Superior Lighting HPS Bulbs and Fixtures

Currently media coverage of the lighting industry is focused on the duel between CFLs and traditional incandescent bulbs. However, other useful lighting technologies are on the market, so the debate shouldn’t stop there. Several types of other bulbs are heavily used that business owners should be aware of. Many provide unique features that may get lost in the discussion. Most commonly known for their use in indoor gardening applications, high pressure sodium bulbs and fixtures are worth considering in greater detail.

    The most common type of sodium vapor lamp (gas discharge) is the high pressure sodium bulb and fixture combo. They typically emit a yellow light well suited to commercial applications. Due to its wavelength in the light spectrum this light doesn’t glare, making it particularly useful for parking lot lighting, streetlamps, flood lighting of buildings or garage, or illuminating an entire warehouse with only a few fixtures. Municipalities enjoy the cost savings of HPS lamps for lighting roadways because it is by far the most efficient light source when compared to mercury vapor and metal halide lamps.

    When these lamps are first turned on they emit a red light to warm the sodium metal, which transitions to the familiar bright yellow within a few minutes as the sodium metal vaporizes. High pressure sodium lamps produce light that makes it much easier to distinguish objects in as opposed to low pressure lights. These lamps are extremely useful in areas where a large space must be illuminated but good color rendering is still important. The White SON is a type of HPS lamp which, operating at a higher pressure, produce light closer to that of incandescent bulbs. Primarily used for restaurant applications they are useful for creating a particular atmosphere within a large space. However, White SONs are only good for specialty applications because users lose much of the energy and efficiency savings of regular HPS lamps.

    High pressure sodium lamps and bulbs are a favorite of indoor growers and gardeners because they emit a wide color temperature spectrum which is loved by plants. Another plus is the relatively efficient cost of running the lights. The average high pressure sodium lamp outputs 100 lm/W, an impressive number.

    In summary, high pressure sodium bulbs and fixtures are useful in application where a large amount of light is needed at a low-cost. Generally this includes street, lot, and warehouse lighting. As always, a lighting expert should be consulted with before making any large bulb or fixture purchase. Superior Lighting, Fort Lauderdale’s leader in energy efficient lighting is always happy to talk. They can be reached online at http://www.superiorlighting.com or via telephone at (800) 432-7995.

Avatar 3D: New lighting technologies reach the silver screen

“Avatar,” James Cameron’s latest epic grossed $232 million in global ticket sales this past weekend, with part of this number coming from the over 3,000 screens that are displaying it in 3D. All told the film is expected to break the $400 million mark in theaters. Much of the hype surrounding “Avatar” comes from its heavy use of CGI and screening in 3-D. Those looking for a captivating fantasy-land with eye-catching effects will surely not be disappointed.

3-D technology is rather old, dating back to at least 1890. The technology and results have progressed greatly since then, but many of the principles remain the same. 3-D films use creative lighting to provide the illusion of depth perception on a flat picture. A special motion picture camera, projection hardware, and usually stylish 3-D glasses are used to accomplish this. Anaglyph images were the earliest theatrical 3-D technique. Two images are superimposed in an additive or subtractive setting. While lower quality than stereogram, anaglyphs are very easy to view.

The eclipse method uses a mechanical shutter to block light to each eye when the image is projected on the screen. This was the backbone of the Teleview system, which was used briefly in 1922. A new application to this technique involves LCD shutter glasses. These “smart” glasses are synchronized with the image, using alternative-frame sequencing, to give both depth and motion effects. Yet another new application for energy efficient LEDs. Other systems include lenticular screens, which do not require glasses, use of the Pulfrich effect, and polarization systems.

Interference filter technology is a current method for blockbusters. Dolby 3D uses specific wavelengths of red, green, and blue for each eye, and then the glasses are responsible for filtering, allowing the user to see the image in 3-D without the use of the expensive polarized silver screen. RealD, the most common current method, does require a silver screen, a projector filter, and expensive glasses, but is widely used, and the technology behind “Avatar.”

3-D films are a great example of what a dose of creativity can bring to lighting. Energy efficient CFLs are the most widely used replacement for old incandescent bulbs, but look to creative LED lights such as iCOLOR tubes and LED color tiles to make headway in entertainment applications.
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Superior Lighting’s, Ft. Lauderdale’s (South Florida) energy efficient lighting expert, mission is to help our customers choose the most energy efficient lighting. We lead the lighting industry by providing the best value in products and services to all of our customers, and we differentiate ourselves on the basis of our honesty and expertise. Superior Lighting can be contacted via web at http://www.superiorlighting.com/ or by calling 800-432-7995.

