Hands-on with HP’s online backup app, Upline

HP has entered the online backup space with a new product called Upline. It’s a decent cloud-based backup product at a very good price point, but it has a few frustrating limitations.

The good news first: The software is simple to get started with (critical for a backup app) and the paid plans all provide unlimited storage for your documents, photos, music, and video files (also critical — who wants to count bits when signing up for data insurance?). The system checks for new files by default every 15 minutes, and uploads your data to the HP-run servers in a quiet background process.

There’s a free version that gives you a gigabyte of online storage for a year, but if you’re serious about backup you’ll want one of the paid versions. The least expensive $59/year Home plan gives you the unlimited storage and allows up to three PCs to share the online storage pool. Family plans and small office plans give you individual storage bins, and the business plans also give you an administrator’s dashboard.

The product allows Web-based access to your backed-up files, which is very nice if you want to grab a something when you’re away from your PC. You can also share files via email (recipients get links, not the files themselves) or publish files for public access.

Upline can also back up files to a local device, like a second hard drive, or a server or PC on the local network. I don’t know of other products that handle both local and Web-based backup. It’s a very cool feature.

The product is based on Titanize, which HP acquired when it bought the company Opelin last year. I’ve always thought Titanize was an under-appreciated backup app. Perhaps HP was listening.

Now, the flip side. The biggest turn-off is that Upline does not
backup email files. That’s planned for the future, but backup users
will need it now. Imagine losing your email archive. Enough said.

Another missing piece: System restore. Upline is a document and
media backup product. It won’t store your programs or system settings.
So if your hard disk crashes, you can’t use to rebuild your system.

The app doesn’t offer PC-to-PC sync (see FolderShare, BeInSync, SugarSync),
which to many is an obscure feature, but I think it’s one of the most
valuable data safety and convenience apps you can have on a personal
computer. There’s no virtual drive, like XDrive
has, which makes using the service just a little more tedious than it
needs to be. Also, it’s PC only on the backup side, although any
machine with a browser can view Upline archive pages. There’s no mobile
client. Finally, the search feature seems to only search on file names,
not files’ contents.

Upline is not a perfect backup tool nor a complete integrated
online storage suite. But at this price point, given its unlimited
backup space and its straightforward sharing options, it’s a good deal.

By

Rafe Needleman

–
April 8, 2008, 6:43 PM PDT

Source: Webware.com

——

See also: Mozy and Carbonite.

This review has been updated from the original: Information was added on backing up data to a local device.

$1 billion school computer plan could cost $2 billion

Labor’s $1 billion school computer election promise could turn into a $2 billion plan, with the government talking to states and territories about meeting extra costs.

Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard today insisted the plan, announced at Labor’s campaign launch and the centrepiece of its education revolution, remains on track.

Ms Gillard said Labor had always said it would be a partnership between the commonwealth and state and territory governments.

“We are working with our state and territory colleagues and the discussion we are having with them is about us putting an extra $1 billion into the vital task of getting computers in school, and in the delivery of that $1 billion, working with the states and territories on related questions like electricity supply, like, of course, professional development for teachers, like making sure that curriculum is there that embeds the computer technology into learning,” she told Network Ten.

“That partnership will make sure that computers are in schools in circumstances where they can be used.”

Launching the plan during the election campaign, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said a Labor government would ensure that every student in years 9-12 had access to their own computer at school at a cost of $1 billion over four years.

That would cover the cost of computers and high-speed internet, he said.

The opposition now says the government could have to buy up to 700,000 computers to keep its promise, with schools and possibly parents likely to face substantial extra costs for software, teacher training, networking, technical support and security.

In a report a Sydney newspaper, an unnamed school principal said the Labor election promise appeared to mean the federal government would provide the hardware alone, leaving states with substantial additional costs.

Ms Gillard said the policy was working, with applications closing on Friday night for the first $100 million for schools with the greatest need – those with a ratio of one computer per eight students or less.

