Outsourcing IT

In a recent article I read regard outsourcing IT is said that the IT outsourced mark looks to make a come back in Q4. Well that is really good news for my company (www.ithelpcrew.com), we offer on-site and remote IT support to small business and home users for as little as $99/year. We have noticed an increase in request and site visits but I’m not sure if I can attribute that to the economy slowly beginning a turn around or our marketing and advertising effort and would like to think the latter because then it justifies my spending.

As we grow my plan is to maintain our support services in Canada, possibly moving out of the downtown area of Toronto out to some place like Nova Scotia, but that’s in the future. I strongly believe in keeping as many Canadians employed as possible in order to become a big part of the engine that will turn the world economy around.

I think with the powerful applications that we now have available to us, remote outsourced IT is the best way for small businesses to reduce cost in their IT departments. That said there are times when on-site support is needed so small businesses must research and be assured that the remote IT company they will use has this accommodation and fits there needs exactly. I know that if ever my any of my computers were to go down for any amount of time that means I’m losing money.

The HST and you.

On July 1, 2010 the Canadian government will implement the Harmonized Sales Tax(how can you use the word harmony with tax) anyway its coming and in fact its already here in some places.  In my role as a entrepreneur I have to keep up on my taxes and how it will affect my ventures. I was doing some reading this morning and thought I would post a little something to inform my readers.

The HST is 13%.

One thing I find funny is that there is no tax on junk food under a certain price but gym memberships are taxed…kinda defeating isn’t it, I think it should be the other way around.

What’s Exempt From HST
Consumers will not have to pay HST on items that are currently exempt from PST such as groceries, child care, tutoring, prescription drugs and most financial services.

Nor will consumers have to pay the provincial portion of the HST tax on goods such as books (including audio books), feminine hygiene products, and children’s clothing, including footwear.

For more details visit the Ontario Tax Benefits for Consumers site.

http://www.rev.gov.on.ca/en/taxchange/consumers.html

HST and SMB
The Small Supplier Exception Continues
Ontario is leaving the Small Supplier exception in place, so if you are operating a small business that makes $30,000 or less annually, you are not required to register for or collect Ontario HST. However, you may voluntarily register your small business, enabling you to claim Input Tax Credits.

As a Small Supplier even though you may not do not have a legal obligation to register to collect GST/HST you can still choose to register voluntarily. The incentive here is that because you will be charging GST/HST on your services you will be able to “claim Input Tax Credits (ITC) for the GST/HST you paid or owe on purchases related to your business.

Ithelpcrew first newsletter – contest – referral

Well the long awaited ITHC newsletter as been designed and delivered…well kinda. I was all ready to send it out on May 1st everything was ready, the content was done and clean, i just needed to hit send and then the problems came, I was burning the candle at both ends with no end in sight…damn candles. Last night after a marathon of configuring PHPLIST(the program i decided to use to send the newsletter) when i finally thought I had it, bang! I ran into more issues. Anyway after I thought I had gotten it to the best I was going to get it, I hit “send to members” and just put it in Gods hands…it actually began to send. Its been 12 hours and so far I have only had 12 unsubscribe me returns out of 1560. I received a email from a member telling me that all he got was a blank email…I had a small major heart attack, i had to calm myself and realise that  it doesn’t not mean its the same situation for everyone and I should wait and see what happens,  things this like this are bound to happen due to the varying email clients and settings…hotmail basterds.

Along with the ithelpcrew newsletter I am running a video commercial contest that gives you a chance to win $100CAD. more information about the contest can be found here:http://www.ithelpcrew.com/contest/

This month I introduce the official launch of the ithelpcrew referral program where participants can earn money for referring or reselling services offered by ithelpcrew.com.  Referrers and resellers can make 10% on anything confirmed referral.

You can read the online version here:

http://www.ithelpcrew.com/enews/2010/may/

Presentation on e-business for SME’S (SMALL,MEDIUM ENTERRPRISES)

iPad, iRate

The iPad is just another apple fanboy gadget that is all hype and no substance.

Not so pretty pad
For a company that has consistently delivered so many nicely designed products…I would think this would have been much nicer and not just a scaled up iTouch with a ugly ass bezel that dominates the look and feel.

No Multitasking for you…NEXT!
This is the ultimate fail. If this is supposed to be a replacement for netbooks and the killer for other tablets, how can it possibly not have multitasking? You’re kidding right, so I cannot listen to music while twittering about the multitude of fails of apple products? I can’t run my IM client while I email or even browse the net? This is a step back for products like this? The lack of multitasking alone guarantees that I will not buy this product and neither should you.

