Loquient Tech Source

iPhone 4s Review

Craig Armstrong — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 00:42:24 +0000

Ok, you’ve seen the ads and are mesmerized by the power of Siri, Apple’s latest addition to the iPhone 4s. On the commercial, the iPhone owner easily asks for directions, phone numbers, and assistance receiving immediate responses from the cloud-based, voice-activated system.

But, does the Siri service live up to the hype?

Not exactly, our personal experience at Loquient Tech Source with this technology has been less than stellar. Siri is often busy and cannot respond at all to requests or doesn’t understand the commands given. Although this product is still in Beta, it does have some very unique features that when perfected will be invaluable to iPhone users.

The previous phone-based voice command system on the iPhone 3 and 4 that allows you to find and dial phone numbers from your contact list works much better than the Siri service. The iPhone usually can pick the correct contact to dial and responds quickly.

Bottom line, if you are considering upgrading your iPhone 4s to take advantage of the Siri service, you might consider waiting until this product is out of beta. You might find yourself turning Siri off and using the phone-based voice command system instead.

Worth the upgrade? Definitely not yet.

7 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Surfing the Web

Craig Armstrong — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:38:29 +0000

From Consomer Reports

1. Assuming your security software
is protecting you

Security software is fully effective only when activated and frequently updated. (Most products can update automatically.) To update most commercial software products, you must pay an annual fee. Last fall, the National Cyber Security Alliance and the software maker McAfee found that nearly half the users polled who thought their software was protecting them hadn’t updated it regularly. Software bundled with a new computer requires special attention because its subscription may expire within weeks.

What you can do: Renew the subscription when the software prompts you. Make sure your security software is active when you’re online and that it has been updated within the past week or so. (Most products will display that information.) If it wasn’t updated recently, verify that its automatic updating feature is enabled. If it isn’t, that’s the problem; enable it, then update manually. If you can’t, your subscription has probably expired. Renew it or call the software maker. If you can update only manually, automatic updating might not be working. Call the software company’s support line for help.

2. Accessing an account through an e-mail link

No matter how official an e-mail message looks, trying to access a financial account by clicking on embedded Web links is risky. If the e-mail message is fraudulent, a cybercriminal could use the account number and password you enter to steal your identity or empty your bank account.

What you can do: If an e-mail message asks you to update your password, account number, or other information, don’t take the bait. Access an online account only by using your existing browser bookmark or typing in the institution’s Web address. If you suspect that an e-mail is a phishing attempt, forward it to spam@uce.gov and reportphishing@antiphishing.org.

3. Using a single password for all online accounts

Nine percent of home Internet users who responded to our State of the Net survey said they used a single password for all their accounts. That practice lets someone who gets your password and steals your identity easily access all your accounts.

What you can do:

Using different passwords need not be burdensome. Do what 15 percent of the respondents to our survey do: Use variations on one password. A well-crafted password uses a combination of at least eight letters, numbers, or punctuation symbols. For convenience, you can use a fingerprint reader to store passwords for sites you go to often. For more on secure passwords, go to How to tame the password tangle.

4. Downloading free software

You couldn’t resist that neat, free utility. Or your teenager couldn’t resist those fish-tank screen savers and smiley faces. Now your computer runs more slowly than ever. That’s because spyware was probably packaged with the freebies.

What you can do:

Download freeware only from reputable sites such as SnapFiles.com and Download.com. Tell your kids that free software is often anything but. Eliminate most spyware by downloading the free Microsoft Windows Defender and scanning your PC. If you use Windows Vista, there should already be a copy of Defender on your computer.

5. Thinking your Mac shields you from all risks

According to this year’s State of the Net survey, Mac users fall prey to phishing scams at about the same rate as Windows users, yet far fewer of them protect themselves with an anti-phishing toolbar. To make matters worse, the browser of choice for most Mac users, Apple’s Safari, has no phishing protection. We think it should.

