CIAOPS Podcast–Episode 31

Just uploaded the latest edition of the CIAOPS Need to Know podcast. In this episode I speak with Michael Jenkin about the value of community and the benefits of volunteering.

 

Michael speaks across his involvement as a Microsoft MVP, being involved with the Australian Scout Jamboree and his involvement with GITCA. Michael really highlights the benefits that come from giving, not only personally but also professionally.

 

Listen to this episode at:

 

http://ciaops.podbean.com/2012/06/26/episode-31-michael-jenkin/

 

A good place to start volunteering and giving back to the community might be to appear on an episode of the CIAOPS Need to Know podcast. It is simple, painless and can maybe help others with business and technology challenges. If you are at all interested in appearing please do not hesitate to contact me (director@ciaops.com) to discuss getting involved.

 

I also always appreciate feedback on the episode which you can do directly on the Need to Know podcast site or via the email address above.

 

Once again, a big thanks to Michael for once again giving back.

Windows Phone 8

 

Microsoft has provided details of Windows Phone 8 due out soon. Here’s a video of some of the new features (some of which will be available to Windows Phone 7 users via an update I believe).

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25DKXGKblOw

 

A good summary can be found at:

 

http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2012/06/the-new-features-coming-to-windows-phone-8/

 

So if you are looking for a Windows Phone then perhaps it maybe worth a wait until the new models become available (September-October is the rumoured date). Downside is that existing Windows Phone 7 devices typically can’t be upgraded to Windows Phone 8 (nothing surprising there) but will receive a number of updates to improve the experience.

 

Even though Windows Phone has taken a knock with falling revenues with Nokia I still reckon Windows Phone is better than most out there in the market. Being as late to the game as Microsoft is with Windows Phone makes it an enormous mountain to climb. However, more competition and choice is only going to benefit customers on the long run. So I’m still saying that you shouldn’t write off Windows Phone just yet but it will certainly have to kick some major goals soon and perhaps with Windows 8 Phone it will?

Getting Started with SharePoint Small Business–The Video

As a companion to my recently released ‘Getting Started with SharePoint Online for Small Business’ I have created a video covering the same (and some more) material. You can find it at:

 

New formats for CIAOPS eBook

I’ve just completed adding some new formats for my recent eBook “Getting Started with SharePoint Online for Enterprises”. Apart from PDF you’ll now find that title available in both ePub and Kindle format for the same price.

 

Given that success, I am going to start working back through my previous titles and also convert these so stay tuned.

 

The best location for all my works, free and paid, is http://www.ciaops.com/downloads/

 

Look out for a new title on Lync very soon!

Desktop to Cloud User Group

Following on from the very successful Desktop to Cloud event recently in North Ryde, I am happy to announce the commencement of the Desktop to Cloud User Group that will meet once a month in North Sydney.

 

The idea is to have a regular forum where we can continue our discussions and discoveries around the latest in desktop and cloud technologies. The group is open to anyone, whether you are an end user, and IT Professional or a business owner looking for more information about the direction of technology. In the meetings you’ll hear from many experts and you’ll also get the opportunity to network with them.

 

Here are the details:

 

Date: Last Wednesday of every month commencing 27th June 2012

Location: Stanton Library, 234 Miller St, North Sydney NSW 2060

Time: 6.15pm – 8.15pm

Cost: gold coin donation is appreciated

Registration: http://d2cug.eventbrite.com.au/ or http://www.meetup.com/desktop2cloud/

 

I’ll use http://www.desktoptocloud.com.au/ as the main landing place for information about the user group and the Desktop to Cloud event.

 

Hope to see you there.