Funding applications received in this category covered 90 per cent of schools, she said.

“This is a program that is being met with enthusiasm in schools because they want their children, their kids, their students to have the ability to learn in the modern environment, and that requires access to computer technology,” she said.

Ms Gillard said the states and territories were working with the federal government on delivering that first $100 million by June 30.

She said the government was also working with the state and territory governments on spending the balance of $800 million on computers and $100 million on fibre-optic internet cables to the schools.

“We are working on the ongoing strategic partnership so the computers can be in schools, being used, because we are working together with our state and territory colleagues, and that process is going well,” she said.

AAP

Source: The Age

Outsource Your Mail Room

If you’re a frequent business traveler, you know the feeling of returning to a house full of junk mail and unpaid bills. For a monthly fee (starting at $10), there’s a clever way around this: Redirect your mail to an Earth Class Mail. At their facility, they send scans of your envelopes to your email address. From there, you can have the mail destroyed, sent to your home, or opened and scanned and emailed to you.

If you’re a privacy nut (which I’m obviously not), then this service is not for you. But if you’re not—and you’re away from home a lot—it seems like a great way to 1) cut down on junk mail in the house 2) get your mail when you’re traveling and 3) hold on to important records.

Check out the TechCrunch discussion to see some feedback from people who already use the service. In general, they seem pretty pleased.

By David Goldenberg – BNet

Handing Out Business Cards – You Mean There’s a Guide for That, too?

Handing out business cards is one of the most annoying things that you can do to another person. Neil attended a lunch-n-learn session on Networking in his building last year. As some people entered the room they made a performance of putting their business card in front of each of the other attendees in the room and the empty seats in the room. Neil’s eyes scanned left then right to see what other people were doing with the cards as he wondered, “Should I be distributing my business cards?” Of the 12 people at the session, 6 had piled their cards in front of him. What is he going to do with those? What would you do with them?

Neil was doing the best thing by seeing that he connected with someone before exchanging cards with them.

Putting your business card in someone’s hand before you have a good reason is:

• Confusing. Why are you giving a total stranger your card?
• Useless. Without some sort of credibility there is no reason for the recipient to keep your card.
• Wasteful. Is there is a possible return on the investment of even this little inexpensive card?
• Risky. You might just be offering your contact information to someone who wants to recruit your for their multi-level marketing project and now you’re on their recruiting list.
• Good for firestarting. Most people could start a blaze with the box of ‘dead’ business cards they have around their office. But is that why you gave them your card? People just don’t throw out the cards of people who handed it to them but they don’t do anything with them either.
• Misguided. Someone along your career path said, “Get your card into as many hands as possible, you never know what will come of it.” Come on people, nothing will come of it. That’s the ‘throw it on the wall and see what sticks’ technique. You appear desperate doing this.

The key to good form when handing out your business card is the mindset of exchanging cards. You’re offering your card as a second step to connecting with another person. The first step is talking so you find that you have something in common, a follow-up action to take, or other connector. Similarly, you’re asking for someone’s business card because you have something he values to give to him. That something could be business, information, a referral, or other useful thing. Using this approach you might walk away with only one or two cards from a business gathering. However, they represent the start of real relationships not just passing of paper.

When you’ve determined that you have a reason to exchange cards with someone you could do the following:

• Initiate the exchange by saying, “May I have one of your cards? I’d like to get an article to you and this will ensure that I do.”
• If you’ve only had conversations on the phone with someone
  (the initial connection) and are seeing them face-to-face for the first
  time it is appropriate to offer your card as you’re shaking hands. This
  verifies you are who they expected and is a touch of credibility.
• State: “It sounds like I could help you by introducing you
  to my accountant. Why don’t you give me your card and I’ll write an
  email making the connection.”
• Suggest you’ll call to follow-up on your conversation so,
  “Let me give you my card and I’d like one of yours. When I have my
  calendar in front of me we’ll find a day in the next two weeks to have
  breakfast.”

