7 IT New Year’s Resolutions to Consider

Top

This time of year always brings forth ideas to consider on how to make next year better – the same is true for IT management. We know these to be Best Practices to be applied anytime during the year, but may be of sufficiently small scale to be undertaken by year’s end during a holiday lull. If true, they need not be resolutions for next year, and instead are “Resolved’s” of this year. If not true, consider #8.

1. Label your equipment – asset tagging reduces service expense
2. Learn your applications – online training is available from most software providers
3. Remove old equipment – donate, recycle, anything to clear some space from stuff you will never use again.
4. Learn a new skill – Are you always relying on that “other person” to show you how?
5. Run a disaster recovery test – do you have a plan? Is it sitting in a binder?
6. Complete documentation – Is there a better time to do the boring?
7. Limit access – Make your systems more secure by validating access and permissions.
8. Call IND Corporation – We’re here to make your IT world better, more secure, more efficient, and higher performance!!

Technology in Review: What are the Top Items that were Released in 2007?

Top

There were some great revolutions in technology for the everyday individual.

Google Maps: Google has re-deigned their map/direction feature so that now the user can drag the route that Google gives you by default to change the route to what you desire.

Sony Smile Detection Cameras: The new Cyber-shot cameras won't snap a picture until a selected subject smiles. Even with more than a handful of people in a picture, a photographer can designate which face to focus on by touching an LCD panel with a special pen. The so-called "Say Cheese" technology has three setting levels, from a slight grin to a belly laugh. It's a great way to guarantee a smile every time!

IPod: The Apple iPod is probably the fastest growing trend of 2007 in the world of consumer technology. Every where you go you see at least one. They come as small as a clip-on Shuffle and as big as the iPod Touch. After the first basic models came out Apple decided to outdo themselves and come up with the video iPods, as well continuing to make them thinner and smaller. Apple has truly made it possible to carry a 600 CD changer in your palm!

NTT Do CoMo's Wellness Phone: Introduced by Mitsubishi, this thing is a really cool little gadget. It's a phone that has a pulse rate monitor, a “breathalyzer”, a pedometer, and it will even tell you how many calories you burn. It calculates this by your weight, height, age, and gender. It will send all this data to a server for your doctor.

Microsoft Sync: Sync is a voice recognition system for you car. It is offered by Lincoln, Ford, & Mercury on new cars as a factory installed option. It allows you to text, place a call, play music, and much more, all by the power of you voice. Talk about hands free access while you're on the road!

Apple TV: What Apple has done is create a set top box that provide seamless integration between your computer and your television, allowing you to share everything, from home movies to television shows and movies you have downloaded from online sources like iTunes, with every one in your home. It is also covered under Apple’s fantastic Apple Care protection warranty, which is a big bonus. It has quickly become Apple’s best selling new product this year. As with all things Apple, it is attractive, highly functional, easily integrated with your other technology and cutting-edge.