When Thinkmatter CEO Darren Thompson packed his bags and headed to Mexico for 6 weeks — he left behind his desk, his car and minus-forty-degree Canadian winter days.   What he didn’t leave behind was his computer work station — the proverbial brain of the operation.

Thompson is just one of the many new breed of entrepreneurs who, through the use of technology, can be just as effective and productive sitting beach side in Mexico as he can be in his actual office.   With the growing popularity of cloud computing and the advancement in remote-control applications, a user can be 10,000 miles away from his desk and still work on his home-base computer via any web browser.

“In the past, I would literally cart an entire suitcase of electronics and files with me,” says Thompson.  ”Now, between my iPhone and my ultra-lite laptop, I can pull up a spread sheet, edit a graphic or run a program from anywhere in the world — as long as I have an Internet connection.”

Thanks to new technology from companies like GoToMyPC,more and more entrepreneurs are combining their driven schedules and ambition with a lifestyle many can only dream about.   As more and more countries develop reliable high-speed Internet, users are able to access their office or home computer via a web browser.

“It’s almost spooky how I can log in to my own computer, which is sitting on my desk thousands of miles away.  I can open Photoshop — makes changes to a new graphic my team submitted – and then update it, exactly as if I was sitting there in the office.”

Using military grade encryption and a password system, GoToMyPC users can login to their systems from any browser.   The program syncs with the host computer, and allows the user to use the mouse and keyboard from their current location to do anything on their computer that they would be able to do if they were sitting right in front of it.

New advances have streamlined the process even more with applications for the iPhone and iPad.   Thompson, a chronic tech junkie was quick to embrace the new apps.  ”I can be lying in my hotel bed at night with my iPad and and go over a spread sheet on my computer without having any software installed on my iPad, other than the GoToMyPC software.”  Thompson sits back in his chair and takes a sip of his Corona beer.   ”I’m sitting here in paradise,” he says, “and yet I’m getting as much done, if not more than I would be if I was freezing my ass off, back in Canada.  What more needs to be said?”

To Learn more about GoToMyPC click here. They are offering a free trial test run to Ziphi users for a limited time.

GoToMyPc is just one of the many new programs allowing people to stay connected to their technology.  In part two of this series, we will talk about the new virtual meeting applications that allow users to have a real-time meeting anywhere in the world with only their webcams and an Internet connection.

HP Announces New Magic Canvas Software for Omni 27, and ALL New Desktop Models

HP has announced that their redesigned Magic Canvas software – previously called TouchSmart – will be featured in the upcoming HP Omni 27 all-in one PC.  Even better, it went on to state that all new desktops will now include the Magic Canvas UI including some previously announced but as yet unreleased models.

The redesigned UI retains popular features that are reminiscent of tablet interfaces. There will be virtually unlimited home screens and widgets that can be placed anywhere a user chooses. Multiple documents can remain open on different home screens and you can stick notes anywhere you wish. The main new feature is the ability to access and launch windows programs without leaving the Magic Canvas interface. Although HP has acquired Palm and its highly praised Web OS there seems to be no integration of features specific to Web OS.

During the first quarter of 2012, the company will be rolling out several new PCs and monitors that will be targeted to different segments of the market. There will be devices that are targeted to home users as well as the business community and gamers. The Magic Canvas UI will extend to all those new desktops and not be restricted to touch-screen models.

 Two New HP PCs This Week

This week sees the arrival of two PCs; The non-touch Omni 27 and the Pavilion HPE h9 Phoenix, which is aimed at gamers. The Omni 27 will be the first non touch model to feature the redesigned UI and will cost a reasonable $1199.99. For that price, you get the following specs:

• 27-inch      1080p LED-backlit display (edge-to-edge glass on the screen)
• 2.5GHz      Sandy Bridge Core i5-2400S processor
• 6GB      of RAM
• USB      3.0 ( 2 ports )
• HDMI      input.
• TV      tuner and  Blu-ray drive (optional)
• Beats      Audio

The graphics will be integrated. Some reviewers who have used the device complained that the screen resolution, though 1080p, is not of the highest quality. At its current price, though, that may well be an acceptable trade-off for many users.

Here is what you will get with the Pavilion HPE h9 Phoenix:

• 8-core AMD FX-8100      processor
• 8GB of RAM
• 160GB SSD
• Radeon 7670 GPU (1 GB      VRAM)

If you are not an AMD lover there will be an Intel-friendly motherboard available with a few different processor options — including the Core  i7-3960X. Liquid cooling will be an option for those who want it, and users will also be able to opt for a secondary hard drive.

Three monitors aimed at business users were also announced. The Compaq L2311c will feature a 23 inch display and a built in port replicator. It will connect to Laptops via USB 2.0 and 3.0 as well as traditional VGA. The L2311c will cost $319 and also features a webcam. The power chord will charge an HP laptop. The Compaq L2311c will be available in February.  The more affordable LV1911 and LV2011 monitors will be available in March. Both monitors will be LED-Backlit and will cost $125 and $135, respectively.