Miami Network Security Experts

"Relying on the government to protect your privacy is like asking a peeping tom to install your window blinds."
— John Perry Barlow

Contact SDSol Technologies, your Miami network security experts, for more information about keeping your business data secure. You can't afford not to.

Your Miami Technology Solutions Provider

The custom software and tech support industries are often somewhat daunting to business owners in need of solutions. The triumvirate of unfamiliar terminology, fear as a motivator, and misinformation circulated by eager salespeople can lead to a negative experience. Projects being abandoned at 80% complete are far too frequent in the field. These pitfalls can be avoided. Our ten years plus delivering custom tailored solutions in Miami have given us a look into the methodology of both vendors and clients, as well as some tips for a positive experience.

Your Miami Custom Software Project:
Our typical custom software client falls into one of three categories; each brings a unique set of needs to the table.

Business owners and managers looking for tweaks to their current system:
Scope of services is very important here. Well defined guidelines are a must to define what the project entails. This ensures clear communication and a deliverable product that fixes the issues which were defined in the technical specifications. Also, a good developer will require (billable) time to fully understand the system and develop an appropriate approach.

Owners and managers looking for a new system:
Effective communication plays a large role here. A qualified software application developer will work with you to define the scope of your project. Technical specifications should be well researched on behalf of the client and signed off on before any development actually takes place. A new system, whether it be for employee scheduling, ERP, CRM, inventory management, or whatever else should enhance clients’ bottom line by increasing productivity and efficiency.


Entrepreneurs and dream-makers:
By far the most fun (and ambitious) of projects, software can represent an entrepreneur’s first big entry into building their brand. Here, it is important for a developer to take on a much more proactive approach. The dream must be drilled down into exact specifications, ensuring that the project meets or exceeds their vision. However, a good developer will often go as far as to suggest reducing the scope of the project to eliminate clutter in the application and focus on the core model. A developer, beyond coding expertise, should have experience in both management and leadership for an effective entrepreneurial solution.


Miami SEO Clients:
Honestly, those in search of a local Miami SEO company should narrow it down to about 5 vendors, one of which is SDSol Technologies. Realistic expectations are a must; SEO firms are responsible for putting eyes in front of your product, the client is responsible for a quality, saleable product. Anyone promising first-page results without an in-depth review of your website and competitive landscape should be immediately disqualified. Once narrowed down to the five or so local players look for a Miami SEO company that fits your needs and budget. Not all SEO clients are the same. Some already have a following, only needing quality keyword rich content and a bit of back linking, while new businesses may require a full-scale six month plan of attack. Rapport, realistic expectations, and a strong track record of success are all important.

Miami Website Design Company:
Websites have become the most powerful branding of the business. Depending on the industry websites can showcase corporate identity, sell a product or service, help attract new customers, or even handle billing, scheduling, file sharing, and project management needs. Vendors should be screened and happy to provide at least six examples of past work that is currently online. Also, it is important to distinguish between a web designer and a web developer. A web designer is an artist with some familiarity of HTML and perhaps Flash. A web developer on the other hand, is comfortable writing custom scripts and modules to enable clients to productively conduct business online. We at SDSol Technologies enjoy the luxury of a team approach. Our designer brings an artistic flair that matches the client’s specs, while our development team has the expertise to dig into the nuts and bolts of the most ambitious of software projects.


Miami Tech Support and Miami Computer Support:
Tech support specialists should be qualified, certified, and readily available to help with any situations that may arise. Many businesses go the low cost route and pay dearly for it. I am reminded of the old adage “if you think tech support companies are expensive, just wait until you go with a cheap one.” Very true. A tech support firm should be certified specialists for your business size, have a wide scope of expertise (troubleshooting, networking, virus…), and be available when they need them. Uptime is a must, and they should provide references to similar businesses which they currently provide support to.

Hope this helps. Feel free to contact SDSol Technologies, your tech solutions provider, with any questions you may have.
-R.P.
Is Your Net Working?

