Comments for BizNewz.co.uk http://biznewz.co.uk Business News Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:07:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 Comment on Script - Ed Miliband’s speech to 2011 Labour Party Conference by Good business, Bad Business - Reactions to Ed Miliband’s speech to 2011 Labour Party Conference http://biznewz.co.uk/business_news/2011/651/script-ed-milibands-speech-to-2011-labour-party-conference/comment-page-1#comment-7356 Good business, Bad Business - Reactions to Ed Miliband’s speech to 2011 Labour Party Conference Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:24:59 +0000 http://biznewz.co.uk/?p=651#comment-7356 [...] on Ed Miliband’s speech at the2011 Labour conference, Miles Templeman, Director General of the Institute of Directors, said: We would like to know how [...] [...] on Ed Miliband’s speech at the2011 Labour conference, Miles Templeman, Director General of the Institute of Directors, said: We would like to know how [...]

]]> Comment on My Top Productivity Tools for Small Businesses by Nick http://biznewz.co.uk/business_news/2011/586/my-top-productivity-tools-for-small-businesses/comment-page-1#comment-6133 Nick Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:22:30 +0000 http://biznewz.co.uk/?p=586#comment-6133 I have never heard of echosign before, but I love the idea. What a great time-saver! I will put in my plug for both Hootsuite and Evernote, two programs I would rather not have to live without. They are so useful, and it all boils down to how much time do they save? If a program seems to help you organize your business and therefore your life, but you spend more time fiddling with it than the time it saves you, it is not useful at all. I have never heard of echosign before, but I love the idea. What a great time-saver! I will put in my plug for both Hootsuite and Evernote, two programs I would rather not have to live without. They are so useful, and it all boils down to how much time do they save? If a program seems to help you organize your business and therefore your life, but you spend more time fiddling with it than the time it saves you, it is not useful at all.

]]> Comment on Barclays Local Business responds to flood crisis by Barclays Extends Support Package to Some Businesses Whose Operations are Affected By Snow http://biznewz.co.uk/business_news/2009/312/barclays-local-business-responds-to-flood-crisis/comment-page-1#comment-3275 Barclays Extends Support Package to Some Businesses Whose Operations are Affected By Snow Fri, 10 Dec 2010 10:41:31 +0000 http://biznewz.co.uk/?p=312#comment-3275 [...] customers with our targeted package of support. “We’ve helped our customers like this before, particularly in the flooding in recent years, so we know that our customers sometimes need us to take that extra step to help when the weather [...] [...] customers with our targeted package of support. “We’ve helped our customers like this before, particularly in the flooding in recent years, so we know that our customers sometimes need us to take that extra step to help when the weather [...]

]]> Comment on Gordon Brown sets Labour leadership contest in motion by Kelly http://biznewz.co.uk/business_news/2010/431/gordon-brown-set-labour-leadership-contest-in-motion/comment-page-1#comment-2739 Kelly Mon, 10 May 2010 18:04:14 +0000 http://biznewz.co.uk/?p=431#comment-2739 I like the subtle jibe at Cameron "...no single party and no single leader was able to win the full support of the country. As leader of my party, I must accept that that is a judgement on me" [and Cameron should accept it as a judgement on him too] I like the subtle jibe at Cameron “…no single party and no single leader was able to win the full support of the country. As leader of my party, I must accept that that is a judgement on me” [and Cameron should accept it as a judgement on him too]

]]> Comment on Futuristic Intel Computer Chip Could Reshape How Computers are Built, Consumers Interact with Their PCs and Personal Devices by Josh http://biznewz.co.uk/business_news/2009/350/futuristic-intel-computer-chip-could-reshape-how-computers-are-built-consumers-interact-with-their-pcs-and-personal-devices/comment-page-1#comment-2725 Josh Sat, 08 May 2010 14:28:02 +0000 http://biznewz.co.uk/?p=350#comment-2725 Worth reading "The Problem with Threads" by Edward A. Lee: http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Pubs/TechRpts/2006/EECS-2006-1.pdf Worth reading “The Problem with Threads” by Edward A. Lee:

http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Pubs/TechRpts/2006/EECS-2006-1.pdf