Lights,_________, action?!?
No this it’s not possible that there is no camera, ok let me look on the back I’m sure it’s on the back…hmmm nope, ok it’s on the front but cleverly hidden…errr…no. So Steve, no front facing camera and no back facing camera either? How should I put this…WTF? So in a world where we are trying to connect and video Chat, apple has decided to take a step back away from this…*shakes head in disbelieve.

Soft Keyboard, hard to use
I have a BlackBerry Bold and I utilize the keyboard and love it, I’ve at times been in meetings and was able to type blind under the table…a keyboard for gadget such as the ipad is a necessary item and I am sure will be missed once you really get into using your ipad. Apple has decided to just include the same big, ugly touch screen keyboard that will prove to be impossible to use without laying the ipad flat on a table.

1080p on 10 inches is good enough.
WOW, You just downloaded Avatar in all its 1080p goodness, time to connect the ipad to that brand new super hi-def 52″ LCD 1080p TV using the TVs HDMI port…where did apple cleverly tuck away the HDMI port that I know must be here somewhere…WTF NO HDMI. Yet another disappointment. If you want to watching those beautiful 1080p movies on a big screen just hold the ipad about 2 inches from your faces…cause apple, in all their wisdom has deceived that in a world of downloadable 1080p movies everyone will want to watch them on a 10″ screen. If you want to watched those movies on you big screen you know how it works you have to buy a appleTV in addition to your iphone (for phone calls), itouch (I don’t know what the use is for), iPod (for listening to music), iPad (another I don’t know the use for). It’s not even Widescreen; 4:3 is so CRT.

It’s all in the name.
Do a search for the jokes centered around the name. I know I don’t need to go on about the names in this article, they’re to obvious.

Flash is over rated
Want to watch a video on YouTube, want to check out that addictive flash game, did the grand kids send you a online Christmas card…too bad sucker, no Flash means there will be huge white “plug-in missing” spaces in some websites. Considering that Flash is, oh I don’t know, lets say 92 plus percent of all streaming content that is delivered online this could a teeny tiny setback in enjoy your content.

You’ll need an Adapter for that
I was going to go on about the multitude of required adapters you will need to plug ANYTHING into the iPad but I will just tell you that you will need an adapter for something we all take for grant in our computing lives, that’s right folks you will need an adapter for USB, are you @#%#$3# kidding me. So think about it, EVERYTHING including vibrators(NOT kidding http://en.lelo.com/index.php?collectionName=femme&groupName=MIA) require a USB connection, so how could they not at least include this standard port?

App Store, there’s NO app for that
The iPad only runs apps from the App Store. The same App Store that is notorious for banning apps for no real reason, such as Google Voice (well for those in the know, we understand the politics behind this, but whateva). I think if apple would just let go of the strangle hold they have on the apps allowed fir their devices the world would be a better place, well so far as it goes for “i” devices from apple.

In conclusion
BUY or NOT:
Don’t buy.
I always encourage people not to buy first gen devices, wait till the blind fanboys/fangirls buy up and burn them in and allow the manufactures to get the bugs out with these guinea pigs.

In addition we all know how it works, they release the cool “iwant” features in subsequent iterations of the devices. So if there is a “iNeed” feature then wait, it will come.

To make it perfect it needs:
- Multitask
- A front facing camera
- FLASH, omg
- Open source app
- HMDI and other ports WITHOUT adapters

Wepad: now soaks up more of your time than the ipad

Well CES2010 is a distant memory but how I do miss you. CES2010 introduced us to such great things as crappy 3D TV concepts and a slew of other fledgling technologies concepts rushed out of the dark moldy basement of RnD. One thing that was at CES but didn’t seem to get much hype, was the slew of tablet PCs now renamed to PADS due to apples forth coming iPad (still trying to think of what was going on in marketing when they conceived that name). One I really liked was the crunchpad, at one time the CrunchPad seemed to be a real possiblity, it was big but not to big, it was cool, cheap, you could hack it to do WHATEVER you wanted, it ran windows or CHROME or whatever (I saw through linux on the biatch), it had everthing we wanted in a tablet…err PAD, then it died. But why, was the market not ready, was it to advance and beyond its time, did the Gods conspire to its downfall…what could have failed this awesome toy.

“And then the entire project self destructed over nothing more than greed, jealousy and miscommunication.”

