Extras > Strategies Home > Extras > Strategies Articles Should you turn your computer off at night? Computing Unplugged Magazine - March 2007 Stephen Amontis answers one of the old, classic computer questions: should you turn your computer off at night? Getting to know how RFID works Computing Unplugged Magazine - February 2007 What is RFID, really? What are the advantages and issues? In our quest to provide you with an in-depth understanding of the topic, we've been very fortunate to enlist the help of Martyn Mallick, one of the leading experts on RFID technology. This is the second of three articles where we have the pleasure of talking to Martyn and learning all about RFID. If you're interested in emerging technologies, this is a series you won't want to miss. Understanding RFID Computing Unplugged Magazine - January 2007 RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is both a fascinating and controversial technology. It came to the general public's awareness in discussions about embedding RFID tags in clothing, to track the purchase of clothing items in stores. The general paranoia from that, of course, is the idea that RFID could be used to compromise individual privacy -- a new version of Big Brother is watching you. What is RFID, really? What are the advantages and issues? In our quest to provide you with an in-depth understanding of the topic, we've been very fortunate to enlist the help of Martyn Mallick, one of the leading experts on RFID technology. Over the next three articles, we'll be talking to Martyn and learning all about RFID. If you're interested in emerging technologies, this is a series you won't want to miss. Mobile TV and the great vendor conspiracy Computing Unplugged Magazine - January 2007 What is Mobile TV and why do we care? In this absolutely fascinating analysis, Monte Silver takes you behind the scenes of the mobile market to help you understand how the motivations of the handset vendors might impact your mobile phone experience. Computing Unplugged passes judgement on BPL Computing Unplugged Magazine - August 2006 Is BPL the helpful key to nearly universal high-speed Internet access or a technology that could cripple our critical radio frequency infrastructure? This is the question that Computing Unplugged Magazine set out to answer. This article contains the result of our in-depth analysis. A BPL manufacturer responds to all the complaints Computing Unplugged Magazine - August 2006 Poor Chano Gomez! When he pitched us an interview on Broadband-over-Powerline (BPL), little did this BPL manufacturer know that he'd be touching off a firestorm of debate. Two months and more than a dozen articles later, Chano's graciously consented to another interview, this time to answer the charges against BPL from its detractors. We have to give special "props" to Chano. Not only did he agree to step up and answer some tough questions, he also did so while on vacation in Europe. So, special thanks go out to him for taking the time to help us understand this issue more fully. Inside the ARRL's objection to BPL interference Computing Unplugged Magazine - August 2006 When we first began our coverage of Broadband-over-Powerline (BPL), members of the ham radio community who also read Computing Unplugged made sure we understood that there's actually a controversy here, an important one. As we began to research the topic further, one organization's name kept coming up over and over: the American Radio Relay League, better known as the ARRL. After some back and forth dialog, Allen Pitts, Media and Public Relations Manager for the ARRL, agreed to be interviewed by Computing Unplugged. What follows is that interview. An expert's analysis of BPL Computing Unplugged Magazine - August 2006 If you've been following our Broadband-over-Powerline (BPL) coverage these past weeks, you can see we've come up with more questions than answers. As part of our attempt to expose all sides of this issue, we've been looking for true experts who can help us understand the issue. As part of that research, we turned up Glenn Elmore. We're very grateful for Glenn in helping us understand this issue in far more depth than we've been able to thusfar. As a radio amateur and a BPL researcher, Glenn's getting us answers as close to the core of the problem as we think we're going to be able to find. Understanding the information rate of BPL and other last-mile pipes Computing Unplugged Magazine - August 2006 Throughout our research into BPL, we've talked about interference issues. In his in-depth interview, elsewhere in this issue, Glenn Elmore introduced the question of data rate across the