Energy Efficient Light Bulb Deals

Vendor are enabling business and government agencies to flip the switch

Business decision makers should all now be well aware of the energy savings that switching to energy efficient light bulbs provides. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. This saves about $30 over the lifetime of each bulb. Light emitting diode (LED) bulbs last 35 to 50 times longer than incandescent lighting, use 75% less energy, and are much more durable. Clearly, energy efficient light bulbs make fiscal sense.

There is more. Lighting vendors offer large savings for businesses and government agencies to help them make the switch. Zev Herman of Superior Lighting, a Ft. Lauderdale energy efficient bulb supplier, notes, “We are thrilled to see more and more business owners interested in energy efficient lighting solutions. I love working with new customers, showing them that their financial interests and the health of the environment are one and the same. We pride ourselves on understanding their industry, allowing us to offer a cost-effective solution that benefits their business with regards to their office atmosphere, the environment, and their bottom line.”
Incentives that Superior Lighting offers businesses include: a satisfaction guarantee “gets it right or we make it right”, a low price guarantee for volume purchases, fast and free shipping, and no sales tax outside of Florida. Businesses should make the switch to energy efficient light bulbs today and Superior Lighting will help show them the way.

A knowledgeable staff is important, and Superior Lighting is a testament to what a qualified supplier can provide. From simple replacement bulbs to retrofits or full-scale lighting plans for new businesses such as restaurants or nightclubs, they have the qualified team in place with the know-how to offer an effective solution. Expertise, low-prices, and an Earth-friendly product, the only thing missing is your phone call.

Superior Lighting’s, Ft. Lauderdale’s (South Florida) energy efficient lighting expert, mission is to help our customers choose the most energy efficient lighting. We lead the lighting industry by providing the best value in products and services to all of our customers, and we differentiate ourselves on the basis of our honesty and expertise. Superior Lighting can be contacted via web at http://www.superiorlighting.com/ or by calling 800-432-7995.

Tuscany, Italy: A Digital Experience

With Ubisoft’s release of Assassin’s Creed Two many gamers are getting their first look at Tuscany. The game is full of gorgeous scenery complete with sprawling vineyards, classic Italian architecture, medieval castles, and enchanted villas. Visitors to Tuscany marvel at how accurate and lifelike the landscapes of Assassin’s Creed Two are. With that said, the only way to truly experience Tuscany as a native does is to travel their and experience it for oneself. While the adventures of Ezio Auditore da Firenze in Renaissance Italy on the XBOX 360 or PS3 are fun, they are nothing compared to the real thing.

Tuscany, generally considered the birthplace of the Renaissance movement, has a legendary artistic heritage. Visitors can see one of a kind architecture, sculptures, and paintings throughout Florence and the surrounding areas. Perhaps the best known museums in Tuscany include the Uffizi, the Academia, and the Bargello. And yes, you can even visit the very street where Leonardo da Vinci turns Ezio’s codex pages into new weaponry.

While traveling from city to city it is a shame that Ezio doesn’t stop to enjoy a glass, or three, of wine. The sprawling landscapes he traverses are home to some of the finest vineyards on the planet. Guests who opt for a wine tour through Tuscan Way are in for a real treat. A stay at Villa Poggiarello with hosts Romeo and Federica allows guests to become a member of the family, enjoying Tuscan tales late into the evening. Romeo’s focus on “La Cucina Povera Toscana” (Tuscan Country Cooking) ensures travelers leave with full stomachs and smiling faces. On the 100 hectare property guests even sip wine in the very vineyard in which it was grown.

For a taste of village life look no further than Casa Innocenti. Carlo Innocenti has been gracious enough to open his home to Tuscan Way’s guests. Perched on a hill next to the village castle, Casa Innocenti is a four story medieval home complete with 20 rooms, a large wine cellar, and private garden. During their stay, guests are let in on some of the tightest held secrets in Italy. They don’t involve hidden Medici gold, but rather Tuscan culinary recipes passed down from generation to generation. As a Master Chef, Carlo has the ability to not only prepare some of the best food Tuscany has to offer, but also pair dishes with the perfect wine.

Assassin’s Creed Two is a great game, but the beauty and majesty of Tuscany can only be fully enjoyed by traveling there and sampling the wine, food, and culture that your hosts provide. Tuscan Way has the villas, connections, and experience to offer a truly transcendental experience that will be treasured for years to come.

For a meaningful vacation or food and wine tour to Tuscany contact Tuscan Way. They can be reached by calling 800-766-2390 or on the web at www.TuscanWay.com.

