Comcast bandwidth limiting - class action suit lost. $16 payout to customers – fill out a form to collect if you have Comcast. www.p2pcongestionsettlement.com
www.dailytech.com/Comcast Pays 16M USD to Settle P2P Throttling Suit But Wont Admit Wrongdoing/article17217.htm
 
Microsoft Word loses custom XML Legal battle. They are pulling a specific little used feature from the product. Shipment of Word will not be affected.
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/12/microsoft-barred-from-selling-word-has-plan-for-workaround.ars
What is affected:
http://blogs.technet.com/gray_knowlton/archive/2009/12/23/what-is-custom-xml-and-the-impact-of-the-i4i-judgment-on-word.aspx
 
Dell shipping delays. This has affected our server orders as well, delayed by about a month.
http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/12/31/dell-makes-spirits-dark-for-some-this-season/?mod=
 
MS Security Essentials rated best of free antivirus. Good choice for home computers.
http://arstechnica.com/security/news/2009/10/av-comparatives-picks-six-malware-removal-winners.ars 
 
Another place to list your business on the internet. Here is one more place to list your business:
http://www.makeuseof.com/dir/delocator-find-independently-owned-local-stores
We have a full list of directories you should be on to be visible on the internet here: http://www.toriangroup.com/Portals/0/Documents/Web Visibility.pdf
 
Howard Schmidt selected as Government Cyber Security Chief.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2009/12/22/introducing-new-cybersecurity-coordinator
 
Changes in CPU choices (Technical). Going from Intel Core Duo to Core i5 and i7. Order the new CPU socket on new computers if possible.
www.tomshardware.com/reviews/intel-core-i5,2410.html
 
Rebates scams – some vendors offer rebates that are hard to collect on. These sites show company track records on keeping their promises. Comcast and Toshiba show up in the worst list. Symantec and Staples are in the best.
www.rebatereportcard.com   www.ripoffreport.com
Step by step how to complain about bad service and failed promises
www.fatwallet.com/forums/deal-discussion/314746
 
New E-Book Readers coming. A number of new Electronic book readers will be released in the next few weeks. All have special “E-Ink” screens which are easier on the eyes than LCD computer screens. Almost all the e-book readers support HTML, Txt, MP3 and JPG. The battle of formats in the world of e-books is largely between the proprietary format that Amazon uses called .azw, a flavor of Mobipocket, and the open source ePub. Amazon’s Kindle does not support ePub; almost all other e-book readers do.
“Alex”has a touch screen, and will run the Google android OS, and download Google Books. The Nook will be released by Barnes and Noble with similar features. Plastic Logic has a larger format touch screen and will access Barnes & Noble and the Sony EPub format, as well as Acrobat documents. Cool-ER Reader uses ATT wireless, and plays MP3 music. Foxit ESlick reader focuses on .PDF and EPub (Sony Ebook format) documents. Borders will be offering the Kobo. Entourageedge is a dual screen reader/netbook. IRex Iliad is lower priced with fewer book selections. Current market leaders are the Amazon Kindle and Sony E-Reader. Apple will be releasing the I-Slate this month. It’s a good time to wait and see.
Buying Guide www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/05/buying-guide-e-book-reader
Plastic Logic demo http://d7.allthingsd.com/20090623/plastic-logic-the-full-d7-demo 
www.foxitsoftware.com www.coolreaders.com www.entourageedge.com www.irextechnologies.com www.jinke.com.cn
CES review www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/Impressive-Library-of-EReaders-Unveiled-at-CES-Plastic-Logic-iRiver-Amazon-Kindle-DX-767113/
 
Smartbooks will combine netbook with mobile phone service for internet.
http://kara.allthingsd.com/20091116/qualcomms-ceo-paul-jacobs-talks-about-smartbooks-and-more/?mod=ATD_sphere
 
Free Wi-Fi at McDonalds, BP Gas. Probably a trend.
www.infopackets.com/news/internet/2009/20091218_free_wifi_coming_to_your_local_mcdonalds.htm
www.infopackets.com/news/internet/2009/20090112_bp_gas_station_to_offer_free_internet_access.htm
 
Windows 7 configuration tool make it easy for XP users. www.appscout.com/2009/12/windows_7_in_a_box_gives_you_d.php
Access all Windows 7 Controls in one folder.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10423985-56.html
 