Microsoft Flight Goes Freemium, This Spring

“A free flight over Hawaii’s Big Island… Sign me up!!”

That’s the reaction Microsoft is hoping for as they launch their latest flight simulation game, Microsoft Flight, sometime this spring.

There are gamers.   Then there are extreme gamers.  Then, there are those gamers who just love to fly!  The flight sim players are a small but dedicated group with almost unmatched commitment to their passion of simulated flight.
However, even their unparalleled passion still seems to lack enough luster to keep the bills paid… thus the lay off of Microsoft’s entire Flight Simulator team in 2009.

Looking for a fresh start, and for a whole new legion of flying virgins (with big wallets), Microsoft is trying something different  to lure in new players.  Their latest game, Flight, is being billed as a “freemium” game – but many are questioning whether it shouldn’t really be labeled as a “demo.”

Freemium…Premium…or Demo?

Microsoft Flight will be free to play – however, it’s only free if you want to fly over the Big Island of Hawaii!   Sure the flight over the Volcano Island is sure to be intoxicating… but, soon you are sure to want to expand your horizons and soar to other destinations… and that’s where Microsoft is banking you’ll fork over some dough… turning Freemium into Premium!

The concept itself is really quite smart.   Just check your shopping cart when you are at the grocery store on a Saturday.   How many extra items did you come home with because you tried the FREE sample, and liked it so much you bought a whole box?  It seems the problem has never been getting people hooked, it’s getting people to play to begin.    And what better way to get people to try and with a free sample!

Time will tell just how the game will be embraced by Flight Simulator’s current fans.  It seems there are already rumblings among the dedicated that this latest version is little more a minor upgrade – and numerous complaints about Microsoft slapping a freemium label on such a limited version of the game.     However, this concept should help build the user base.  After all, people love free stuff – even if it’s just a teaspoon of ice-cream in a tiny paper cup at the grocery store, or a short flight over Hawaii.

RealPlayer Helps You Manage Your Media With Ease

These days, entertainment is found online.  So the question is – how do you manage it, share it, or move it from one device to another?

The answer is the newest version of RealPlayer – an improved, impressive tool for downloading, playing and managing all your media files.  If you’re looking for one media player that can handle all file formats and all your devices, RealPlayer is it.  With RealPlayer you can download video with the click of a button, transfer it to your smart phone with equal ease, share with your friends on Facebook and Twitter, and do it all for free.

That’s right – the basic RealPlayer is still a free download.  But, that said, there are lots of other reasons why you’ll want to use it.  This enhanced version of the popular software is a smart, feature-filled player that truly addresses the wants and needs of consumers who use a number of mobile devices as well as a PC.  It’s compatible with everything from iOS and Android to Blackberry – and allows you to transfer media from your device to your computer as easily as doing it the other way around.

In fact, words like “ease” and “simplicity” come to mind often, when describing this latest version of RealPlayer.  The UI is slick and intuitive, and many tasks are accomplished with a simple button click or two.  For example, if you’re watching a video online, and decide that you’d like to add it to your collection, simply hover your curser over the video until the RealPlayer control appears.  Simply click on the button that says “Download This Video,” and it’s done!  It is that easy to create a library of your favourite Internet videos that are available for you to view even when you’re not online.

Managing your library of media files is another RealPlayer advantage.  The “Simple Video Editing” feature makes it easy to trim your video – because sometimes all you want is the one funny scene from that thirty-minute show.  Converting files to different formats is accomplished in a few easy clicks, making it no problem to put your favourite videos on your phone, your iPod, or your Xbox.  You can even convert video to MP3 in just a few steps.  Really, if you had to choose one feature that places RealPlayer above other media players, it would be this impressively enhanced mobile capability.

Or…maybe…it would be the universal playback feature.  You won’t have to spend any time worrying about what player works with what format.  RealPlayer plays them all, making it the only media player you need.  Given that – there’s only one question left:  Which version of the new RealPlayer should you go with?

Which Version of RealPlayer Should You Choose?

RealPlayer’s basic version is a free download – but you also have the option of RealPlayer Plus 15, with a number of premium features, including three-times-speedier download, the ability to transfer video to your smart phone 100% faster, the option to burn high definition video to DVD, and professional-quality CD burning.  All of this and more is yours for a moderate price – RealPlayer Plus 15 is now only $39.99 (that’s $10 off the regular download price).

The world’s most popular media player really is better than ever before – and well-worth checking out.  They’ve logged two billion free downloads in the past ten years – why not make it two billion and one?  Get the latest version of RealPlayer today, at www.real.com.