-techcrunch

waaaa?!?!?

readmore>> The End Of The CrunchPad

iPad, uPad, we all need a wePad!

Well lets just settle and go with the only option available…the ipad. What’s that there are others, no, when did this happen…you mean to tell me there are more tablets, I mean PADs, that have been around for YEARS, why come I’m just hear about this now? Its true, there are lots of tablets out there and they’ve been around for years, its just that the design never was a key point for these manufactures…what idiots, WHEN WILL THEY learn its about the look then performance then price…duh. Anyway most early tablets run windows and the design was a unappealing escpciellly compared to apples knack for cool design and the ipad design is still inline with their theme and definatly had no iconic stock like apple is always able to gather.

But wait is apples iPad(really guys no better name)…the only option when it comes to a tablet..PAD…with sleek design and great software? No its not, there are lots of players out there like the wepad(…err) I think the wepad will definately be a strong contender to the iPad. The wePad runs Google Android and its just about 2 inches bigger than the ipad. For those out there like myself who weren’t considerign getting a ipad because of it complete locked down and just because we are haters of apple and all it stands for, then wePad maybe for us.

As far as specs and looks goes there are multiple Android tablets that have equal or far better specs then the iPad and this is one of the best Android tablets possibley coming to the reall market.The WePad has a screen of 11.6 inches (1366 x 768), an Intel Atom N450 at 1.66 GHz, GMA 3150, memory of 16 GB NAND Flash (or 32 GB internal + 32 GB optional SD card), a 1.3mp webcam, multi-tasking support, bluetooth 2.1, Wi-Fi, optional GPS, motion sensor, two USB ports, flash card reader, a UMTS modem and six hours of battery life, though that claim doesn’t come with a pre-qualification of under what sort of workloads you could expect that sort of performance. Thats what I’m talking about, everything I need NOW unlike the iPad that you have to wait for them to figure out that impsooble technology of incorporating a simple camera in there first gen devices, not you will have to wait for subsequent generations for that and pay for it. Running android means that it supports FLASH and Adobe AIR and you’ll have access to the Andorid store in additon to its own app store, and being open source means that there is sure to be lots of apps for everyone.

On paper, this certainly looks like a legitimate iPad contender, if not a killer should people look beyond their blinding stare of apple ipad. This is a great device that will be great around the office or home as a supplimentary device to your main computer. I’m just curious to see the price points, the crunchpad was rumored to be priced around the $200USD mark so I hope that that peeps over at NEOFINE price this unit agresively to compete against the ipad.

I could not find anything about release date or even a website so for now this device exist only the wet dreams of the geek nation and is relegated to the vaporware category

wePads Facebook Page

Official OS5.0.0.411 BOLD from Bell Mobility!

So as you know like everyone else in Canada I am officially a CrackBerry user, although I miss my windows device soooo much. Anyway I use Rims flagship device, the Bold, despite its short comings I like it, it’s a great business tool and does what its intended for very well. I purchased and started using the Bold because my iPaq windows mobile phone was buggy and with the start of my company I needed to be connected without any glitches, I could have gotten a better windows mobile device because I believe the issues I was experiencing with my phone were based on the limitations of the hardware and not the OS. Anyway here I am several months into my relationship with the Bold and I can say I love it; its sleek and stylish design fits me perfectly. I’ve had other Blackberrys on and off in the past but Rim has really out done themselves with this unit although I would have preferred the side scrolling wheel but I understand why it could not work with the bold, I cannot imagine what the 9700 is like, maybe just awesome with a Rim logo.

I’m a geek to the core as you all know so I’ve been watching the forums and upgrading my bold with pre-release beta software…official and unofficial. I don’t use the Blackberry messenger as much as some people apparently do but when I upgraded to the latest version of the BBM I loved it, I mean I can still see areas they could improve but it was alright. One night began to peruse the forums after I came across some chatter online about the release of a newer version of the OS. I’m a bit skeptical of playing with some of these unofficial OS releases because unlike a computer if something goes wrong I can’t just format the drive and start again, nope if something goes wrong on installation of a new OS you essential brick it and it becomes useless or a ad on craigslist for parts.

