Windows critical updates will be released June 12th, the 2nd Tuesday of the month. As always, be sure your computers are updated. As mentioned last month, if your computer locks up when trying to update, there is a fix: install WSUS 3.0 and this patch.

http://blogs.technet.com/wsus/archive/2007/05/15/srvhost-msi-issue-follow-up.aspx

Firefox and Mozilla security patches fix a bug which could give an attacker full control of your pc.  http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/751636

The paperless office is getting cheaper and easier. Windows Sharepoint Services is a free add-on to windows server. WSS offers web based document management including version control, rights management, workflow (routing documents automatically based on who needs to act on it), tags, and full text indexing and search.  Combine this with a digital copier/scanner, and you have the basis of a paperless office. It is fully integrated with office 2007, and work with office 2003. Because it is web based, it can be accessed securely from anywhere you have a web browser and internet access.   http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepointtechnology/FX100503841033.aspx

If you don’t already, budget some of your time for keeping up with the web. Things are changing, and chances are that your business will be affected. You may be hearing the expression “Web 2.0” in the media. It refers to web sites which provide a richer, more customizable, and interactive experience for the users. The fundamental shift is toward providing information and resources generated or supported by a large population of users. Google is an example. The value is generated by the selections searchers make.  It’s an insightful article:  www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/oreilly/tim/news/2005/09/30/what-is-web-20.html

http://web2.socialcomputingmagazine.com Web 2.0 in more depth

www.go2web20.net   Directory of Web 2.0 sites – overwhelming and fascinating

High Tech business news www.techcrunch.com

Google street view is generating some controversy because some of the photos contain identifiable people. Go to google maps in SF or NY, zoom all the way in and click on street view in the top right.  http://maps.google.com

If you haven’t checked lately, Google has a whole host of tools and web services beyond searching. I-Google allows you to create a customized personal portal. Here is a List of features for various types of searches. Google Co-op allows other vendors to link information to Google searches.

Microsoft Surface is a new product that looks like a table top. It is a 30” touch screen. It will be released at the end of 2007, costing about $10,000 each. Perhaps a Christmas gift?

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/touch-me/microsoft-surface-confirmed-touch+sensitive-10k-minority-report-table-264338.php    http://www.microsoft.com/surface

Windows Live Hotmail beta is out. This is the upcoming replacement for Hotmail. The client software is also planned to replace outlook express, and windows mail on Vista.  An Outlook connector will allow you to use Windows Live Hotmail from Outlook. Live Hotmail will work closely with Live Messenger. Existing Hotmail users will eventually be forced to upgrade.

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2126606,00.asp  http://get.live.com/betas/mail_betas

To get a free Hotmail account, sign up here: www.hotmail.com

Exchange 2007 SP1 is out. Exchange is Microsoft’s mail server.

www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=5770BD59-376E-42EC-B940-BE6225CD97FF&mg_id=10123&displaylang=en

Free Seminar: Marketing your business - on the web / on the computer.

Learn how to make your business visible on the web. Assess your current marketing strategy, and see what tools might benefit your business.  Every interaction with a prospective customer is a moment of truth for your business – get the most out of them.  Identify your maturity level in using technology for marketing, and your next steps.

Presented by Tim Torian, Torian Group, Inc. and sponsored by SBDC July 12, from 12-1:30 at the SBDC office 220 N. Santa Fe St. Visalia (The Visalia Chamber of Commerce office) Contact Amber at SBCDC (etc.), or Torian Group at (559) 733-1940

See www.toriangroup.com/events for more information.

Tim Torian

Torian, Group, Inc.

http://www.toriangroup.com