet has a removable SIM card, it is highly recommended that you purchase a local SIM card for the area that you are traveling in. Data rates for local SIM cards are many many times cheaper than using your USA issued card. Combine Lync, Hosted IP softphone app and your new local SIM card and you have the winning trifecta! Send e-mail to your heart's content, facebook and twitter updates, Voice-over-IP calls till you're blue in the face! All at a fraction of the cost if you used the SIM card from back home.
5. ---Portable Power Pack---
   Most of the time, you can go a full day on a single charge, but if you need more juice a portable power pack can give you a battery boost just when you need it most. These devices are measured in mAh, or milliamp hours. mAh is defined as the total amount of energy a battery can store at one time [phonescoop.com]. So a power hungry device (tablet) will draw more power in a shorter time than charging your phone will from the same power pack. Remember, just like the USB Charging Kit if there is more than 1 USB port, you need to check out the TOTAL use from all the devices charging at 1 time to see how fast you will drain the portable battery pack. Phonescoop.com gives an easy breakdown of the math here
   
   
   Notice on the battery pack, it has 2 specific USB output ports, a 1 Amp and a 2 Amp for your phone and tablet respectively. To the right is a dual port USB car charger that also has a dedicated charging port for phone and tablet (1 amp, 2 amp). You can charge a phone in either port, but tablets must use the higher output port to charger properly.

Whether you're on the road, on a plane back home or waiting to board your flight to catch the next Wimbledon match, the 5 devices above should help keep you connected even when everyone else is scrambling for a charger.

We love to hear from our visitors, leave us a note, comment, praise, feedback in the comments section down below!

-Will Kutzler
F1 Networx Inc.
631-764-2600

Google Chromecast

While the final frontier of technology dominance has been the TV in the living room, companies very rarely make a splash. Even the hyped Apple can't crack the code, as their Apple TV turned out to be a blundering failure. Enter Google and their Chromecast. As of the last year, Google released the product called Chromecast. It isn't a set-top box or a whole TV, instead, its an HDMI device with a Wi-Fi chip in it. The entire function of this tiny widget is to bridge the content and apps from your phone, tablet and PC over to your TV. The cost is a tiny $35 and is available everywhere [Staples, Best Buy, RadioShack and all over online].

Setup is a breeze. The hardest part is connecting it to your TV, just plug it in and change the input. If its wall mounted, it can take a little longer since you aren't taking your TV off the wall to connect it quicker. Takes 5-7 minutes after you have the app installed. During the setup from your mobile device, the widget has the Wi-Fi profile configured, gets the latest firmware update and configures itself for the format of your TV.

What you need

• TV with available HDMI and USB port
• if you dont have USB, thats OK the kit comes with a Wall Adapter for it
• Mobile device with access to an App Store/Google Play to download the Chromecast app
• Wi-Fi network coverage that reaches the TV
• the stronger the signal, the smoother the experience will be

Picture quality was outstanding, worked with my Droid Razr Maxx HD, Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Samsung Galaxy S4 without a hitch. At times, I've noticed the device doesnt want to connect, but turning the TV on/off does the trick. It could be the USB port on my TV not putting out enough power to drive the Chromecast which using the supplied AC Adapter would potentially resolve that, but I didn't want to run any wires and it happens very rarely. Netflix, YouTube, Revision 3 channels looked great on my TV in 1080p and I could multi-task on my device while the chromecast was streaming either browsing the web, looking for the next video to cast or adding something to the playback queue. All in all, easy and it doesnt require its own interface to interact with, just adds a button that lets you Cast to the TV of your choice if you have multiple Chromecasts on the same network.

All in all, I would totally recommend these. They're a steal at $35, a breeze to setup and for about $100 you can add online content to 3 TV's in your home/office without additional subscriptions.

Summertime Danger

Did you know…the summer months are the most dangerous for devices connected to wall outlets?

Here's why: In the summer, the electric grid experiences significant burdens from increased demand from fans and air conditioners. Why you may be comfy and cool in the office, your PC and network equipment is being battered by wild power variations at the outlet. It’s a problem because it can lead to unstable performance, shortened hardware lifespan, but worst of all...total system failure.