New Mac Malware Invasion

Symantec, in a blog post today, uncovered a new Macintosh exploit. Named "OSX.Loosemaque," the malware is unique for two reasons. First, it is targeting Mac OSX, which for years has been a savehaven from hackers and internet scofflaws. Second, it is disguised as a Space Invaders-eque video game. Recent upgraders will be happy to know that it is fully Snow Leopard compatiple.

The game is fully functional, and quite enjoyable actually; a throwback to the simple alien shooters of the early 1980s. The malicious part is quite clever. For every alien ship that the user destroys a file is deleted from their home directory. Definitely not worth the fun.

On the game website it does note in the description that the files will be deleted, however this could quite easily be modified into a malicious virus passed along to unsuspecting users. Currently the threat is limited, but this does open the door to new types of Mac exploits, which are expected to grow as their userbase continues to do so.

FTC Fines: Coming to a Blog Near You

Bloggers beware. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) updated its Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials to include new media, specifically bloggers. In the past these rules have governed TV endorsements and radio ads. In an interesting development the FTC is now interested in governing web posts of a paid/sponsored nature.

Typically these fines have been paid by networks or manufacturers who have the capital to deal with them. I'm interested to see how the net responds the first time an individual blogger is hit with a fine, which can be up to $11,000 per blog post.

While it does raise censorship and long-arm-of-the-law concerns this could be a breath of fresh air, as we are all tired of the endless faux reviews, fabricated testimonials, and unsubstantiated claims on the internet, particularly in the MLM sector. More to follow...

Tuscan Way -- Experience Italy as a True Tuscan

Tuscan Way offers you a unique and rare opportunity to live and experience life, as it really is, in Tuscany.

A true taste of Tuscany, where we have brought together so many fine, quaint and rich elements from within the heart of Florence itself as well as the surrounding hills and countryside.
To visit Tuscany or Italy like you have never done before, it is necessary to become immersed in the culture. This is integral to Italian tradition in general and Tuscany’s in particular. Ingredients borne from the land are a beacon for the Tuscan psyche.
For a sneak peak at what Tuscany has to offer:



Tuscan Way offers food and wine tours in the heart of Tuscany, Italy.

Google Adds Meta Comments to Toolbar

Sidewiki, Google's newest online gizmo, gives its toolbar users the ability to write annotations and read the comments of others. Pretty cool and definitely worth a look, but I am unsure of how well it will be adopted. IMHO web users already have their hands full with existing tools.

Basically Sidewiki opens a column on the left-hand side of your browser where you can view and respond to the comments of others.

Comments will, of course, be organized by Google's mysterious, ever-evolving algo. This raises the issue of...drumroll please...SEO implications. Will these comments figure into page rank and SERPs? How long until SEO spammers render the whole system irrelevant? Will a page full of paid comments add or take away from your web experience? How will Google combat this?

Interesting to see how this tool will be used. Stay tuned...

Best,
Bobby

Facebook announces plans for voice chat. Skype buster or too many features?

An effective website, much like a good sandwich, can actually suffer from having too many ingredients. With Facebook announcing voice-chat (currently in closed beta), one must wonder if this will propel Facebook even higher in the web2.0 stratosphere or turn it into a cluttered beast that operates too slow (i.e. the demise of AOL). My Facebook page has already turned from a simple wall posting and messaging with friends platform into a advertising and data-capturing behemoth. If they don't watch it... I'm going back to IRC.

We as a software development company are excited about it. If voice chat works well, it will give our developers a new platform for our custom software applications. If the chat doesn't function as it should we can always improve upon it using Facebook's developer tools.

I expect the chat to work well. Facebook has engaged Vivox to offer ut, who provides voice service for Second Life and EVE Online. With a user base of over 15M users one would presume the kinds are all ironed out. The service will offer one-on-one and group discussions. Dinosaurs who don't have a Facebook account can even use a free number to join in on the phone.

A few things I wonder:
1) Since it supports conferences, this will clearly be used as a business tool. As Facebook courts businesses more will they lose their core base of college students and people with not enough to do at work?
2) With a third party vendor involved clearly they hope to monetize this. Would you be turned off by voice advertisements? How do they think they are going to earn using voice chat?

Either way, another story about web portals becoming increasingly integrated and taking business from the old industrialists (phone companies). Drop me a line and let me know what you think.