various technologies. In this short, highly technical article, he shows how that data rate applies over a variety of "last-mile pipes". Why are we giving BPL all this coverage? Computing Unplugged Magazine - August 2006 By now, everyone who regularly reads Computing Unplugged has noticed that our summer editorial has been devoted to a single topic. We've been devoting our article-level coverage to a single, apparently obscure topic called broadband-over-powerline, otherwise known as BPL. Why? In this article, Editor-in-Chief David Gewirtz explains why this issue is important for us all to understand. Interference: is it the dark underbelly of BPL? Computing Unplugged Magazine - July 2006 We continue our in-depth coverage of the broadband over powerline (BPL) controversy. Is it a benign technology that can bring broadband to the unwired masses or is it a disaster waiting to happen? Here at Computing Unplugged, we honestly don't know. The manufacturers have a heck of a story to tell, but if you read analysis by technical experts, like this one from engineer Bill South, you get an entirely different perspective. Implementing broadband over powerline Computing Unplugged Magazine - July 2006 We continue our examination of broadband over powerline technology this week in the second part of our exclusive interview with Chano Gomez, one of the leading experts on this technology. Understanding broadband over powerline technology Computing Unplugged Magazine - July 2006 Broadband technology is changing at a wildly accelerated pace. Whether it's EvDO technology in your new Treo 700p or WiFi in your local coffee shop, it's clear Internet access is leaving POTS (Plain Ol' Telephone System) connections behind. One of the most exciting areas of innovation is broadband over powerline (BPL) technology, which distributes high-speed Internet connectivity over your household powerlines. We examine BPL in-depth this week in a detailed, exclusive interview with Chano Gomez, one of the leading experts on this technology. Kingston Technology and the meaning of U3 Computing Unplugged Magazine - June 2006 This month, we had the opportunity to interview Heather Skinner, an executive at Kingston Technology, the world's largest independent memory manufacturer. Heather was kind enough to help us understand a fascinating new technology called U3. Please stop clicking on the monkey: a Q&A on home networking security Computing Unplugged Magazine - July 2005 In this latest Q&A, Editor-in-Chief David Gewirtz speaks with Jim Doherty and Neil Anderson, authors of "Home Networking Simplified". Adaptive repeaters change the ROI equation for in-building solutions Computing Unplugged Magazine - May 2004 In this very interesting "industry article," Gantry Group founder Dale Troppito provides an in-depth understanding of what's necessary to bring wireless infrastructure into physical structures. Choose the right software for your Palm Computing Unplugged Magazine - March 2004 If you've ever wanted to add additional software to your Palm handheld, you know that the choices are virtually endless. This special article, written by developer Dennis Crane, will show you some ways you can make sure you're making a good choice, and choosing good products from good companies. Wireless service issues and handheld communication PalmPower Magazine - October 2002 Chris Guella has spent some time this summer reviewing the new Treo 180 and Treo 270 communicators from Handspring. In that time, he has been bothered by a number of disturbing wireless service issues. In this article, he shares some interesting thoughts on these issues and handheld communication in general. Palm's strategic relationships aim to extend applications to wireless world PalmPower Magazine Enterprise Edition - September 2002 In the past few months, Palm, Inc. has announced a couple of important strategic relationships with competitors IBM and BEA Systems, Inc. Steve Niles gives the details on these two recent announcements. Consulting with your handheld PalmPower Magazine Enterprise Edition - July 2002 As a consultant, Contributing Editor Stephen Vance finds his Palm m505 indispensable. In this article, he describes some of the tools and techniques he uses to support his consulting. If you're a consultant, you'll be fascinated to see how your Palm handheld can be used for hours tracking, email management, document editing, and reference. Where no handheld has gone before PalmPower Magazine Enterprise Edition - June 2002 By virtue of their design, Palm handhelds have been approved to enter industries where no handheld has gone before. In recent months, Palm