Freesat - Better than Freeview...

Freesat is the satellite equivalent of Freeview, only recently becoming available and not very well publicised. The key feature that should have it selling like crazy is high definition channels are included as part of the package, all of this is free, no subscription charges just the initial setup cost.The company is a joint venture between the BBC and ITV and unless it starts to get more serious promotion and uptake, it runs a risk of failing which would be a real shame.

http://www.freesat.co.uk the official website

http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk is a good resource to learn more about the service

Small Business Server 2008

Microsoft's Small Business Server (SBS) is to be updated with their latest version becoming available on 12th November 2008. This is the first major update since October 2003 when SBS 2003 was first released.

I'm running a pre-release version to get up to speed with the new features, once I've formed a proper opinion I'll post further information. For now, the big changes that come with this new version:

Image taken from microsoft.com

Extracts from Wikipedia:

Windows Small Business Server 2008

is based on Windows Server 2008 and includes Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, Windows SharePoint Services 3.0. The standard edition of SBS 2008 will be a single server solution for small businesses. The premium edition will contain a license for Windows Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 Standard Edition, that is required to run on a second server.

The premium edition will therefore be targeted businesses that have a core business application that needs optimum performance and reliability, products like SAP, MRP and other CRM packages.

In addition to features present in previous versions, new features include:

• A streamlined administration and management console that is designed around tasks to be accomplished rather than underlying technologies
• Built-in support for registering and configuring domain name and DNS records via multiple registrars
• Monitoring reports that gather data from both servers and clients on the network, including Security Center status (anti-virus, spyware, and client firewall) from all the office computers
• New features in the Remote Web Workplace, such as the ability to define default and allowed PCs for each user
• Office Live Small Business integration for and configuring a public web site or extranet
• New server backup features, based on the incremental block-based backup technology in Windows Server 2008 (tape backup no longer supported via native tools, but continues to be supported via other software, e.g. if you're using BackupAssist that will still work fine)
• SBS 2008 requires installation behind a separate network firewall device. In contrast with SBS 2003, it does not support being installed directly on the edge of the network, due to changes in Routing and Remote Access Service from Windows Server 2008.

Windows Small Business Server 2008 will support businesses with up to 75 users or devices.

New 3G Apple iPhone

Apple's new iPhone set to be available exclusively with o2 is now ready for corporate email synchronisation. I've setup plenty of smartphones to work with Microsoft Exchange and it's good news that iPhone can now work the same way. It means you can have full access to your email, calendar and contacts on the phone and once converted, you'll never go back to a regular phone.

The first immediate benefit is that your Outlook contacts folder becomes really useful since this becomes your iPhone's directory of numbers. This is beneficial since it forces you to make Outlook contacts up to date and makes setting up new contacts really easy, safe knowing that the numbers/address/email etc will all transfer directly to the phone automatically.

If you need help getting your new iPhone to talk to your email system, give me a call.

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