Best,
Bobby

For a screen-shot of the demo view and more info, take a look at the CNN article.

Twitter is Offline: Productivity Skyrockets

Cubicle jockeys have found themselves actually getting work done this lovely Thursday morning as popular social networking site Twitter.com appears to be offline. The Washington Post is the first major outlet I have found to report on it. According to The Post, Twitter has been down for about 40 minutes now. Twitter's status blog is confirming the known known but remaining tight-lipped, saying

"Site is down 45 minutes ago

We are determining the cause and will provide an update shortly."

Thanks for the explanation Twitter Bird. More to follow.


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10:44
Attempting to update my Facebook status. Receiving an AJAX error. This is bizarre. Friends are reporting problems with livejournal as well.

Installing IIS 8 on Vista 64 bit Servers: Home Edition

We are all now well aware of the compatibility issues that working within Vista can entail. From explaining to clients how to find the mail icon by switching to classic view to a near complete lack of driver support, a lot of workarounds have been created by savvy I.T. professionals. A local Miami IT support client of ours needed a solution to run IIS 8 on a Vista 64 bit server, which is not usually supported, and we rose to the occasion. Without further ado:

Virtual directories in IIS are hosted in an application pool. An application pool is the host process for one or more Web applications. When you deploy a 32 bit application to IIS 7, the application is deployed to the Default AppPool. By default, this application pool uses the Integrated managed pipeline mode, where managed code is integrated into the request processing pipeline.

Although you can configure the DefaultAppPool to use the Classic mode, changing the setting will affect all applications running in that application pool. A better option is to create a new application pool for each website. Please follow the simple steps below to do so. It can be a tricky process, so feel free to contact us networking support team if you want us to take a look.


Creating an application pool

If you choose not to create a new application pool, you must complete step 4 in the following procedure for the application pool that hosts your application.

To create and configure an application pool:

1. In IIS Manager, select Application Pools.
2. In the Actions pane, select Add Application Pool.
3. Provide a name, such as myweb, for the application pool.
4. Set Managed Pipeline Mode to Classic and click OK.

Enabling 32-bit applications on 64-bit Vista

On 64-bit Vista, you must enable the application pool to run 32-bit applications.
To enable 32-bit applications on 64-bit Vista:

1. In IIS Manager, select Application Pools.
2. In the list of Application Pools, select the application pool you have configured for use i.e. myweb.
3. In the Actions pane, select Advanced Settings under Edit Application Pool.
4. Expand the General settings, set Enable 32-bit Applications to True, and click OK.

To move an application into a different application pool:

1. In IIS Manager, expand Web Sites and Default Web Site.
2. Right-click the virtual directory for your application and click Advanced Settings.
3. Select the drop-down list next to the Application Pool property, select the application pool you created, and click OK
4. Reload the application.

To create ODBC conection for 32bit application:

There are two copies of odbcad32.exe on Windows Vista x64, one is stored at c:\windows\system32\ and one is stored at c:\windows\syswow64\.

We need to use c:\windows\syswow64\odbcad32.exe that will have all our access data providers.


Hope this helps. Please let us know if we can be of any help. For more about us please visit SDSol's website at SDSol.com: Custom Software Development, Online Development, and Miami IT support.

Best,

SDSol

About online solutions: SDSol Technologies is providing the above information as a service to our customers and online visitors. Please note that it is by no means foolproof. This should simply be seen as a reference of our findings when we encountered the same issue. To make sure your server and networking tasks are done right, please contact your local IT processional.

1 peas in a pod: how SEO and online marketing have become the same thing

SEO and online marketing both have the goal of increasing relevant traffic to websites. SEO was originally about gaming the search engines; online marketing about reaching customers with the goal of moving units. As Google and marketers have both gotten wiser they have become too overlapping to work on one and ignore the other. Basically in the past few years SEO and online marketing have become one in the same. Customers see meta-tags on search pages and Google follows click-thrus on Gmail. Fundamentally, SEO is about moving up the search engine results (SERP) page. Online marketing is leveraging the power of the internet to:

• Increase consumer awareness,
• Establish/build your brand,
• Sell your product,
• Better serve existing customers

Still with me? Let’s talk about how to get there. First, we need a well designed web site. Site design is a lengthy discussion beyond the scope of this article. In general, we want a unique look, a user friendly experience, and most importantly an easy conversion. As a user I shouldn’t have to click more than three or four times to buy your product. Beyond that, our old marketing rules still apply, such as having a USP (unique selling proposition) and strong calls to action. While writing content for your site, make sure to do a bit of keyword research and use these phrases plenty. Despite all the changes in SEO/online marketing content is still king. All the optimization and PPC in the world will never equal a meaningful, compelling article. Journalists and writers (Hi Dad!) rejoice.