Work From Your iPhone, iPad, or Android Tablet, With “GoToMyPC”

Citrix Online recently announced an addition to its growing line of telecommuting tools with the availability of its popular “GoToMyPC” remote access software for Android tablets.  That gives you one more option in an increasingly long list of ways to stay connected to your computer, no matter where you may be.

Whether you have an iPhone, iPad, laptop, or now, Android tablet, GoToMyPC lets you access your base computer with all its files, programs, and network connections.  You can be anywhere in the world and, as long as you have a device with an Internet connection, it’s as though you were sitting at your own desk.  GoToMyPC lets you run work programs that you don’t have on your home PC.  It makes it simple to grab a file that you forgot at the office.  You have access to everything that you need – every place you might need it.  And it gives you that access in a way that’s much simpler than duplicating files, or copying everything on an easy-to-lose thumb drive.

GoToMyPC is the Easy Solution

To get started, simply download the program to your base computer from www.GoToMyPC.com.  The installation is automatic and the program configures itself, with no restart required.  Once the install is done, leave your base computer on and connected to the Internet.  Then, log in to the website from another computer or device. You don’t need to install the program again – all you have to do is click on the connect button and, like magic, the desktop of your base computer will appear in front of you.  From that point forward, all you have to do is leave your base computer on and connected to the internet, and you’ll be able to access it from wherever you are.

You’ll enjoy a host of convenient features with GoToMyPC, including remote printing, the ability to cut, copy, and paste between computers, and easy file transfer from one desktop to another.  Keyboard locking and screen blanking prevents others from using or viewing your computer while you are remotely connected.  But if you’d like to have someone temporarily view or share control of your computer from another location, simply click on the button that says “Invite Guest to PC.”  Think of the possibilities – you can show a power-point presentation to a client in London while you’re in Toronto and your base computer is in Los Angeles.

Office managers can take advantage of corporate settings to manage multiple users with varying degrees of access to specific features and other security settings.  Speaking of security, all data travelling between your base computer and your remote access device is protected with 128-bit AES encryption, and account access is protected by dual passwords and end-to-end user authentication.  You can work with confidence, knowing your information is safe.  And – despite the “PC” part of the name – it doesn’t matter whether you work on a Mac or Windows PC.  In fact, feel free to mix it up, using a PC to log into a Mac desktop or vice versa.

Citrix offers a variety of subscription packages for GoToMyPC, depending upon your needs.  Every package includes unlimited remote access, free software upgrades, and 24/7 global customer support.  Check out the options at www.GoToMyPC.com.  You’ll never be tied to your desktop computer again!

Clean and Organize Your iTunes Library With “Rinse”

If your iTunes library is starting to look like the virtual version of CDs scattered all over the floor, clean it up with “Rinse,” a software download that knows your music better than you do.

Rinse literally takes the majority of the work out of what can be a daunting task.  It doesn’t matter how much music you have, how poorly categorized it is, or how much information you’re missing.  Rinse employs an intelligent database technology that is able to identify tracks even when the artist’s name is misspelled or the album details are incorrect.  Other organizing programs rely on you having all the correct information to begin with.  Not Rinse.  It will remove duplicates, repair mistakes, find album art, and sort out your music genres with impressive accuracy – even if you have a penchant for obscure tunes.

If it makes you nervous to have a program sort out your music and make changes automatically, don’t worry.  Rinse lets you be as hands-on as you like.  No matter what function you’re performing, you have the choice to click either “automatic” or “one by one” – which allows you to preview every revision prior to saving it.  That puts you in complete control – but once you see how efficient and accurate Rinse is, you’ll probably be willing to click on “automatic,” and let the program sort out your iTunes library while you take a nice nap.

How Rinse Works

So – how exactly does Rinse tidy your music?

1. It removes all duplicate songs in your collection.  You’re probably wasting some valuable storage space by having identical tracks on, say, an original album, a greatest hits collection, and maybe a compilation.  Rinse finds your duplicates, let’s you keep the one you want, and erases the rest.  Or, if you prefer, you can keep the extra versions of the song, but have them marked as being duplicates.
2. It repairs mistakes.  Spelling errors, misinformation, incorrect album details – Rinse will find them and fix them.  Guaranteed.
3. It fills in missing iTunes info.  No more guessing what “Track 01” is, or wondering if “Unknown Artist” is the one you’re looking for.
4. It will find and add missing album art.  Tired of looking at that boring musical-note icon for every album cover that you don’t have in your collection?  Rinse will fix that.  It automatically finds high-resolution album art and imports it into your iTunes library.
5. It will organize your genres.  There’s no point in browsing by genre when you have nearly as many genres as you do songs.  Rinse will organize similar music into combined categories that make more sense.

The bottom line is that Rinse is a fantastic clean-up tool and an effective solution to the many organizational problems associated with iTunes.   The program runs with push-button ease but, if you do have a question or require customer support, help is available 24/7 on the company’s Facebook page.

Download the program for Mac or Windows, at www.rinsemymusic.com.