]]> Comment on A Guide to Cutting Business Software Costs - OpenOffice by Scott Pashley http://biznewz.co.uk/business_news/2009/280/a-guide-to-cutting-business-software-costs-openoffice/comment-page-1#comment-1729 Scott Pashley Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:23:03 +0000 http://biznewz.co.uk/?p=280#comment-1729 OpenOffice integrates everything that it needs, in the case of Java, the installer will take care of anything extra required. .NET is not required for OpenOffice, and although Java has it's critics, the fact that it allows cross platform compatible software to be authored very easily means it's a technology chosen by programmers of software such as OpenOffice. Looking through the website that was linked to for SSuite, it seems that the software is only available for Windows. As far as I can tell, it's also closed source, which puts it at another disadvantage. At the end of the day, OpenOffice isn't perfect, but it runs (mostly) perfectly on all major platforms, conforms to International Standards for document formats and is Open Source. OpenOffice integrates everything that it needs, in the case of Java, the installer will take care of anything extra required. .NET is not required for OpenOffice, and although Java has it’s critics, the fact that it allows cross platform compatible software to be authored very easily means it’s a technology chosen by programmers of software such as OpenOffice.

Looking through the website that was linked to for SSuite, it seems that the software is only available for Windows. As far as I can tell, it’s also closed source, which puts it at another disadvantage.

At the end of the day, OpenOffice isn’t perfect, but it runs (mostly) perfectly on all major platforms, conforms to International Standards for document formats and is Open Source.

]]> Comment on What is Google Wave? by Sonny Williamson http://biznewz.co.uk/business_news/2009/273/what-is-google-wave/comment-page-1#comment-1719 Sonny Williamson Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:25:46 +0000 http://biznewz.co.uk/?p=273#comment-1719 Well, I hate email these days. It's antiquated and clumsy. It's evolution has been long overdue and when I saw the Wave introduction I punched the air - at last! People don't seem to know what it does but I just tell them "it's the next version of email" and say that it's a bit like incorporating IM, FaceBook and documents into a real-time next-generation email. This should be something they focus on really, incorporating emails so people have a smooth transition - as soon as sending something to someone's hotmail inbox can be routed to a wave and vice versa nothing can stop it. In the meantime, I sincerely hope it takes off. There have been plenty of times when emailing since I found about it when I thought "this would be so much easier as a Wave". I'm spreading the word anyway. People were cynical luddites when email was introduced too - it took decades before your granny got one. Anyhoo, add me bitches! sonnywilliamson@googlewave.com Well, I hate email these days. It’s antiquated and clumsy. It’s evolution has been long overdue and when I saw the Wave introduction I punched the air - at last!

People don’t seem to know what it does but I just tell them “it’s the next version of email” and say that it’s a bit like incorporating IM, FaceBook and documents into a real-time next-generation email. This should be something they focus on really, incorporating emails so people have a smooth transition - as soon as sending something to someone’s hotmail inbox can be routed to a wave and vice versa nothing can stop it.

In the meantime, I sincerely hope it takes off. There have been plenty of times when emailing since I found about it when I thought “this would be so much easier as a Wave”. I’m spreading the word anyway. People were cynical luddites when email was introduced too - it took decades before your granny got one.

Anyhoo, add me bitches!

sonnywilliamson@googlewave.com

]]> Comment on A Guide to Cutting Business Software Costs - OpenOffice by John Walker http://biznewz.co.uk/business_news/2009/280/a-guide-to-cutting-business-software-costs-openoffice/comment-page-1#comment-1715 John Walker Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:49:02 +0000 http://biznewz.co.uk/?p=280#comment-1715 I have never used SSuite Office so cannot comment upon it. I am always weary of pointing people to software that I am not aware of - you do not know what nasty things it may contain inside. But, that is not to say that it is inherently bad. So I should mention a few things I tend to do before I just go ahead and download, install and run software from the net. == Download via a reputable channel as opposed to directly from publishers sites == Download.com, for example, tend to be a highly reputable download source and run more virus tests on potential software than i have time to do myself e.g. visit http://download.cnet.com and search for: * "OpenOffice.org" or * "SSuite Office" == Check Vulnerability Databases == secunia.com is a place where security experts share information about vulnerabilities in software. It is handy to check these kinds of databases against the software (and version) that you are running to keep up to date with any issues as they arise. Bear in mind that: When comparing software, the "total number of vulnerabilities" is not a metric that necessarily translates directly to "how secure the software is". For example, the "number of vulnerabilities that are fixed promptly" may indicate a better software project than one that has fewer vulnerabilities listed. Naturally, the 'version name' of the software is important. Good software publishers tend to fix vulnerabilities in later versions of the software. So, its less of a worry if you are running version 5 of some software and you read about a vulnerability that was discovered in, say, version 3, then fixed in version 4. As version 5 is later than 4, you can be pretty certain that 'the fix' was inherited by that later version. Here are some example searches: * http://secunia.com/advisories/search/?search=OpenOffice * http://secunia.com/advisories/search/?search=SSuite+Office * http://secunia.com/advisories/search/?search=Microsoft+Office ---- Just thought i'd mention it. I have never used SSuite Office so cannot comment upon it.