So now we have a good, functional web site with meaningful content and strong calls to action. Let the marketing (and SEO) begin.

First, let’s deal with some of the on-site factors.

Initial Organic SEO:
This is essentially making your site easier for the search engines to see, and most importantly easier for them to decide just what exactly the point of your site is. The major factors are (always changing):

Keyword research: This is where you find out that you think of your business completely differently than your customers do. I think of us as an “end to end technology solutions provider for small and medium businesses in South Florida.” They think of us as “computer support 33173.” Sure it stings a little, but you have to understand how/why clients will look for and find you. Once we know these terms make sure to use them plenty (without overdoing it) on your site.

Page titles, Meta tags, H1 header, and picture alts: All are very important; however this is beginning to change as search engines better mimic the end-user experience. In general you should place your keywords throughout these. Don’t know what a meta-tag is? Go to a well designed site and right-click “View Source.”

SE Friendly URLs:
Among the items search engines use to decide who ranks where are the URLs. If you were Google which would you give the higher ranking to?
Mysite.com/asp45531%$45 or Mysite.com/worlds-best-product

Internal Linking:
Link your pages to create a circular effect to your website. This is fairly complicated and you should consult an SEO professional (me) if this is an undertaking you want to begin.

Submit your website and sitemap to Google, MSN, and Yahoo.
Pretty straightforward. Create a sitemap (free tools are available, a hand-coded one is typically better) and submit it to the major search engines. Now they know you exist.

Directory Listings and Local Pages:
Directory listings are a great way to get the SEO ball rolling. In particular the most important are DMOZ.org, Yahoo Directory, and MSN. There are about a dozen others that will help, but I have to keep something to myself, no?

Now we have (or should have) a search engine friendly site. Don’t have number one listings yet? Of course not, SEO is never “done.” Your competitors are constantly working for those top listings and so should you. The fundamental goal here is to build as many relevant back-links as possible. The best links are from authoritative sites and use effective anchor text. You want links like custom software 33131, not click here for www.sdsol.com. How do we get these? There are a lot of methods, including:

Press releases
Press releases are the “in” thing now, which means Google will probably discount them very soon. These not only provide back-links, but also give you the opportunity to put your branding message out there for the world to see.

Link exchanges
This dates back to the old days of the internet. Essentially “You sell cats in Florida? I sell them in Chicago. Let’s mention this on our websites.” Since then link pages can be seen as tacky, so three way linking has grown in popularity. This is where you my site on your page, and in exchange I place you in my directory.

Comments, comments, comments
Be careful with this one. You don’t want to become the next big spammer, you just want to get your business out there. Make sure to include your url (with the good anchor text from before) in all your correspondence. If you do want to become the next big spammer this works too.

Let the internet do the work for you
Hours or days spent link building don’t equal even 10 minutes of legitimate interest in the site. Create some actual interest in your site and bloggers, journalists, and even grandma will link to you. My favorite example of this is BKs “Submissive Chicken.”

Don’t cry about it, blog about it
Blogs are great for generating interest in your site. Say something interesting or useful and you will get subscribers. Blogs are also great because you can use them to capture long-tailed keywords that don’t mix well with your home page text. Also, you get to take a more candid tone, which is why I love them.

Well, that’s a bit about SEO, online marketing, and link-building. There are a few issues I didn’t address, including:

• E-mail marketing
• Dos and Don’ts of comment/forum spam
• Why PageRank is such a headache to SEO folks
• Why decent search engine listings don’t guarantee success
  

All very important and if I have the time I will get to them. Please comment, subscribe, or send a nice hand written card to keep me motivated.