So how can we protect valuable equipment that your business depends on every day? Its simple. Any device that is critical to keeping your network and communications running should have a UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply, aka battery backup) connected between the wall outlet and your equipment. This is the most important detail; it MUST have the following features:

• Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR)
• It helps by correcting low and high voltage conditions without using the battery (ie. brownouts)
• Power conditioning 
• This protects connected equipment from "Dirty Power" (surges, spikes, lightning, noise, etc)
• Accurate run-time needs
• Don't use a UPS that's smaller than your normal power requirement.
• Make sure you will have enough battery time to shut down the equipment and still have some charge left
• Remember,  batteries lose their charge over time

The good news is that protecting yourself from stable power is cheap! You may ask yourself "Why do I need this, everything is working fine", and it may be OK...for now. The cost incurred AFTER a power related failure is typically between 4 and 10 times more expensive than protecting yourself before it happened! Penny Wise, Dollar Foolish, it just doesn't pay.

We can help you stay protected so you don't need to sweat it.

Will Kutzler
F1 Networx Inc
http://www.f1networx.com

Late Model HP PC High Failure Rates

HP has discovered that some P66xx and S56xx and HPE-4xx Desktop Models built in the June / July 2010 time frame have system boards with a slightly higher than expected failure rate. The following computers may experience no video at start up and stop responding.

These systems include:

Model Name                                                     Product Number

HP Pavilion Elite HPE-400f Desktop PC    BT470AA

HP Pavilion Elite HPE-400y Desktop PC    BT471AA

HP Pavilion Elite HPE-410f Desktop PC    BM424AA

HP Pavilion Elite HPE-410y Desktop PC    BM425AA

HP Pavilion Elite HPE-441f Desktop PC    BT519AA

HP Pavilion Elite HPE-447c Desktop PC    BT584AA

HP Pavilion p6610f Desktop PC                   BM417AA

HP Pavilion p6616f Desktop PC                   BT503AA

HP Pavilion p6617c Desktop PC                  BT427AA

HP Pavilion p6620f Desktop PC                   BM419AA

HP Pavilion p6622f Desktop PC                   BT492AA

HP Pavilion p6633w Desktop PC                                 BT429AA

HP Pavilion p6636f Desktop PC                   BT512AA

HP Pavilion p6640f Desktop PC                   BM422AA

HP Pavilion p6653w Desktop PC                                 BT529AA

HP Pavilion p6654y Desktop PC                  BT551AA

HP Pavilion p6674y Desktop PC                  BT552AA

HP Pavilion p6677c Desktop PC                  BT432AA

HP Pavilion p6687c Desktop PC                  BT543AA

HP Pavilion Slimline s5660f Desktop PC   BM430AA

Based upon HP records concerning your computer purchase(s), your

computer(s) may be affected. HP is implementing a Limited Warranty Enhancement for your system.

If you are seeing this type of failure, HP recommends that you

visit:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c03199423

This document describes the program and how it will affect you.

HP regrets any inconvenience this may have caused you and we look forward to assisting you.

Sincerely,

Hewlett-Packard Company


If you need additional assistance with resolving this you can contact us at 631-764-2600 or e-mail us at info@f1netwox.com

-Will Kutzler
F1 Networx Inc. 

Are you an E-Hoarder??

We've all seen the episodes on TV where out in the middle of nowhere this house is packed with garbage as far as the eye can see. We just can't believe it! Many of us swear that we will never get that way, but the truth is, you probably already are a hoarder.... an E-Hoarder that is. Don't be scared though, depending on what industry you work in, it may be a requirement, like finance and legal for example.
The most common thing for people to retain massive histories of is e-mail. The typical worker gets about 105 emails per day. That's over 25,000 emails per year!! While for some this doesn't sound like much, keep in mind that when you send a message, it saves a copy in your sent items too. So for those of us with busy mailboxes, its no surprise to become overwhelmed with thousands of emails when the year ends. The root cause of our affliction has been due to progress in technology! But isn't technology supposed to help? Well it is, but the problem is that storing information has become cheaper to do! Back in 2000, 1 Gigabyte cost about $9, today that same Gigabyte costs closer to $.08! 1GB costs less than 1% vs. back in 2000, which enables the mentality, "Theres plenty of space on my server, so why bother deleting?". There in lies the problem....

We've subjected ourselves to information overload and bloated storage costs. It isn't storing all those emails that's the issue, there's no way to find what you're looking for unless its been promptly sorted! So now we require a search engine for our mailboxes. With search engines like Google and Bing, we're accustomed to instant and accurate search results, but on desktops and servers however, its a whole different ball game. Comparatively, searching our own data is similar to using a stone and chisel to take notes, its just not up to snuff. The inability to find the information we need can leave us in a heap of other troubles, particularly when it comes to litigation.

