Monday, March 18, 2013

Choose the Right Cloud Service Provider


If you have taken a decision to move on to cloud based platform, then you must do your homework to know it in-depth. Credibility and viability are the two main factors that you need to focus on, to choose the right service provider.

Investigate it thoroughly, by talking to the existing users of a particular service provider or research it online, to know the market establishment or reputation of the providers. We would suggest you to investigate the following factors, before taking a decision.

Service Level Agreements:

SLA is the most important thing that you need to discuss, before committing to any service provider. Negotiate well with all the terms and conditions, so that there are effective penalties in case of undelivered service.

Support:

Make sure that you will be provided with the needed support, in case of crisis in the cloud based platform. This condition should be made clear, before signing an agreement with the cloud service provider.

Accounting:

As a customer, you can avail the service to any extent. However, billing and accounting should be automated, to have a track of your usage. This detail will let you monitor your usage and you can avoid unexpected bills.

Application Programming Interface (APIs):

API is the program that is a bridge or medium, to connect your data center to the cloud. This is very crucial, as the data transfer capability of the interface should be good enough to handle the data transformation.

Architecture:

Depending on the demands, the company creates different services. These services need to be move in and out of the cloud, depending on the requirement, which is why the architecture of the cloud must be very flexible to allow these movements.

Security:

If the provider doesn’t assure any tight security, then there is no point of going for that particular service. Your files or settings will be on the internet, so it definitely needs certain layers of security. Let us have a precise look at them:

  • Identity management—the service should be able to recognize the application or any component. This means that it should avoid the intruders, who do not have a proper identity.
  • Access control—right level of access should be allowed, to have a proper security of resources sitting on the platform.
  • Authentication—many users may have the access to the cloud files, but selected users should have the authority to edit the settings or data.

Taking a decision to go for the cloud service could be a good one, but analyzing all the aspects of the service providers and going for the right service provider is a great one.

This post is sponsored by Jack. Get affordable technical support for resolving technical issues with computers and for computer repair. If you need additional technical support, you can contact TecHelpApps.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Is Chromebook Your Kind Of System?


Chrome OS! Extremely new platform by Google based on the cloud system. Now, while talking about ‘cloud’ based systems, users seem to be skeptical to buy a Chromebook and the reason is quite simple, it seems to be of no use, when there is no web connection. It is quite logical and even I had the same impression, until I had hands on with the Chromebook. I will not say that your work will be completed without a web connection, but I strongly disagree with the statement that “it is a useless system, when offline”.

Moreover, can you deny the fact that situation may arise, when you do not have an internet access? There are certain key features, which work even without the reach of an internet access, to solve your issue of internet unavailability.

Gmail app offline:


Google has devised an offline app for Gmail, which looks similar to Gmail interface in tablets. Using this app, you can view your existing e-mails and compose new e-mails, which will be sent automatically, when your Chromebook connects to an internet connection next time.

Work with Google Docs offline:

If you’re a Google Drive user, then you must know that all the Google docs are stored in this platform. Let us tell you that Chromebook has the capability of accessing Google Drive offline and so, Google Docs. Chromebook user can work with Google Docs, anytime they want to, be it reading or editing them. You can edit Microsoft files, PDF files and images on Google Drive and the changes will be saved automatically, as soon as your device is connected to the web. To use this feature, you need to enable the setting of offline use of Google Drive.

Apps offline:


You have heard of Chrome Web Store, haven’t you? Chrome Web Store has innumerous apps available in its pool of apps. Don’t be disappointed with a thought that “web apps” need a web connection. Not always! Google has provided a facility of developing offline apps too. Not all apps can be used in offline mode, but many of them. To find the apps that can be used without a web connection, check out in the ‘Offline Category’ of Chrome Web Store. Many companies have taken the initiative of releasing Chromebooks, including HP, Samsung, Lenovo and Acer. Google has made an attempt to make its OS operate, when disconnected from the world of internet. I accept that it is not for all folks, but users with detailed information can decide whether it is meant for them or not.

This post is sponsored by Jack. Get the authorized remote tech support, do visit TechHelpApps. Online PC support and remote computer repair services over the Internet made easy by Techhelpapps technical help experts.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Alternative Apps Are Better Than The Windows 8 Apps!



You might have seen plenty of apps on the platform of Windows 8 for better productivity and entertainment. Are you sure that those apps are the best ones available? Certainly, not! Today, we are going to discuss about few of the third party apps that might give you a better experience than the Microsoft built in apps. So, here you go:

Flip Toast for People:

People app doesn’t just contain a simple contact list, but it syncs all other personal information of the user, like Facebook, Twitter and others. Although, this app is a hub for all the information, but it often confuses the user by jumbling all the services together.  
Fortunately, Flip Toast app is available as a better alternative. It integrates all the services, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social platforms. This app provides an easy interface to handle all the services, without jumbling things around. Also, it has a birthday tool to remind you of your friends’ birthdays. You might not find the interface intuitive initially, but you will find it better than People app eventually. This app is absolutely free in Windows store.

IM+ for Messaging:

Messaging app is a good one that lets you send text across, without any possible delay. You can chat with people in your contact lists or your Facebook account, right from the app. It also supports video chat. It is really great for the users, who are satisfied with limited communication.
What about the people, who wish to interact with many other service users? Messaging app will not satisfy them. For those users, IM+ app could be a better option, as you do not have to limit yourself to your Facebook friends. Rather you can message anybody you can think of, from Facebook to ICQ. You can enjoy messaging, photo sharing, video chat and many more features with this app, which can be found for free in Windows store.

Google Calendar for built in Calendar:

What comes to your mind, when you think of a calendar? Is it viewing the dates and events, making notes, setting reminders? Of course, the built in Calendar app is an expert in all these. It can also sync your Google Calendar, but it fails to sync any shared Google Calendar.
Why don’t you try using Google calendar? It will serve all your needs, be it setting reminders or syncing the shared Google calendars. The only thing you need is an internet connection, as Google calendar has to be accessed via your browser. Like any other app, you can pin Google calendar in your Start screen and use it as any other app of your system.

We don’t say that the built-in apps of Windows 8 are bad, but it is always nicer and better for a user to explode all the options and go for the better ones. The above alternative apps are not perfect, so do the built-in Windows app, but these apps are better than the built-in apps.

Article by Jack. Get the authorized remote tech support, do visit Techhelpapps. Online PC support and remote computer repair services over the Internet made easy by techhelpapps technical help experts.