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.

DocSyncer Unveils Public Beta

A few days back, David posted the tantalizing news about DocSyncer, which syncs your Microsoft Office documents with Google Docs. Alas, the service was in private beta testing at the time, meaning you had to request an invitation. As of today, however, DocSyncer has reached public beta status, meaning anyone with an e-mail address (and Google Docs account, natch) can have at it.

DocSyncer supports a wide variety of file types, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, RTF, HTML, and OpenOffice. (I didn’t find out about the OpenOffice support, which isn’t mentioned anywhere on DocSyncer’s home page, until just now. Kinda kills the need for the OpenOffice.org2GoogleDocs extension I mentioned the other day.)

Unfortunately, during this beta phase, only your Desktop and My Documents folders can be synced. I keep the bulk of my Office files elsewhere, so I can’t yet take full advantage of DocSyncer. That’s a shame, because I’m really excited about this service. In fact, I’ll be surprised if Google doesn’t buy it outright, as it has the potential to take Google Docs to the next level.

By Rick Broida – BNet

DocSyncer – https://www.docsyncer.com/

Using the Terminal Services through Internet Information Server

Although many administrators think of the Windows Terminal Services primarily as a mechanism for hosting user sessions, it can also be used as a very effective remote management tool. For example, if you need to work on a server that is not in close geographic proximity, you can use the Terminal Services as a way of remotely accessing the server’s console. It’s true that most of Windows Administrative Tools will allow you to manage a remote server, but the Terminal Services have the advantage of allowing you to see the remote server’s desktop. This is advantageous because sometimes there may be an error message displayed on the server’s screen and you would never see the message if you were accessing the server solely through Event Viewer, or one of the many other management tools.

The problem with establishing a Terminal Service session between your machine and a remote server is connectivity. Imagine for a moment that you are at home, in bed, blissfully asleep. The phone rings and wakes you up. You groggily notice that it’s 3:30 AM as the voice on the phone starts explaining to you that there is a problem with a server that’s in an office a hundred miles away.

At this point you’ve got a few choices. You could ignore the call, go back to sleep, and get fired (not a good choice to make). You could road trip it to the remote facility (not fun at 3:30 AM), or you could establish a Terminal Service session with the ailing server. This is where the connectivity issue comes into play. Your company probably has WAN links between the various offices, but that does you no good right now because you are at home. If your company has a VPN, you could establish a VPN connection and then establish a Terminal Service session over the VPN. Another alternative that most people seem to be unaware of however, is that you can interact with the Terminal Services over the Internet.

OK, before I get into the nitty gritty details, let’s stop for a reality check. From a security standpoint, making a Terminal Service session with your servers available over the Internet is probably a bad idea. A Web Based Terminal Service session isn’t completely insecure though. SSL encryption is an absolute requirement and anyone who connects must have a valid set of credentials that are authorized not just to log on, but to log on through the Terminal Services. You can also lock down IIS so that only machines with specific IP addresses are allowed to connect. There are dozens of other things that you can do to make the server more secure, but the thought of being able to remotely control my server through the Internet still makes me a little nervous.

This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take advantage of the ability to use the Terminal Services over the Internet though. If you feel comfortable making your server available through the Web then go for it. If you’re like me and you don’t feel comfortable doing that, then you can use the same technique and the same security measures to make the server available across your corporate Intranet.

What good does that do? Well, let’s go back to my earlier example that involved you sitting in front of your computer at home in your pajamas in the middle of the night. Rather than driving to the office or to the remote facility, you could dial into your remote access server at the office and then use a Web browser to establish a Terminal Service session with the Remote facility.

Right now you might be wondering why you would ever go through all that trouble when the Windows Remote Desktop client is actually a Terminal Service client. True, you could dial in and use the Remote Desktop client to establish a Terminal Server session without ever having to install the remote access Web component. Still, there are at least a couple of reasons why it’s a good idea to have the Web component on hand. First of all, the Remote Desktop client comes with Windows XP. If you happen to have an old PC at home that’s still running Windows 98, then your machine won’t have a Remote Desktop client. Another reason for using the Web interface rather than the Remote Desktop client is that depending on how your network is set up, firewalls may prevent you from using the Remote Desktop client. The Remote Desktop client communicates across port 3389. If there is a firewall anywhere between you and the server that’s having the problem, that doesn’t have this port open then you are out of luck. The Web interface for the Terminal Services also uses port 3389, but you can reconfigure it to use any port number that you want.