Blackberry service outages
www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/12/23/blackberry.outage/index.html
www.informationweek.com/news/personal_tech/blackberry/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=222100110
 
Google Nexus 1 phone works with Google Apps. Not recommended if you have exchange email.  www.google.com/phone
 
Acronis Tru-Image Home gets good review. www.infopackets.com/news/software/reviews/2009/20091207_upgrading_xp_to_win7_how_to_make_the_transition_easy.htm 
 
Tips for productivity. Not just for students.
http://lifehacker.com/5441531/use-better-tools-to-be-a-better-student-in-2010
 
Security updates
 
Exchange SP2 can now be installed on SBS 2008 Servers. This is an important upgrade to the email component of Small Business Server. We will be contacting you if your server can benefit.
www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=ffd2fe61-9278-489e-9b96-3816394c9cb6&displayLang=en
www.nogeekleftbehind.com/2009/12/31/exchange-2007-sp2-on-sbs-2008/
 
Dropbox add-on allows remote control of any computers with folders in common. Be sure you have a strong password on any program that allows access to your computer from the internet.
http://lifehacker.com/5435397/akira-remotely-controls-computers-using-dropbox
www.Dropbox.com is our recommended solution for transferring large files between computers.
A new version was released Dec. 18^th    http://blog.dropbox.com
 
Adobe Reader 8 has an important update. Versions prior to 8 are not supported and have serious security flaws. Current version is 9.2. The preferred solution is to get the latest version. Download it here: http://get.adobe.com/reader
Version 8 patch: www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=3853
 
Adobe Flash 6.0 is distributed with XP. Be sure to update to the current version if you have not already. www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/979267.mspx
 
Firefox has more updates. Current version is 3.5.7 Support for ver. 3.0 ends this month. Install updates when prompted. Be sure to check for updates to add-ins as well. 
www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/security
 
Windows updates were released Tuesday January 12^th.  There is only one critical update, affecting all operating systems. It fixes a problem with fonts.
www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms10-jan.mspx
 
There are new exploits out to get control of your router if the default password has not been changed. Always change the default password on network devices, including routers, printers, and anything that has a web based login. Instructions to set up a router are here: http://compnetworking.about.com/od/homenetworking/ht/routerconfigure.htm
http://samy.pl (this link is to the hacker’s site)
 
Announcements
 
Lunch Bytes seminars: Thursday Jan 21th The Paperless Office. See flyer below.
Please RSVP with the Chamber or Us. www.toriangroup.com/events
12:00-1PM Visalia Chamber Board room.
 
We have hired Sheila Kosek to replace Doris, who is retiring this month. Doris has been with us for 11 years.
Dave Johnson has joined us as an entry level tech. He previously worked in a nuclear power plant and a chip design firm doing desktop support and documentation.

Tim Torian
Torian, Group, Inc.
http://www.toriangroup.com
 

	Going Paperless In Your Office

 Sponsored by Visalia Chamber, CCSBDC, and Torian Group

12PM-1PM – Thursday. January 21th – Visalia Chamber – Free!

Topics:

• How to get started
• Organizing your electronic documents
• File formats for OCR – Managing TIFF and PDF files
• Converting to Searchable text, and Indexing
• Scanning – Best products, options, and features to look for
• Legal issues for going paperless
• Additional Resources – where to go from here

Who should attend:

• Anyone with too many paper files.
• Technology decision makers.
• Home office / small office users – Improve your effectiveness.
• Business people seeking to cut costs and increase efficiency.

Feb. 18^th  Window 7 – Is it for you?
April 15^th Phone Systems and Unified Communications
 
Lunch Bytes
The Visalia Chamber of Commerce and Torian Group Inc., present Lunch Bytes, a program designed to help busy professionals and small business owners keep up with the newest and most useful trends in technology.  Invest one hour, one day a month and make sure your business takes advantage of the latest productivity enhancing and cost saving tools available. 

Please RSVP by calling the Chamber 559-734-5876   Although there is no charge, there are a limited number of seats. Feel free to bring lunch.. Held at the Visalia Chamber of Commerce Board Room, 220 N. Santa Fe Ave.
 
Tim Torian is president of Torian Group, Inc. which provides a full range of Technology Consulting services to local businesses, including computer services, networking, web and custom software development. He has taught Networking at COS and Cal Poly Extension, and has over 25 years of experience in the IT industry. He is a Cisco and Microsoft Certified Network Engineer.