What you can do:

Until Apple beefs up Safari, use a browser with phishing protection, such as the latest version of Firefox (shown at right) or Opera. Also try a free anti-phishing toolbar such as McAfee Site Advisor or FirePhish.

6. Clicking on a pop-up ad that says your PC is insecure

Fifteen percent of respondents to our survey who saw pop-up ads clicked on them. But that’s never a good idea. Even if you know such pop-ups are phonies, they’re still dangerous. It’s easy to click inside the ad by mistake and be transferred to a spyware site or, worse, have malware automatically downloaded onto your computer. Our survey showed that 13 percent of respondents who saw such a pop-up tried to close it but launched it instead; 3 percent clicked on a pop-up and got a malware infection.

What you can do:

When closing a pop-up (shown at left), carefully click on the X on the upper left or right corner, not within the window. To avoid pop-ups altogether, enable your browser’s pop-up blocker or use a free add-on blocker such as Google Toolbar.

7. Shopping online the same way you do in stores

Online shopping requires special precautions because the risks are different than in a walk-in store: You can’t always be sure who you’re doing business with. You must disclose more personal information, such as your address, to the online retailer. Thieves can sneak in undetected between you and the retail site.

What you can do:

Use a separate credit card just for your Internet shopping, as did 7 percent of respondents to our survey. Don’t use a debit card. Sites that display “https” before their address when you’re entering sensitive information and those displaying certification symbols from TRUSTe and other organizations are usually safe, but there are no guarantees. When in doubt, get a virtual account number from your credit-card company. It’s good for only one purchase from a specific vendor.

Determining Cloud Solutions Costs

Craig Armstrong — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:25:49 +0000

Cloud solutions have been a life saver for many smaller companies wanting to save money on overall IT infrastructure costs. The ability to host Exchange email and collaboration services off-site with maintenance provided for a low monthly fee is a great way to increase functionality and reduce costs.

But, can your IT company do the math? The low introductory rates of 10-25 dollars per month per user for hosted Exchange services sounds too good to be true, and in some cases it might be! The low introductory rates are often associated with small inbox sizes, usually less than one gigabyte. For instance, if your company has been in business for over five years and if you have never cleaned out your inbox, you could easily have an Exchange mailbox size of over 15 gigabytes. This is 15 times larger than the introductory rate. A hosted Exchange user mailbox with 15 gigabytes in size can range in price from 50-500 dollars per month depending on your choice of email providers.

So let’s check the math.

The Offer

Five users at the introductory rate of fifteen dollars per month per hosted Exchange mailbox. This assumes all users have a mailbox that is less than one gigabyte in size.

5×15 = 75 dollars per month or 900 dollars per year.

The Reality

Five users at the rate of seventy-five dollars per month per hosted Exchange mailbox. Users have mailboxes that are over 10 gigabytes in size.

5X75 = 375 dollars per month or 4500 per year.

There could be extra costs associated with overages. For instance, if you buy the 75 dollar plan and a user goes over 10 gigabytes of data, you might be charged as much as 125 dollars per month per user for any overages.

Your Exchange cloud provider can also recommend strategies for archiving your email; however, if you ever need to reference older email, you would need access to the computer where the archive is stored. This can be very inconvenient.

There are other factors involved including Internet provider charges, server costs, and maintenance plans. These would all need to be calculated before making the decision to place Exchange services in the Cloud.

Let Loquient Tech Source help you decide which Cloud provider and strategy best meet your needs. We can eliminate any potential for costly overage fees or Cloud strategies that would cost more than implementing systems locally.

iPhone vs Droid

Craig Armstrong — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:20:46 +0000

When it comes to smartphones, there are a million mind-numbing choices. So which one is the best when it comes to iPhone vs Droid? Not always an easy answer, but we do have some recommendations.

At Loquient Tech Source, we have been successfully matching technology and customers together since 1994. We have learned a great deal over the decades and want to share what you should know before buying a device.