Finally, it is possible that you should just skip exchanging cards. If someone interests you be thorough in getting their name and employer. Then, do a Google search, locate him, and write a thoughtful email as follow-up. Business cards are a method of communicating and exchanging information you must follow-up with cards you receive or they are valueless. But that’s the topic of a different article.

by ProductivityCafe.com

Nemorelax targets personal tranquility amid airport mayhem

Finding a quiet space to de-stress, phone home, check emails or catch a quick, comfortable nap in the middle of a busy airport is a challenge that’s nigh-on impossible at the best of times. While airport lounges offer some comfort to the weary traveler, the Nemorelaxer aims to take this to a whole new level by providing a fully-connected personal oasis where users can watch films, access wi-fi Internet, make calls, listen to music or just recline for a well earned nap without fear of interruption.

Built around Stressless reclining chairs manufactured by Ekornes ASA of Norway, the pods include a built-in touchscreen monitor and fold-away worktable. The staffed service also incorporates wake–up calls, a luggage lock-up facility and the free loan of a laptop. A second layer of protection from the outside world is also available in the form of an encircling cocoon.

Access to the Nemorelaxer units is to be sold in 30 minute time slots and the company is currently in discussion with International Airport and Transit Authorities. While details of pricing and potential locations are not yet confirmed, the Nemorelax website reports that the first example of its product is set to open in Europe in the near future.

Via Luxist.

by Gizmag.com

Simple Secrets to Saving Money in Australia

When you get on top of your spending habits by using the tips at Simple Savings anything is possible.

Could you use an extra $50 EVERY WEEK? It is easy to attain – much easier than you have ever imagined. The tricks are simple. The techniques are basic – things that thousands of Simple Savings members use every day.

Simple Savings can show you how to save money on groceries, gifts, holidays, cars and phone bills. You name a product/service you want to buy and the odds are that Simple Savings friendly community of clever, frugal shoppers will have listed a way to get it cheaper than you can

You are probably throwing away thousands of dollars each year and never ever realised it. Well, that is about to change. You could buy yourself anything. A car, a holiday, a house, your son’s shoes… everyone’s goals are different. As you start to reduce the amount you spend, you will suddenly find all this extra money.

Most people think that saving money is:

1. Complicated
2. Stressful
3. A waste of time
4. Generally not worth it

Those people are totally wrong. Try being smart with your money for six months and you’ll find that you’ll have more time for the things you love …. and the ability to buy extra things

Think of it this way… for an average worker $500 saved = 5 days pay after tax

* If you take 5 minutes to save $15 at the supermarket that is one hour you don’t have to work. Stop… Think about it. If you reduce your grocery bill by $1,200 this year – which is surprisingly easy to do – you could skip two whole weeks of work. You can have two weeks extra holiday.
* If you lower your annual phone bill by $300 – easy to achieve – that’s half a week off work.
* If you save $1000 buying a car – basic beginners stuff – that’s another two weeks off work.
* Saving $100 on accommodation means you can stay on holidays for an extra day.

Working at an office 5 days a week to make money for someone else is hard

Saving money with Simple Savings is super easy

by Neerav Bhatt – Rambling Thoughts Blog

Boss fires staff for not smoking

BERLIN (Reuters) – The owner of a small German computer company has fired three non-smoking workers because they were threatening to disturb the peace after they requested a smoke-free environment.

The manager of the 10-person IT company in Buesum, named Thomas J., told the Hamburger Morgenpost newspaper he had fired the trio because their non-smoking was causing disruptions.

Germany introduced non-smoking rules in pubs and restaurants on January 1, but Germans working in small offices are still allowed to smoke.

“I can’t be bothered with trouble-makers,” Thomas was quoted saying. “We’re on the phone all the time and it’s just easier to work while smoking. Everyone picks on smokers these days. It’s time for revenge. I’m only going to hire smokers from now on.”

Reporting by Sarah Roberts; editing by Giles Elgood – Reuters