The Forum I found was titleed ‘Official OS5.0.0.411 BOLD from Bell Mobility!!’, first thing I thought was frick(or something like that)…Bell, I’m on Rogers so no go, of course I launched myself into a torrent of curses to Rogers, but I decided to read through the threads to see if there maybe something for Rogers users. On the 3rd thread someone asked “can you use it on a Rogers bold?”, alright here we go I need an answer, will someone answer with the answer I want/need to hear. As I read on I found that some people had installed it on their Rogers Bold and it worked fine…I cannot type the excitement I felt when I found that tid bit of info. Anyway I decided to seek out and download the new 5.0 OS and try to install it myself. I downloaded it from RIM and had it sitting on my desktop for sometime waiting for the best time to do it. I couldn’t install it during business hours in case it took too long and I received a call or if I bricked the phone and need to switch over to my old phone. The install went smoothly and took a total of about 30mins. Although I was very very nervous especially at some very slow and paused loading sections of the install. If you plan on trying this check out the forum below and follow the instructions VERY carefully

I’ve played with it a little and the only issues I’ve found was that I lost my BBM contacts, groups and messages, no big deal. Aside from some very nice aesthetic changes, it feels hella faster and the speed a lone was worth the upgrade.

I found the details here:
http://forums.crackberry.com/f151/official-os5-0-0-411-bold-bell-mobility-399035/

Downloading BlackBerry Handheld Software v5.0.0.661

Download Details
Software Name: BlackBerry Handheld Software v5.0.0.661
File Name: 9000j_PBr5.0.0_rel661_PL5.2.0.33_A5.0.0.411_Bell_Mobility_Inc.exe
Download Size: 118.427 MB
Language: English
Published Date: 01/04/2010

vendor.xml is located in “c:\program files\common files\research in motion\apploader” (Yours may differ slightly)

Just go to start, run and paste the above directory, it should take u there right away to the folder containing the file.

You should disconnect your computer from the internet before the update process has started. The reason behind is because blackberry desktop will check your blackberry PIN to its database to determine which carrier you are using. By disconnecting yourself, the software will skip the above process and simply verify the blackberry model and software available.

Step 1: Download desired OS to your PC.
Step 2: Install and complete the setup process to have the OS installed.
Step 3: Remember to delete vendor.xml file if your carrier the OS is not from your carrier.
Step 4: Do a comprehensive backup in case anything goes wrong.
Step 5: Connect Bold to PC and click on the Loader and let the process initiate. Loader can be found in the same folder as the vendor.xml file.
Step 6: Do not unplug the Bold during the process. Process may take around 30-60 minutes to complete.

****UPDATE:
So far I’ve been using the new OS with only a few annoying glitches…
1 – has given me a message that it has run out of memory and request that I delete something apps. the first time that happened I deleted some apps but the second time I realized I could just bypass that screen and everything was fine.

2- after installing the new OS it dropped my BBM contacts. That really sucked because I have to contact everyone to get there PINs

3 – keeps dropping my background until I sync with my computer (maybe the theme though) I’m not sure exactly when it happens but I will try to be vigilant in case I do another update.

Aside from the items listed about I love the new OS, the new features and tweaks far out weigh the three things listed about

Using video as your background in Vista and doing it for free

Have you ever thought, man it would be cool to use a video as the background instead of a static picture like every other Joe in the world, I know you have and that’s why your here.  Your probably telling yourself this is impossible, this is crazy man talk. Well its a feature I’ve always wished for and tried to do several times on previous operating systems with no luck but finally this feature comes in XP and vista and now W7 with their marvelous user XP(experience).  Anyways you all know i can get long winded but I will use the KISS(Keep It Simple Stupid) principal and get to the point. So here we go: There are several commercially available apps out there that offer you the ability to use video as wallpaper but in this day and age who wants to pay for it, certainly not I, apparently Vista Ultimate has the ability to do this but you must download the add-on separately.  This tutorial uses VLC 1.0 on Vista Business.

1) The first thing you need to do if you don’t already have it is to download VLC it’s a free video player that plays most video and audio files out there on the net and best of all its free.

2) After you install or update to the latest player  run VLC and click Tools>Preferences. VLC will open in the interface screen on the right make sure there is a check in the ‘systray icon’ box (this will minimize VLC to the system try whem miimize thus clearing up the task bar.

3) Now lets set up the video desktop, click on the video icon on the left. The ‘Enable Video’ check box should be checked, for ‘Output’ select ‘DirectX video output’.  Below the ‘Display’ section check the box under ‘DirectX’ that says ‘Enable wallpaper mode’. ‘Display device’ should be left at ‘Default’.