Functional vs. Fiddly

If you are like most, you just want things to work. No one really enjoys spending hours trying to configure a device to work properly with Exchange or other email providers. I also don’t enjoy reconnecting my device with a service over and over again, just to fix synchronization problems.

On the whole, once an iPhone is successfully connected with Exchange or a hosted email provider, the synchronization stays. Unfortunately, this is not the same experience with Android or Droid based smartphone devices. You can Google the search term “Droid Sync Issues” and will find over a million results. Our experience has been when synchronization fails on a Droid or Android, the repair usually involves deleting the email sync account and re-establishing. Although this fixes the issue, it is extremely annoying. So in this category of iPhone vs Droid, the iPhone wins.

Total Flexibility vs. Constraints

Android and Droid phones do have a great deal of flexibility. You can flash your device with different versions of the Droid or Android operating system, configure almost every detail of the user experience, and find way to customize the home screen with add-in applications. The iPhone, while flashable with jailbreak versions of the operating system, is a bit less flexible. You void the warranty on your iPhone device if you flash using jailbreak applications. From our experience, it is best to stay with the OS provided by Apple unless you are an advanced user. For total flexibility in the iPhone vs Droid debate, the Droid wins.

I Want it Now vs. I Can Wait

Still waiting for Netflix on your Android or Droid device? You might be waiting a while. The bottom line, most companies develop for the iPhone platform first. You also see many upgraded features and interfaces for the iPhone before Droid or Android. If you have to have it now, the iPhone is your best bet. In this category of latest and greatest for iPhone vs Droid, the iPhones have it.

Bottom line, we like the iPhone device and recommend to friends and family. The interface is consistent and easy to use. Most can use with little to no training. iPhones are best for smartphone newbies who want consistent service without a great deal of user intervention.

Computer Maintenance and Technology Support Plans

Craig Armstrong — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 13:01:51 +0000

Business owners can’t afford the hassle and loss of productivity associated with technology malfunctions or needed computer repairs. With our flexible maintenance and support plans designed for businesses large and small, technical support and assistance is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Technology Service and Computer Repair

Craig Armstrong — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 11:49:09 +0000

Loquient Tech Source is committed to providing exceptional computer repair and technology service. We believe that one of the most important things we can do for our clients is to relieve them from the chaos and vulnerability that results from technology systems that are failing, obsolete, ineffective, or just not able to keep up in today’s fast-paced technology environment.

Our computer repair and technology services offer well-managed, reliable information technology infrastructures that provide security and peace of mind. Loquient Tech Source engineers take a proactive approach in all of our technology services to seek and provide solutions that increase productivity and efficiency. Our engineers can effectively manage Internet connections, cabled and wireless systems, routers, protective firewalls, databases, email servers, office desktops, software applications and more.

The need for mobility has become vital in today’s work environment. Our computer repair and technology service will guide businesses and organizations that are interested in offering telecommuting, flexible schedules, and PDA cellular devices to enhance productivity and achieve continued growth.

Loquient Tech Source has several strategies for computer technology service and support to keep your business or organization connected and functioning like a well-oiled machine. To your benefit, Loquient Tech Source has established relationships with most mobile phone service providers and has partnered with a vast array of computer technology resources in order to provide our clients with the best technology service and products available.

Business owners, non-profit organizations and foundations cannot afford the loss of productivity or time that might result from technology malfunctions or the need for technology service. Loquient Tech Source offers flexible maintenance and support plans that are specifically designed for large and small operations. Computer repair and technology service with Loquient Tech Source is available anytime and anywhere. We are here to assist your computer needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Personal Computer Training

Craig Armstrong — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:42:08 +0000

Everyone using a computer or a new software package for the first time understands the need for personal computer training. Computer technology is changing every day, and today’s equipment and programs are feature-rich, powerful tools. But learning how to use technology can be intimidating. Loquient Tech Source is ready to assist you in gaining the knowledge and skills to be proficient in any computer program or project. From the simplest of procedures to creating and managing intricate databases, the staff at Loquient Tech Source has the knowledge to give you the best in personal computer training.