Setting up Web Based Remote Administration

Now that I have talked about some of the philosophies behind Web based Terminal Service access, let’s take a look at the setup process. The component that does all the work is technically known as Remote Administration through HTML (formerly known as the Terminal Services Advanced Client (TSAC) in Windows 2000 Server)

Begin by selecting the Add / Remove Programs option from the Control Panel. When the Add / Remove Programs applet starts, click the Add / Remove Windows Components button. This will cause Windows to display a list of Windows components that you can install. Select the Application Server option and click the Details button. Select the Internet Information Service (IIS) option and click Details again. Now, select the World Wide Web Service from the list and click Details one more time. At this point, select the Remote Administration (HTML) check box , as shown in Figure A, and then click OK three times, followed by Next. Windows will now install the necessary files. You may be prompted to insert your Windows installation CD, so be sure to keep it handy. When installation completes, click Finish.

Figure A: Select the Remote Administration (HTML) check box

Now that you have installed the necessary files, select the Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager command from Windows’ Administrative Tools menu. When the IIS Manager console opens, navigate through the console tree to Internet Information Services | your server | Web Sites | Administration. Now, right click on the Administration Web site and select the Properties command from the resulting shortcut menu to see the Administration site’s properties sheet. Now, select the Web Site tab and make note of the port numbers that are listed for the TCP and the SSL port. The default values for the TCP port and the SSL port are 8099 and 8098 respectively, as shown in Figure B. If you need to change the port numbers because of the way that your firewalls are set up, this is where you do it at. Now, select the Directory Security tab and click the Edit button found in the IP Address and Domain Name Restrictions section. If you want to restrict Terminal Service access by IP address, then this is where you would enter the addresses that you want to either allow or block. Click OK when you are done.

Figure B: The default values for the TCP port and the SSL port are 8099 and 8098 respectively

Now, let’s look at how to manage the server through a Web browser. Open Internet Explorer and enter HTTPS:// followed by the server’s IP address, a colon, and the port number. For example, https://192.168.0.1:3389 When you do, you will be prompted to log into the server. You must use an account with administrative credentials. After logging in, the Administration Web site will be displayed. To initiate a Terminal Service session, click on the Maintenance link found on the blue bar along the top, and then click the Remote Desktop button. Internet Explorer will install the necessary ActiveX component and the remote desktop will be displayed within a browser window, as shown in Figure C.

Figure C: Enter HTTPS:// followed by the server’s IP address, a colon, and the port number to access the Terminal Services over the Web

Conclusion

Setting up Web based Terminal Service access is not without risk. However, when properly secured, Web based Terminal Service access can be an extremely valuable management tool.

by Brien M. Posey – MSTerminalServices.org

Use Color-Coding to Highlight Important E-Mail

Hot on the heels of the excellent suggestion to use rules to simplify your Outlook inbox, Productivity Cafe’s Susan Sabo serves up another valuable tip: Use color-coding to make important e-mail stand out and grab your attention.

For example, you could configure Outlook to automatically “colorize” messages that come from your boss or a client. Assign another color to mail received from team members, and so on. (Obviously you don’t want to go overboard with the color-coding, lest your inbox turn into something resembling a box of crayons. Limit yourself to two or three colors.)

See the complete post for details on setting up color coding in Outlook; it’s an extremely simple process. (Outlook Express and Thunderbird users can accomplish more or less the same thing using message rules.) For my part, all new messages I get from my beloved editors will be coded red so they get immediate action! (That’s right: I know how to suck up.)

By Rick Broida – BNet

Outlook Feature Most of Us Should Use – Color Coding

What does a red color-coded sign or folder mean to you? Many of us think ‘Urgent’ or ‘Stop’ or ‘Hot’. We know that our attention is needed for something. We can use red to mean that when an emali has arrived in your inbox from a VIP. Usually my clients make the emails from their boss and/or key customers turn red when they arrive. Then, the red-titled emails get their attention right away.

Similarly, team leaders color-code the emails from their team members so they stand out from their general correspondence.

Other times you might want to color-code are:

• Personal messages
• From financial institutions (green representing money for this group)
• Vendors & suppliers
• Particular Projects

Remembers, usually it’s best to move emails into related folders. That’s explained in this post: Moving Emails in Outlook. For those emails that still make it to your inbox color-coding will catch your eye and increase your productivity and effectiveness in handling the most important messages.