Best,
Bobby

Hurricane Preparedness Tips from Your I.T. Folks

Summer brings a lot of wonderful things. Baseball is heating up, summer flex hours at work (for the lucky), blossoming flowers, and cook-outs. However, for us residents of (sometimes) sunny South Florida, it also signals hurricane season. We do a pretty good job of shuttering windows, storing food and water, and getting an early warning, but all too often electronics are neglected and destroyed by the rain and flooding. The average home computer contains precious pictures and videos, important tax and financial documents, and passwords that if lost will be difficult, if not impossible to recover. A bit of planning ahead of time can protect your electronics and give you one less thing to worry about during these most troublesome of times. In the following list we’ll let you in on some methods for lessening the burden on your electronics the next time we receive a hurricane warning.

Prepare your electronics:
Having your computer under the desk makes good aesthetic sense, but means only an inch or two of water can cause serious damage. When preparing for a storm make sure your electronics are unplugged, elevated, away from doors and windows, and covered in plastic. When covering them make sure not to block any cooling fans for devices remaining plugged in.

Back up important data off-site:
Family pictures, videos, and important documents have shifted from physical items to computer data. This means there may be no drying them out once the storm passes. Important financial data, pictures, movies, and more should all be backed-up off-site. Owners of Apple computers even have an easy integrated option to do this. PC users can easily set up a hosting or data back-up account as well. For more about data back-up consult your I.T. provider.

Invest in a UPS:
When you lose power, whether it be from lightning or downed lines, electronics that are on can get severely damaged. The power supplies on these products can often not handle spikes, surges, and sudden outages. A UPS, or uninterrupted power supply, protects against surges and gives you the time needed to properly power down devices during a brown or black out. These can be purchased at electronics stores such as Tiger Direct or Best Buy.

Have numbers on hand:
That PDA, BlackBerry, or iPhone won’t get you very far when the power goes out and the batteries are drained. This is why there is no replacement for a good old fashioned Rolodex or notepad with important numbers. Beyond friends and family some other numbers you should have are:

Florida Emergency Information Line: Provides information on road closures, shelters, and re-entry information. (800) 342-3557

American Red Cross – Central Miami Branch: The Red Cross helps families recover from disaster. They provide beds, food, and shelter to those most in need. (305) 644-1200

FEMA: Disaster Assistance Line: A good national resource for where to seek help during a hurricane or storm. (800) 621-3362

Florida Power & Light: Report downed power lines promptly. (305) 442-8770

I hope this helps. Just a few things business owners can do to minimize downtime. If you need any assistance, or more info, feel free to contact SDSol with any questions.

Robert W. Peck
rpeck@sdsol.com
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Bobby Peck is Marketing Manager for SDSol Technologies (www.sdsol.com). SDSol provides IT support, online development, and custom applications to the Miami area.

Custom Software Applications: Where Productivity and Convenience Meet

Custom software solutions provide a level of utility and customization that simply can’t be found in retail boxed software. From the online merchant who is tired of doing double data entry between her store and QuickBooks, to the wholesaler needing an inventory management system that actually works the way he desires, custom software has an answer for everyone. From the small, such as a quick script to “do the undoable” in Excel, to larger products such as collaborative solutions for business intelligence, private label software is finding a home on the networks of businesses of all sizes.

Custom software isn’t just for the big guys anymore either. Medium and small businesses are turning to custom applications in record numbers. Software development is more affordable than ever, and that savings is transferring into:

• Increased productivity
• Fewer headaches and redundant tasks
• Applications with a custom-branded look and feel

SDSol Technologies, South Florida’s leader in custom software is the epitome of this business model. Clients of SDSol enjoy solutions that meet their needs and fit their budgets. Previous projects include online parts ordering systems, mission critical flight monitoring systems, CRM suites, and state-of-the-art task management (TMS) systems. Feel free to contact SDSol Technologies today at (305) 274-2147 to see what we can do for you. Our knowledgeable developers will work with you to define what your needs are, develop specific project requirements, and leave you with a product that offers increased functionality and custom branding.

SDSol Technologies offers a high level of understanding throughout the development process. Whether it be ASP.net, PHP, AJAX, C++ or a wide variety of other languages and standards we have you covered.

In short, businesses of all sizes can benefit from custom software solutions. No task is too small, no project too great. Stop struggling through generic applications and get software that is tailored to your unique business needs. Next time you are frustrated with the limited functionality of off-the-shelf software give SDSol a call and see what we can do for you.

SDSol Technologies, Miami-Dade’s leader in custom software solutions and programming is reachable by their website, www.sdsol.com, by email at info@sdsol.com, or by calling (305) 274-2147.