4)everything else should be left as is, click “Save”

5)Find the video that you wish to have playing as your new video background, I’m currently using a video I found online of a sunset/sunrise on a tropical beach with waves crashing in with no sound.  It’s a low quality flash(swf) video but I hope to get my hands on a similar high quality video I can use during these cold winter months…yes I miss the beach.

6) Now that you have your video in VLC click VIEW(ctrl+L) to open “playlist” and add your video(s) to the list.  At the bottom of the playlist window click on the repeat/loop icon, the reason for this is obvious…it will loop your videos.

7)Click play in VLC and BAM! Your video should be playing as your background.

The quick and Dirty option
Play the video in VLC player. Right click on VLC player and select Wallpaper
That should be it. The video should now play in your desktop background as a video wallpaper. If not you should follow the settings above.

Windows has released DreamScene which allows you to add video as wallpaper in Vista Ultimate but like all MS apps it has its limits and thus VLC is better because of its ability to play a wide variety of file types. But if you wish to use MS DreamScene you can get it at:

Windows DreamScene download via Windows Update.

Direct download link for Windows DreamScene (6.0.16455) to bypass WGA validation: windows6.0-kb929327-x86_b89227ba03f80f3571c48e970b667328b56731f3.cab

more detailed instruction on Dreamscape can be found here.

Magnitude 7 earthquake or higher has hit Haiti.

A major earthquake of magnitude 7 or higher has hit Haiti. The island nation has be devastated, numbers of wounded, dead or dislodged are not yet available.  The Red Cross believes at least 3 million people are directly affected by this event. The Prime Minister of Haiti has announced that there are possibly a HUNDRED THOUSAND dead and dieing but I believe that any official real numbers will not come for sometime, maybe days. If those numbers are real this is very tragic. From earlier report I’ve heard that the airport was not functioning and in others that it was completely destroyed however new reports say that the airport is not damaged which is vital for foreign aide to access Haiti and bring in support.

DART(Disaster Assistance Response Team) is on the ground in Haiti.

I was in shock as I watched the feeds coming in from my social networks and Television news reports.  The epicentre of the quake was located inland, just 16 kilometres from the capital, Port-au-Prince, and was a shallow 10km deep, intensifying its impact.  If you look at the image from google maps of the capital and how congested and tight packed in they city is and you keep in mind the poor construction of the buildings you can imaging the possible devastation if you consider these builds follow no code and thus most aconstructed with no reebars.

View Larger Map

Ways to find loved ones in Haiti:

CNN:
http://www.ireport.com/ir-topic-stories.jspa?topicId=381628

FACEBOOK GROUP:

Earthquake Haiti
http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=earthquake+haiti&init=quick#/group.php?gid=252988675717&ref=search&sid=699735577.786451225..1

There is not much more to say right now as the news coming out is all repetitive since the little infrastructure that exist in Haiti has been completely destroyed.  As western media head down and more information comes out you can look to the internet to do what it does best and spread the news with its gruesome pictures and details.

Americans Donate to Wyclef Organization Yele

If your in Canada you donate here:

Canadians Donate to the Haiti Earthquake

We booty poppin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4EvVErNhVE

A friend of mine on facebook posted a video link this morning that I found hilarious and sad at the same time. The video was a commercial for “booty pop panties”, yes you read it right, let me repeat – a commercial for “booty pop panties”, I watched the commercial in its entirety twice, and I just could not believe it. So what is booty pop panties, they are panties that give those who don’t have or feel that their ass is droopy a firm lifted toosh. Are there really women out there who are that deficient in the posterior that this is an in demand product? Are we really there, you know that point where we have just all lost our fucking minds. Ladies What if you are able to land the perfect man but he’s an ass man, what do you tell him come the inevitable bedroom boogie down, and fellas what would you do if you see your girl take off those tight jeans then…her ASS! NO, NO, NO this is all wrong, I mean I can handle a good weave, and will tolerate a great boob job as long as they are in proportion and not two huge misplace watermelons on a 80lb woman but I think I have to draw a solid line at ass panties. I think that this is one deception to many, ladies and men if you want that a REAL poppin ass do like the rest of us if you’re not genetically gifted, hit the stair master and work for it. Work seems to have become a bad word when it comes to our bodies, no one wants to break a little sweat. If you want a real as hit the stair master like a beast.

I’m not sure how many of you out there are into the old black films but the ass panties make me think of that movie “I’m gonna get you sucka” the cherry bar scene. Below is the scene where a guy lies about his size and gets a surprised from a “beautiful” woman he picks up in a bar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-1C6QlvHl8