Greenville Business Magazine 2010 April issue : Page 56
››executive lifestyle g gadgets izmos & Verizon Wireless has now brought a third Android phone to their network, and this is the first of which we can say is squarely aimed at those who view their phone as a way to stay connected to friends, family, and co-workers in the largest number of ways possible. The Devour has a sleek aluminum case with no jagged edges. It slips easily into your pocket, yet the case is just grippy enough that it doesn't feel like it will fall out of your hands. While some may complain that it's only running Android version 1.6 rather than 2.0 and that the camera is only three megapixels rather than the Droid's five, the Devour brings Motorola's MOTOBLUR feature to this phone. MOTOBLUR would be worth it for its ability to easily import and sync contacts alone, but it brings the ability to backup your contacts as well as – get this – wipe the phone remotely should you and your device become separated. MOTOBLUR streams Twitter, Facebook and MySpace to your phone in an easy-to-manage interface and displays that information attractively on the phone. When the phone rings, it displays not just the caller id and caller's picture, but their latest status message from whatever online networks you've connected with them. If you're getting a call from one of your kids, you may well see that their latest Facebook status indicates they are about to hit you up for cash! The Devour is sleek and well- appointed. The screen slides up to reveal a keyboard suitable for normal and smaller fingers and the MOTOBLUR integration means the phone will be more than just a phone. It's an easy-to-use connection to friends and family that lives in your pocket. Sending or receiving money online can sometime feel uncertain. There are bits flying through the air and you always are wondering if your password is strong enough. While we are strong advocates of strong passwords, we also think you should add another layer of protection where available. When using Paypal, EBay, or services that connect with them, the Paypal Security key becomes that additional layer of protection. The security key feature is implemented in either a physical or mobile phone version and the physical version has two formats. The mobile phone version is free and sets up instantly, but we like it less because we think we could pretty easily get separated from our cell. The physical token is an extra thick credit card with an LCD display. (Previously, it was also available as a football shaped device that attached to a keyring.) The physical device generates a new number each time the button is pressed and that number is expected when you log in to your Paypal or EBay account. So in addition to knowing your username and password, you will also need the six digit number to access your account. If you should lose or break the key, then you'll need to go through an identity confirmation procedure to verify that you are indeed the account holder. If you prefer the cell version of the security key, then you'll begin the login to Paypal as normal, but you'll then have to ask Paypal to send an SMS number of its choosing to your phone. If you have your phone in hand you'll read the display and then finish the login procedure and gain access to your account. Using either version of the service is free, although Paypal charges $5 for the physical security key or its replacements. Either way, it's pretty cheap insurance for your online money. 56 GREENVILLEBUSINESSMAG.COM | APRIL 2010 BY PHIL YANOV Paypal Security Key Motorola Devour
>>executive lifestyle - Gizmos & Gadgets
Phil Yanov
Motorola Devour
Verizon Wireless has now brought a third Android phone to their network, and this is the first of which we can say is squarely aimed at those who view their phone as a way to stay connected to friends, family, and co-workers in the largest number of ways possible. The Devour has a sleek aluminum case with no jagged edges. It slips easily into your pocket, yet the case is just grippy enough that it doesn't feel like it will fall out of your hands. While some may complain that it's only running Android version 1.6 rather than 2.0 and that the camera is only three megapixels rather than the Droid's five, the Devour brings Motorola's MOTOBLUR feature to this phone. MOTOBLUR would be worth it for its ability to easily import and sync contacts alone, but it brings the ability to backup your contacts as well as – get this – wipe the phone remotely should you and your device become separated. MOTOBLUR streams Twitter, Facebook and MySpace to your phone in an easy-to-manage interface and displays that information attractively on the phone. When the phone rings, it displays not just the caller id and caller's picture, but their latest status message from whatever online networks you've connected with them. If you're getting a call from one of your kids, you may well see that their latest Facebook status indicates they are about to hit you up for cash! The Devour is sleek and well-appointed. The screen slides up to reveal a keyboard suitable for normal and smaller fingers and the MOTOBLUR integration means the phone will be more than just a phone. It's an easy-to-use connection to friends and family that lives in your pocket.
Paypal Security Key
Sending or receiving money online can sometime feel uncertain. There are bits flying through the air and you always are wondering if your password is strong enough. While we are strong advocates of strong passwords, we also think you should add another layer of protection where available. When using Paypal, EBay, or services that connect with them, the Paypal Security key becomes that additional layer of protection. The security key feature is implemented in either a physical or mobile phone version and the physical version has two formats. The mobile phone version is free and sets up instantly, but we like it less because we think we could pretty easily get separated from our cell. The physical token is an extra thick credit card with an LCD display. (Previously, it was also available as a football shaped device that attached to a keyring.) The physical device generates a new number each time the button is pressed and that number is expected when you log in to your Paypal or EBay account. So in addition to knowing your username and password, you will also need the six digit number to access your account. If you should lose or break the key, then you'll need to go through an identity confirmation procedure to verify that you are indeed the account holder. If you prefer the cell version of the security key, then you'll begin the login to Paypal as normal, but you'll then have to ask Paypal to send an SMS number of its choosing to your phone. If you have your phone in hand you'll read the display and then finish the login procedure and gain access to your account. Using either version of the service is free, although Paypal charges $5 for the physical security key or its replacements. Either way, it's pretty cheap insurance for your online money.
Carbonite Online Backup
Spring cleaning could mean cleaning up after a lost hard drive. The data on your computer may be just one spilled drink away from disaster. Do you know where your backup is? Too often most businesses don't. When it comes to data backups, we still recommend both a belt and suspenders, and in this case, an automated offsite backup is the suspenders. Since we last wrote about online data backup, Carbonite has released their small business version, Carbonite Pro. The new version of the service allows you to have multiple computers back up to a single data pool and you pay for the storage you use rather than on a per computer basis. Backups are important but many people don't do them because they don't know how, or the actual backup process is a nuisance. Carbonite makes it easy by backing up changed data files in the background and on the fly. When compared to other systems, Carbonite is simple and elegant while delivering an easy-to-understand backup and restore system. Files that have been backed up are marked as such by default, and right clicking on a file brings up a menu that allows for easy restores. If you're looking for single computer home backup, Carbonite is a great choice, and now if you need to backup several computers in a business environment, CarbonitePro has the additional features most small businesses need.
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