When you are being sued or vice versa, having your data properly classified is essential. E-discovery is the stage of the legal research process whereby legal teams are sifting through mountains of data to find information that is relevant to the case. The faster they can find relevant information, the lower your legal costs can be. The efficiency of your organization to purge data is also a key function as well. Knowing when you can wipe data from the systems is extremely important as it keeps your data set manageable.

So in short, do some house cleaning and consider upgrading your document management system as this would be a good time to do it.

-Will Kutzler
F1 Networx Inc.

Think the "new iPad" really is cutting edge? Guess again...

The "new iPad" and the latest releases from other tablet makers like Motorola and Samsung are all flawed in one main way...the screen. Having a higher resolution (better quality picture) really only contributes to a small portion of the tablet experience.

The real advancements are to be seen in the responsiveness of the screen, not so much about what the other components are (memory, processor, and the like). A recent publication by the Microsoft Applied Sciences Group has broken the barrier into the next generation of touch screen interaction.

ALL tablets (yes, even the new iPad) all suffer from touch screens with slow response times, about 100ms (milliseconds, 1 / 1000 of a second). A true touch experience needs a screen with a response of at least 5ms. The Microsoft Lab has developed a screen that achieves 1ms! The video link at the bottom of the post demonstrates this why this is so important.

You Tube Link to Video

-Will Kutzler
F1 Networx Inc
New York's Premiere Technology Management Company
www.f1networx.com

What Internet "Speed" Really Means

We all want to go fast, especially on the internet, but so many consumers are misled everyday by the advertisements of service providers.

When they [Cable Company, FiOS, Whoever] say that they're the fastest, they really mean that their service has the most capacity. On a network, speed means how long it takes for a signal to go from your end of a network to another. The technical term for this is latency, measured in milliseconds.

The service providers are actually describing capacity, measured in Megabits (Mbps) or Gigabits (Gbps) per second. What this means is you have a connection that allows for a lot more traffic before it gets bogged down. Think of a 6 lane highway.

Depending on your needs, you may want lower latency instead of higher capacity. If you have a web server, lower latency is better when you have many small pieces to transmit. An FTP server is completely different because you would want to move those large files in less time or be able to handle more transfers at one time. With the FTP server, how long it takes to make the connection isn't as important as how much data it can move when there is a large volume of data to move.

Here's an easier way to understand it...

Latency:
You need to deliver a letter (small files like a webpage) to someone across the country. Low Latency (fast) means you hop into a Formula 1 racecar and zip it across the country. If you need to transport many letters, this connection is great. This would be a T1 or other dedicated connection.

Capacity:
Now while the race car is fast, it can't carry large packages or freight (big files on an FTP Server), therein lies the problem. Here you would use a slightly slower connection (an 18 wheel truck) , to handle much more in one delivery. It takes longer but if you are moving many large files or have many people to deliver to, you want more capacity, speed isn't as important.

Common Connection types:

• T1/metro Ethernet - fast (private highway for your files), expensive, corporate grade, guaranteed speed and up-time metrics
  
• Cable Internet - "slow", but has a lot of capacity shared across subscribers, no service up-time guarantee, cheap
  
• FiOS (Fiber) - faster than cable, has much more capacity than cable, but no service up-time guarantee, cheap

There are many other options, but for the small business, it really comes down to these 4.

Depending on your internet usage needs (web server, e-mail, FTP, VoIP) having a cable/fios connection may not be the best solution.

We've helped countless companies measure their needs with the connectivity they really need, not just what they've seen on TV.

Thanks for reading,

F1 Networx Inc.
New York's Premiere Technology Management Group
631-446-1221
http://www.f1networx.com

How To Install SugarCRM on Synology NAS

UPDATE: As of late, with the latest release of the Synology DSM 4.0, the SugarCRM is now available as an app in the Package Center which makes the entire process listed below, obsolete. Check the Synology support page to see if your NAS has a firmware update available to it for DSM 4. Same rules apply though, the higher end unit you have, the better the performance will be.

Since day 1 I have loved the Synology line of NAS products. Its so much more than a Network Attached Storage. The company has released packages that can be easily downloaded and deployed but I want it to do more.

Since discovering SugarCRM a few years ago, I had needed to install it to a linux/windows pc or as a Virtual Appliance. Since then I have found that the Synology box runs most of the components of the LAMP needed for Sugar out of the box. Some need to be enabled but thats not a big deal.