Here are the steps to color code your messages in Outlook 2002/3:

1. Click on the email message you want to use as the example for the colorizing. For example,

1. you might want all messages from Susan Mrugal (your boss) to turn red.
2. Click on tools then organize.
3. A box ‘Ways to Organize Inbox’ will open. This menu will appear like this:
   

4. Click on Using Colors along the left margin.
5. Select the from / to in the first box to the right of ‘Color message’ drop down menu.
6. Select the color (red in this example) for these messages from the drop-down menu.
7. Click Apply Color.
8. Verify that the color coding was done by looking in your Inbox.
9. You’re done!

by ProductivityCafe.com

Use Google Spreadsheets to Conduct Surveys

One more reason to love Google Docs: You can take advantage of the new spreadsheet forms feature to conduct surveys and collect other customer data. Here’s the scoop straight from the Google Docs Blog:

Create a form in a Google Docs spreadsheet and send it out to anyone with an email address. They won’t need to sign in, and they can respond directly from the email message or from an automatically generated web page.

Creating the form is easy: Start with a spreadsheet to get the form, or start by creating the form and you’ll get the spreadsheet automatically. Responses are automatically added to your spreadsheet. You can even keep a closer eye on them by adding the Google Docs forms gadget to your iGoogle homepage.

I’m curious to know how you might take advantage of this cool new feature. Hit the Comments to share your thoughts. [via Download Squad]

By Rick Broida – BNet.com

3G + N95 + JoikuSpot + WiFi + iPhone = 3G iPhone (the hard way)

In the unlikeliest of unions since Julia and Lyle, we bring you some hot iPhone on N95 symbiotic action. Using the free JoikuSpot application released this morning, you can now turn any S60 smartphone into a WiFi hotspot. Yes, just like WMWifiRouter does for WinMo devices. Sure, the solution doesn’t make much sense from locations with tethered Internet and you can’t encrypt the http and https (only) traffic. But if you’ve ever been in a WiFi dead spot and needed to share access (think PSP gaming), this type of solution is pretty unbeatable. Assuming you have an unlimited data plan that is. Click the read link for the video.

Turn your S60 device into a WiFi hotspot!

In the secret Into Mobile staff chat room, where we hatch our world domination strategy, we’ve been wondering how in the world we’re going to get internet access in our apartment during Mobile World Congress. Will and my boss Tom have Windows Mobile devices that they can turn into WiFi routers, we covered that application here, but what about us S60 folk?

Dusan sent me a link to this Nseries blog, which then linked me to this article on Cellular News, which in turn caused a Google search and brought me to this most awesome development house in Finland called Joikusoft.

They’ve created an application called JoikuSpot which turns your S60 smartphone into a WiFi access point, using your 3G connection of course. I’m in the process of testing it right now and will report back in this blog post, definitely excited by this.

Update:

Here is the application running:

Negative things right off the bat: I can’t create an encrypted network.

Here is my laptop finding the network:

I had to crop the signal, but it is full strength!

According to the manual (PDF) this application only supports http and https protocols. Outlook and Skype may not work, haven’t tested bit torrent since I’m not on unlimited here, but basic internet surfing worked find. I went to a few sites and they popped up instantaneously.

Think of the uses for this. Wireless gaming with your PSP or DS. Browse the internet and check email on your large screen iPod touch.

Update: Buddy of mine Dan Lane used this application to give his iPhone 3G speeds, check out his video on Seesmic.

Posted by Stefan – INTOMOBILE.COM

Actiontec Introduces zControl Line of Home Automation Controllers

Actiontec Electronics today announced its new zControl™ series of home automation gateways, designed to centrally manage household electronics such as lights, security cameras, thermostats, motion detectors, garage door openers, motorized shades and automatic sprinklers through the home network. zControl will allow users to control all devices through a common interface at home as well as remotely by PC, mobile phone or Internet-enabled TV, making it possible to turn lights on and off or water your lawn even from hundreds of miles away.

Actiontec’s zControl was named a CES Innovations 2008 Awards Honoree as one of the most innovative products in the home networking category. The CES program has become recognized as the hallmark event for showcasing best-of-breed product design and engineering.