Downloading is dead

It is fast becoming apparent that the concept of ‘downloading’ is a thing of the past. This video from Hungry Beast gives you the reasons why.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv26FQR8_bE

This set of circumstances has been reinforced by two recent services. The first is Spotify which has finally made its ways to Australia. It basically allows your to stream music directly from the Internet no matter where you are.
Not only can you access millions of tunes you can now access these on just about any device that is connected to the Internet including PC, MAC, iPhones, iPad, etc. There is even an option to store some of the music locally to take with you when you don’t have access to the Internet. Best of all you can start using the service for free! Upgrades provide more features but again access to millions of tunes for free that you don’t have to download – Brilliant!

I’ve talked before about how I have been a member of a DVD video rental library for a while now. The idea is that you pay so much per month and they keep sending you DVDs in the mail. You simply watch and return them. This model has fast become out dated and businesses like NetFlix in the US are providing streaming of movies directly to devices.

Such streaming services were unavailable to Australia until just recently. Quickflix (of which I am a member) has now released an app for idevices that allows you to stream movies and TV shows directly. The choices, I admit, are somewhat limited but they are growing rapidly. In the couple of days since I have had the service I have already watched a few movies. It is just so convenient.

At this stage I would still like to get the content from Quickflix onto my aging TV rather than on the small screen of my iPad. I know that I can do so from the iPad but what I am really after is the ability for streaming Quickflix content to be delivered to my TV via my XBox which is always connected to the TV. The good news is that service is coming soon, not soon enough if you ask me, but in the meantime I can still stream movies to my iPad, PC or MAC, so I’ll survive.

With Spotify and now Quickflix streaming we are again seeing a shift in the technology landscape. Sure you’ll need faster broadband connections and bigger download limits but I can’t see these actually getting smaller can you? I think that the concept of download limits here in Australia will disappear as it has in the US. The ability to access a service anywhere, anytime and immediately is certainly here to stay thanks to services like Spotify and Quickflix.

CIAOPS Podcast–Episode 30

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Since the last podcast with Alan Burchill the number of downloads for my podcast has skyrocketed to almost 1,800 this month and the month isn’t even over yet! Amazing. Who would have ever though? Hopefully those numbers will continue with the addition of the latest episode.

 

In Episode 30 I speak with German Office 365 MVP Kerstin Rachfahl about the challenges of Office 365 in Germany as well as the benefits of SharePoint Online for customers. You can access the latest episode via:

 

http://ciaops.podbean.com/2012/05/22/episode-30-kerstin-rachfahl/

 

To access all the episodes and subscribe via your favourite service, including iTunes, visit:

 

http://ciaops.podbean.com

 

I am always looking for guest to appear or suggestions for topics would be interested in hearing about, so don’t be shy, drop me an email and let me know (director@ciaops.com).

Getting Started with SharePoint Online for Enterprise

I have now completed another new e-Book called ‘Getting Started with SharePoint Online for Enterprises’. The cost is again only USD $1.99 and it contains over 40 pages of step by step tutorials, with screen shots, on using the SharePoint Team Site that comes with Office 365 Enterprise plans (E SKUs). This makes it a perfect document to either use if you are new to SharePoint Online or if you have customers looking to understand what SharePoint can do in Office 365.

 

This means you can select from two Getting Started with SharePoint Online for Office 365 eBooks:

 

For Enterprises (E SKUs)

 

and

 

For Professionals and Small Business (P SKU)

 

Even though SharePoint Online is very similar between the two offerings there are enough differences to make it confusing and therefore the need for two separate books in my opinion. Both cover the same information, however things such as the look and feel and what SharePoint components are available by default vary between the plans. So select the eBook that matches you plan if you want to get the most from it.

 

You’ll find this new e-Book along with other publications I have including:

 

SharePoint Foundation Master Class: Search Server Express on SBS 2011 Standard

Windows SharePoint Master Class:Tutorials

Getting started with Companyweb 2010

 

and more at:

 

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/ciaops?cid=cms_email_author_spotlight_confirmation

 

My next eBook project will most likely be a set of tutorial around using SharePoint Online for each plan. If you have any suggestion for what sort of information you’d like to see in an upcoming eBook on Office 365 or SharePoint Online please contact me (director@ciaops.com).