technology has voyaged into two new and exciting environments. Steve Niles will show you how Palm handhelds are being used in both petro-chemical industrial facilities and outer space. The Palm i705 Wireless Messaging Solution satisfies the needs of today's business world PalmPower Magazine Enterprise Edition - April 2002 As business computing goes increasingly mobile, the transition is having a profound effect on enterprises, developers, and software vendors alike. Each group has its own concerns as it attempts to stay current in this new environment. Fulfilling these needs and addressing these concerns is the goal of the Palm i705 Wireless Messaging Solution. Contributing Editor Steve Niles takes a detailed look at the various components of this vital enterprise solution. Palm's enterprise offerings move forward with recent deals PalmPower Magazine Enterprise Edition - April 2002 Over the past few months, Palm has made two important steps in the company's enterprise strategy to provide businesses with complete and easy-to-implement IT management solutions and as well as a secure, server-based messaging platform. Contributing Editor Steve Niles discusses how Palm's recent acquisition of ThinAirApps, Inc., as well as the memorandum of understanding signed with XcelleNet, Inc. are helping the company meet its goals. Palm hits hole-in-one at Nissan Open PalmPower Magazine Enterprise Edition - March 2002 Palm's Enterprise Briefing took place this year at the Nissan Open PGA golf tournament, and Craig Schmidt, president of Karrier Communications and publisher of IntelliGolf, was there. We're thrilled to feature his special report from the fun-filled and informative event. You'll get the scoop on Palm's plans for the enterprise market as well as some exciting play-by-play from the final rounds of the tournament. A simple solution to staying organized PalmPower Magazine Enterprise Edition - February 2002 In order to be a truly effective employee of any enterprise, you need to master the skills of self-organization However, a poor organization system can make your attempts to simplify your life more complicated than it's worth. Contributing Editor Michael Connick has hit upon a wonderfully simple solution for staying organized, and he'll share it with you in this extremely helpful article. PalmPower interview: how PricewaterhouseCoopers is helping mobilize business PalmPower Magazine Enterprise Edition - November 2001 Last month, we talked with Palm CIO Marina Levinson about Palm's own internal mobile infrastructure, called Palm@Enterprise. PricewaterhouseCoopers played a key role in developing the Palm@Enterprise technology. Editor-in-Chief David Gewirtz had the opportunity to sit down with Jesus Mantas, a Partner in the High Technology Practice with PricewaterhouseCoopers, to learn more about how PwC is helping mobilize business. Part 2: inside the Sprint PCS wireless computing strategy PalmPower Magazine Enterprise Edition - September 2001 We continue our fascinating interview with Jay Highley, Vice President of Business Marketing at Sprint PCS. Jay shares with us more details on Sprint PCS's relationship with Palm, Inc. and gives us a look into the future of mobile computing. Study shows Palm OS most common handheld standard among Fortune 1000 PalmPower Magazine Enterprise Edition - August 2001 The handheld computing environment is one area large enterprises are investigating in as a way to remain competitive. In this article, James Hannagan of the Winn Technology Group reveals the results of a study they conducted among Fortune 1000 companies to determine the handheld computing standard of choice. PalmPower interview: inside the Sprint PCS wireless computing strategy PalmPower Magazine Enterprise Edition - August 2001 Earlier this year, Palm, Inc. and Sprint PCS announced an agreement to market and sell wireless solutions for handhelds using the Palm OS platform. This resulted in the recent release of the Sprint PCS Phone QCP-6035 by Kyocera and the upcoming full-color-screen SPH-I300 from Samsung. In this exclusive interview, Editor-in-Chief David Gewirtz speaks with Jay Highley, Vice President of Business Marketing at Sprint PCS to learn more about this ground-breaking strategic relationship. Develop your organization's pervasive computing strategy PalmPower Magazine Enterprise Edition - July 2001 In this important article, Senior Technical Editor Richard Echeandia draws parallels between the adoption of PCs and the current adoption of Palm handhelds in the enterprise. He uses this in order to form some conclusions regarding how you can prepare your organization to deal with the tr