I am always weary of pointing people to software that I am not aware of - you do not know what nasty things it may contain inside. But, that is not to say that it is inherently bad.

So I should mention a few things I tend to do before I just go ahead and download, install and run software from the net.

== Download via a reputable channel as opposed to directly from publishers sites ==
Download.com, for example, tend to be a highly reputable download source and run more virus tests on potential software than i have time to do myself
e.g. visit
http://download.cnet.com and search for:
* “OpenOffice.org”
or
* “SSuite Office”

== Check Vulnerability Databases ==

secunia.com is a place where security experts share information about vulnerabilities in software. It is handy to check these kinds of databases against the software (and version) that you are running to keep up to date with any issues as they arise.

Bear in mind that:
When comparing software, the “total number of vulnerabilities” is not a metric that necessarily translates directly to “how secure the software is”. For example, the “number of vulnerabilities that are fixed promptly” may indicate a better software project than one that has fewer vulnerabilities listed.

Naturally, the ‘version name’ of the software is important. Good software publishers tend to fix vulnerabilities in later versions of the software. So, its less of a worry if you are running version 5 of some software and you read about a vulnerability that was discovered in, say, version 3, then fixed in version 4. As version 5 is later than 4, you can be pretty certain that ‘the fix’ was inherited by that later version.

Here are some example searches:
* http://secunia.com/advisories/search/?search=OpenOffice
* http://secunia.com/advisories/search/?search=SSuite+Office
* http://secunia.com/advisories/search/?search=Microsoft+Office

—-
Just thought i’d mention it.

]]> Comment on A Guide to Cutting Business Software Costs - OpenOffice by BeBob Esq http://biznewz.co.uk/business_news/2009/280/a-guide-to-cutting-business-software-costs-openoffice/comment-page-1#comment-1713 BeBob Esq Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:03:56 +0000 http://biznewz.co.uk/?p=280#comment-1713 I personally tend to favour SSuite Office’s free office suites. Their software also don’t need to run on Java or .NET, like so many open source office suites, so it makes their software very small and efficient. http://www.ssuitesoft.com I personally tend to favour SSuite Office’s free office suites. Their software also don’t need to run on Java or .NET, like so many open source office suites, so it makes their software very small and efficient.

http://www.ssuitesoft.com

]]> Comment on What is Google Wave? by John Walker http://biznewz.co.uk/business_news/2009/273/what-is-google-wave/comment-page-1#comment-1710 John Walker Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:01:43 +0000 http://biznewz.co.uk/?p=273#comment-1710 Yes - people do not like change. So, there is likely to be a some reasonable degree of latency between launch and take-up by the critical-masses. In some ways, however, the change is relatively minor. Many of us are quite used to doing the things that Wave enables us to to do; organising events on facebook, sharing photos, commenting on blogs, instant messaging, etc. But, these tend to be isolated services on 'propriety-like' systems. Wave gives anyone the tools to design their own system to group these features in one place and a protocol to share the content between systems. Without the published protocol this might be like any other service and Google would have a job convincing everyone to 'move over' to them. Instead Google has, in effect, provided the means to move Wave into the old systems. Therefore, people won't really need to change their ways much in order to benefit. On the issue of "hyped pick me, pick me!" Yes it comes across as slightly elitist. But they really just want to ensure that it doesn't get too big, too fast. Yes - people do not like change. So, there is likely to be a some reasonable degree of latency between launch and take-up by the critical-masses.

In some ways, however, the change is relatively minor. Many of us are quite used to doing the things that Wave enables us to to do; organising events on facebook, sharing photos, commenting on blogs, instant messaging, etc.

But, these tend to be isolated services on ‘propriety-like’ systems. Wave gives anyone the tools to design their own system to group these features in one place and a protocol to share the content between systems. Without the published protocol this might be like any other service and Google would have a job convincing everyone to ‘move over’ to them.

Instead Google has, in effect, provided the means to move Wave into the old systems. Therefore, people won’t really need to change their ways much in order to benefit.

On the issue of “hyped pick me, pick me!” Yes it comes across as slightly elitist. But they really just want to ensure that it doesn’t get too big, too fast.

]]>