Finding time to attend computer training classes can be difficult with your busy schedule, and group classes may not cover the skills you most need to learn. Loquient Tech Source brings training to you at your home or office, and we customize instruction to your specific needs. We specialize in personal computer training and are eager to work with you.

Home Computer Technology Services

Craig Armstrong — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:39:15 +0000

Home computer technology services are crucial to linking all of your media, entertainment, and communication technology. Today’s technology offers exciting features that provide the convenience of linking components of your home technology together. Almost every home appliance offers some form of Internet connectivity that allows you to customize your experience and automate daily activities. Today you can even link your television as a computer screen with a touch monitor receiver.

But connecting these separate components into a well-tuned home technology system can be difficult and time-consuming. The certified home computer technology services engineers at Loquient Tech Source can connect all of your computers and appliances in a way that enhances the capabilities offered by each manufacturer.

From developing the most basic home computer technology plan to creating a home computer network system that will support a growing family, Loquient Tech Source has the knowledge and experience to address problems and offer solutions for all home computer technology. Our computer engineers are well-versed in all the electrical components and connections needed to support any system you desire to create throughout your home. You can rely on our professional expertise.

We can help you:

Install and stay connected to the Internet
Upgrade your environment with a home music system
Link your computer to television receiver
Install a home network
Link your computer with other technology

We also offer technology to share all your photos, videos and those much-loved, days-gone-by home movies you recently restored. We can even restore them for you.

At Loquient Tech Source, our priority is to eliminate your stress and worry over home computer technology problems. Our engineers will work to create managed and predictable information technology infrastructures and home computer systems that are well protected – even in today’s fast paced technology environment. Loquient Tech Source engineers take a proactive approach to providing home and office technology solutions by staying on top of the latest strategies and important trends in computer technology. Our engineers can effectively manage Internet connections, cabled and wireless systems, routers, protective firewalls, databases, email servers, office desktops, software applications and more.

The certified professionals at Loquient Tech Source offer our customers the best in home technology services. We believe in offering exceptional customer service that will both meet your needs and exceed your expectations for qualified home technology and computer support.

Call us today to learn more about how we can help you design, build, and maintain a home technology system tailored to your specific needs.

Personal Email Support

Craig Armstrong — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:34:53 +0000

Loquient Tech Source offers a qualified staff of professional engineers to meet and exceed our customers needs for personal email support. We understand that reliable access to personal email support can be just as important as more complicated computer support issues, and we give high priority to emergencies related to email access. In today’s fast-paced (and sometimes overwhelming) world of computer technology, everyone needs access to personal email at all times in order to stay connected. Loquient’s engineers are available and well-equipped to provide all aspects of establishing and maintaining personal email service and support.

Loquient’s certified engineers can also show you:

How to establish a home email account
How to access email at home or on the road
Insights on the latest computer technology and service
How to protect your computer and stay virus free

Should you need a one-time assist with an emergency or be interested in establishing an ongoing email support plan, Loquient Tech Source engineers are readily available 24 hours/7 days a week. Call us today to assist with your personal email support needs.

Wireless Network Support

Craig Armstrong — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:27:40 +0000

Do you need wireless network support? Loquient Tech Source is your best source to help build, maintain, and support your wireless network. We understand that the idea of setting up, securing, and maintaining a home network on your own is an overwhelming prospect. The qualified staff at Loquient Tech Source has the knowledge and experience to create wireless network solutions that will provide you with convenient, reliable, and secure access to the Internet, important documents, and printers from anywhere in your home.

At Loquient, we believe in exceeding your expectations for computer technology support and services. The highly qualified, certified home computer technology experts at Loquient Tech Source can offer you peace of mind with ongoing, always-available wireless network support.

Contact us today for a review of our wireless network support options and to learn more about all of Loquient’s home computer services. We recognize that you have many choices when it comes to wireless network support. Find out why Loquient Tech Source is your best option.