What we will be installing is the SugarCRM Community Edition (open source) which is 100% free.

So how is it done? Here we go....

The platform:

Synology DS209 (firmware version 3.0 1337)
2x WD Caviar Black 750GB in RAID 1
1Gbps CAT6 link to the network
APC Back-UPS RS 1500 connected via USB

SugarCRM Community Edition v6.1.0 beta4

Disclaimer--I, nor F1 Networx Inc. are responsible for any data loss that may occur as a result of following this procedure. Back-up your data before you proceed. Do not attempt if you don't understand what you are doing.

STEP 1--Have a PC connected to the internet and download the latest ZIP of the SugarCRM www folder. Download it here. If the link doesn't work, use the full line-->
http://www.sugarforge.org/content/downloads/helper.php?dl=/frs/download.php/7361/SugarCE-6.1.0beta4.zip
STEP 2--Open the zip folder and extract it to a folder on your desktop. After extracting, rename the folder to "sugarcrm".

STEP 3--Now we need to login to the Synology NAS and enable the web server function.

Go to the Control Panel icon, then under Network Services, click on the Web Services icon. Then check off the Enable Web Station, and Enable MySQL.

Press OK to save the changes.

STEP 4--Now that the web site is running, it will create a new share called "web". This is the linux equivalent of the /var/www directory. We need to assign write privileges for our user. So go back to the control panel, and under:

1. File Sharing and Privileges
2. Click on the File Sharing icon
3. Navigate to the "web" share name and click on it
4. Click on the Privileges Setup button at the top
5. You will now see all the users and their access rights to the share, mark off the Read/Write check box for the users that you want to have edit access to the web share.
6. Press OK to save
7. Close out of the control panel frame

STEP 5--We need to install the SQL manager to setup the database. Download the SQL Manager package from the Synology website. http://www.synology.com/support/download.php
You need to choose the model of your NAS, navigate to the bottom of the downloads where you will see phpMyAdmin Package. Download the zip file to your desktop and extract it.

STEP 6--Install the phpMyAdmin Package to the NAS. Go to the system button (see pic below), go to Package Management, click Install, click Browse, navigate to your desktop where you extracted the zip of the phpMyAdmin Package.spk file, press Next, mark off "Run after install".

STEP 7--Create the database using phpMyAdmin link located in the URL field. See pic below.

when prompted for a login/pass, the default username is root, there is no password.

At the phpMyAdmin main screen create a database called "sugarcrm", dont change any settings for it. Now would be a good time to change the root password also.

STEP 8--Close out of the phpMyAdmin screen and logout from the Synology admin panel. Browse the web folder share on your NAS, \\ip-of-your-synology\web

Make sure you are using an account that has read/write credentials that we set earlier.

Copy the sugarcrm folder that we extracted and renamed back in Step 2 and paste it into the web folder on your Synology NAS. After the copy completes, use your web browser and navigate to http://ip-of-your-synology/sugarcrm/install.php

That will bring you to the configuration wizard of SugarCRM. When prompted for the database password, username will be root, the password is blank unless you changed it. Where it asks for a database, type in "sugarcrm" (without the quotes). After the setup completes, you can close your web browser.

STEP 9--Login to to the SugarCRM console. Use your web browser and navigate to http://ip-of-your-nas/sugarcrm/index.php

Initially you will login with the same credentials that you use for the admin account of the admin panel of the Synology.

STEP 10--You're all set to manage your client relationships more effectively. At this point it is suggested that you add the web share and the mysql databases to your back-up routine on the Synology.


NOTES.... on my unit, the delay in page response varies from instant to a few seconds (3-4) depending on how much content and intensity of the page request. If you are doing this on a higher end unit, like a "+ series" unit or are using WD Raptors/SSD your results will likely be better. This system is very processor intensive, so the faster the better. RAM and HDD usage impacts are minimal.

Feedback is much appreciated. Thanks!!!

Until next time,

Will Kutzler
F1 Networx Inc.
http://www.f1networx.com

Upcomming Reviews: MagicJack and LG Rumor

We recently got a MagicJack and an LG Rumor on the Sprint Network.

MagicJack has had alot of hype about being the absolute lowest cost VoIP provider in the world while still maintaining good call quality. We're here to put those claims to the test against other major players like Vonage and Verizon FiOS/Optimum Voice.

As always we are looking out for the consumers by cutting through all the hype and getting down to real world performance. Check back soon for a full review.