The first generation of the zControl product, scheduled to ship next month, will be a standalone unit that connects to the home router and can be accessed by PC or cellphone. Additional versions available later in Q1 will be integrated into Actiontec’s wireless routers and DSL gateways for sale through service providers. A companion set-top box to be released mid-year will add a media center with a TV interface, offering new conveniences such as the ability to display digital photo albums and view home security camera images on your TV screen. The TV interface will offer other innovations and be the first of its kind in the industry.

“zControl will change the way people manage their household electronics. The home network will no longer be limited to computers, printers and gaming consoles but instead encompass smart home products of all kinds,” said Brian Henrichs, Actiontec VP of Business Development. “Integrating this functionality into the home’s broadband connectivity equipment will also eliminate an extra box and supply broadband providers with a costeffective means of delivering new value-added services to subscribers.”

Control At Home or Away

zControl supports virtually any number of devices equipped with Z-Wave™ technology, the wireless home control standard developed to unify home electronics into an integrated wireless network for easy management. Z-Wave is now available as a built-in component or add-on to hundreds of household products ranging from lighting and appliances to heating/air conditioning, home security and home entertainment systems.

With zControl, consumers can define settings for light, heat and other household electronics that can be automatically triggered or manually activated by PC or mobile phone at specific times or for various scenarios. One setting might turn on the hallway light, heat and lawn sprinklers after work. Others might raise the shades in the morning, light the house to set the scene for a romantic dinner, switch lights on and off during the day while you’re on vacation, or let you turn on specific house lights from your phone when you’re sitting in the driveway late at night.

zControl also makes it possible to check on your teenagers, turn on a light in the family room and close the garage door with a few clicks even when you’re out of town; capture and store any activity recorded by your digital security cameras for a certain period of time; turn devices on and off with a remote control as well as by PC or phone; receive email, IM or smartphone alerts when security alarms are triggered or in other situations; and much more.

The interface can be accessed from any Internet-enabled PC anywhere in the world or from most mobile phones with a special service package available from Actiontec. The on-screen display automatically adjusts to fit disparate use cases. For example, a user accessing the system from a PC at work will see a dashboard of all home resources, while a user sitting in front of the TV with the zControl remote control may see a completely different view.

Press-a-Button Setup

zControl setup is automated with a unique discovery button on the front of the unit. Simply press that button and the corresponding button on the Z-Wave device, and the device is automatically added to the home network. The zControl editions that will be integrated with Actiontec routers and gateways will also offer this same buttonbased setup for WiFi and HomePlug devices, overcoming the barriers that continue to plague consumers who attempt to add products such as wireless-enabled printers to their home networks. zControl is the only product in its class with this automated discovery capability, eliminating the need to perform a two-step discovery process using a remote control or enter router IP addresses, SSIDs or other identifiers. It is also the only home automation controller that can use both PCs and Macs for scene setup and other functions.

Smart Home Management for Service Providers

The zControl-enabled Actiontec wireless gateways and routers will help generate new revenue streams for service providers by enabling them to offer home automation control as a value-added service. Carriers can create new service packages allowing them to get involved in smart home management for the first time, opening new opportunities for attracting and retaining subscribers as well as redefining their business model to help address the challenge of eroding profits.

The integration of zControl functionality into consumer premises equipment will simplify deployment of the new services, while built-in TR-069 remote management capabilities will streamline troubleshooting.

Pricing and Availability
The standalone Actiontec zControl Starter Kit will be available at www.actiontec.com next month at an MSRP of $399 including the zControl unit, one indoor camera with motion detector, one lighting control module, and a remote control. zControl-enabled wireless gateways and routers will be released in March.

About Actiontec Electronics, Inc.
Actiontec Electronics develops products and services enabling consumers to leverage broadband Internet connectivity to simplify and enrich their lives. Actiontec’s products include the market’s broadest selection of IPTV-capable broadband gateways as well as broadband modems, routers, wireless networking devices, VoIP adapters, and digital entertainment devices, sold through retail channels and broadband service providers. Founded in 1993, Actiontec is headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA, and maintains branch offices in Austin, TX; Colorado Springs, CO; Denver, CO; Basingstoke, United Kingdom; Shanghai, China; and Taipei, Taiwan. For more information, call 408-752-7700 or visit www.actiontec.com.

From ehomeupgrade