-Will, F1 Networx

Sound ID SM100 Bluetooth Headset Review

The Sound ID SM100 Bluetooth Headset Review

Brand - Sound ID
Model - SM100
Hanging Style - In Ear and Ear Loop
Sizes - small, medium and large rubber ear pieces
Weight - .4 ounces (11 grams)
Ear Orientation - Left or Right
Battery Life - 8 Hours in Phone mode
Rechargers Included - USB Power plug charger, wall charger, car charger
Warranty - 1 year
Price - $65

Phone Used in Testing the Unit - Blackberry 8130 on the Sprint Network

1 - First Impression

It is a very small unit, not the smallest on the market but small enough to not extend past your ear. Feels light and sturdy in the hand. Buttons are small but seem to be easy enough to access once you get used to its layout. There is a call control button on the face of the unit, volume up/down are paired close to the boom mic and the environmental control near the outer part of the headset.

2 - Usage

Pairing the phone was easy and worked on the first try. Hold down the call toggle button until th e light flashes red and green. Put your phone/PC into search mode. Once they find eachother, enter code 0000 (zero x 4) on the phone and your all set! As with other phones, be sure to charge the headset before initiating a pair up.

When first using the device, it took some time to figure out which ear piece size fits most comfortable. The medium size was already installed when we unpacked it. At first it seems too large but after some adjusting it securely fits in my ear. My ears are slightly smaller than most but there is a smaller ear piece in case I needed to change down. Changing the ear pieces was very easy to do. To adjust the ear orientation, there is a left/right indicator that tells you which way to turn the rubber ear piece. Once in your ear, it sits securely no matter how much I tried to shake it out. Additionally I was not using the included ear loop.

The rubber ear piece sits securely in your ear, blocking off most of the sound coming in that ear. To solve that, there is an environmental mode which is toggled by the solitary button. It acts like a hearing aid mode that takes in the ambient noise and amplifies to (4 levels of amplification - off, low, medium and high). This feature really works which I was quite impressed by. Other in-ear headsets cut off the ambient noise, effectively making you deaf in one ear which was the problem I had with the Plantronics Voyager 815 (the worst headset I have ever used).

The environmental mode is also activated during a call. It uses dual microphones to sort your voice from the environmental noise. Depending on how much noise there is, you can toggle the filtering level. When adjusting the environmental levels it does take a few seconds to compensate in the new level.

Keeping the unit charged up is a non issue with this device. Whether by a computer, car or wall outlet, you can keep it charged up when not in use. One thing that is common with all other headsets is that when in charge mode, it disconnects from the phone. Pressing the call toggle button reconnects the headset to the phone.

Battery Life is claimed at 8 hours and falls very close to it. I managed to go 2 solid days on the phone without needing to charge. When the device was going dead, a tone rang in the headset and a red LED flashed as well. I was able to charge it up while in the car and most conveniently while near my PC. One thing that was a trivial but obvious need is having a USB extension cable. They supply you with a USB to barrel plug charger but it may be difficult, like when using a laptop, to charge the unit. I strongly suggest getting a USB extension cable if you will be charging from a computer frequently.

Distance was marginally better than most other headsets I have used. It may be the bluetooth capabilities of the Blackberry 8130 that may be the main limit to the headset's distance but still was able to perform solidly in the day to day use.

A bonus feature that is unique to the SM100 is a 2 way radio mode. A peer-to-peer 2 way communication link with another SM100. This feature was not tested but we found it an interesting way to use a collection of these headsets with other staff members.

Switching between environmental mode (hearing aid mode) and phone mode occurs seamlessly as calls are connected and ended. Voice command/redial (depending on what your phone supports) is initiated by holding the volume up button for 3 seconds. The button is on the small side but easy to reach once you get used to the layout and ear orientation.

3 - Conclusion

This a solid performer at a good price. Battery, comfort and value are this unit's strong points. One thing that I found as a downside is that a USB extension cable was not included. Not a big deal since such a cable is available online for about $10. Since they give you a wall and car charger, the USB charge is not such a big deal. The 3 rubber ear pieces should work for just about everyone and the included ear clip is a nice touch for those of us who use in rough environments or smaller ears.

8.8 out of 10

Thanks for reading our blog review. If you have any questions, visit us online and send us your questions through our contact form at http://www.f1networx.net/contactus.html or respond back right on the blog.

Will Kutzler
F1 Networx Inc.