Not So Foolish

April 1 is the day that many of us in the IT world dread, as many viruses and worms attack on this date. 2009 will be no exception, and many people are warning about the Conficker C worm, which may be one of the most damaging in years. Good reason to make sure you have your antivirus current and all Microsoft patches applied.

Many of our clients are now working with my company to provide this 24/7 protection. For $199/month, we can monitor, alert, and report on any problems in your network. Contact me for more info...

TV...or not TV?

Here's a really cool site I heard about recently called DentalEdu.TV. Here's what they say:

www.1MediaProduction.com and www.DentalEdu.tv have formed a collaboration to offer a Dental video education website utilizing the Best High Definition available. www.DentalEdu.Tv is a video content website that offers Full Screen, High Definition, and interactive videos.

Unlike other Dental video websites, DentalEdu.Tv can broadcast "LIVE" and/or "On-Demand" interactive content videos. Using a completely mobile video system, www.1mediaproduction.com can produce your video ANYWHERE. Using the latest video technology, you can be placed directly on your powerpoint/ keynote lecture just like your TV weather Newscaster.

To find out about our content compensation programs and/or for more information about the benefits of our technology, please contact via phone (239) 593-2178 or email.

Open and Shut Case

Here's a great utility that I've started to use: OpenWith.org. Here's the situation: you download a file but have no clue how to open it. And, once you figure out how to open it, it usually requires an expensive program that you don't currently own. OpenWith.org solves both problems by not only identifying the file type, it will link you to a free program that can open it. Very handy.

A Line in the Sand

One of the program categories that my company has started to explore (besides Managed Services and Backup Disaster Recovery) are sandbox programs. In a nutshell, these programs lock down your program so that even when you install new programs, while they appear to be installed, they are actually running in a separate "sandbox", away from your real files. These are great at preventing virus attacks, malware, or just plain dumb things that people do to their computers. Here are Five sandboxing apps to protect your Windows computer.

Divide and Conquer

One of the best things you can do for very large hard drives is to break them up into partitions, making it easier to restore just an operating system or just a single set of data. While many programs exist that can do this, they all cost money..except for one. EASEUS Partition Manager can do everything that the paid versions can do, but for free. It won't work on a server or 64-bit OS, but all other computers are fair game.

12 is Enough?

If you've been watching digital cameras, you've seen that the number of megapixels has gone higher and higher over the last few years. The question, how much is enough? I've seen excellent images from 6-8 MP cameras and many experts seem to feel that 12 is enough for even the most demanding photography buffs. Here's an explanation why.

The Best Keep Getting Better

I have just been given the go-ahead to announce a new sensor from XDR Radiology. I had a chance to demo this new-and-improved e2v sensor a few weeks ago but was waiting for formal approval from them to make the announcement. Here are the main things that excite me:

1. I've always thought e2v had a great image but the new sensor has even better image quality...as good if not better than anything I've seen from Kodak or Dexis.

2. They have created a repairable cable. As anyone with sensors knows, the cable-sensor interface is the main area of sensor failure. Now you can just replace the cable.

3. They have done away with the USB box...no more problems trying to position the box or risking problems with the proprietary connection.

4. The new sensor is more comfortable with more rounded corners.

5. And, best of all, they are keeping the pricing very low, far below what companies like Schick, Kodak, and Dexis charge for their systems.

My understanding is that the new sensors should be shipping in about a month or so. XDR is offering a generous trade-in for anyone that purchased the older sensors that makes it easy to transition to the newer sensors if you prefer. There's nothing wrong with the older sensors at all and many offices will find it makes sense to just stick with what they have.

Feel free to contact me if you want more info.

Webbing

While many of us have grown to love to hate Microsoft, they actually do a lot of things right. One that you probably don't know about is their web services, some of which are quite useful. Here are 5 Great Microsoft Web Services You Probably Don't Use.

Vista Smackdown

With many of you getting new computers for the Holidays, it's likely that a lot of those came with Windows Vista. While Vista has some good points, there's still a lot of skepticism toward it, especially with Windows 7 due sometime in 2009. One of the main reasons to switch to Vista is increased security and even then, it's not great out-of-the-box. Here's how to Secure Your Vista PC in 10 Easy Steps.

A Game

I've been lecturing for years that while businesses need enterprise-level backup, that's not true for home use. I'm a big fan of online backup and most offer 1-5 GB for free, which is great. The new leader, as far as I can tell, is ADrive, which offers a whopping 50 GB! They have paid plans that offer more features but for may users, the free version is more than enough.

Eight is Enough

The latest version of Microsoft's browser, Internet Explorer 8, is now available for download. I like some of the improvements but still prefer Firefox right now.

Faster Than a Speeding Bullet

When it comes to our Internet connection, faster is always better. But, when you are shopping for a new provider, what do all those numbers mean and how do you test them? Here's a great primer on how to Understand Your Internet Connection and Test its Speed.

TV Ads

Here's a press release for a new advertising medium that may of interest to many dental offices:

NEW YORK, NY  March 19, 2009  National Cable Communications (NCC), the leader in cable television advertising and marketing, recently announced the rollout of MyLife On Demand across and on behalf of multi-system operators (MSOs) throughout the United States.

Specifically, MyLife On Demand is a cable industry-wide, first-of-its-kind health and wellness video on demand (VOD) network. MyLife On Demand uses the latest digital cable technology to micro-target and deliver a wide range of relevant and comprehensive health and wellness information to enhance the lives of today’s health-conscious consumers. It provides many national, regional and local advertising options for dental and other healthcare marketers.

MyLife On Demand’s long-form programming covers oral health topics such as implants and plaque control, as well as information about health services, medical conditions, pharmaceuticals, vision, fitness, nutrition and alternative procedures.

MyLife On Demand brings together programming from the leading providers of health content in the US, including NBC Digital Health Network, HealthiNation and ExerciseTV. Easy

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access, highly relevant topics and fresh programming ensure that consumers will make MyLife On Demand a frequent destination and important resource for their health information.

According to NCC’s Senior Vice President of Marketing and Business Development Andrew Capone, who spearheads the project, “MyLife On Demand gives healthcare industry marketers an interactive means to engage with their target audiences. Through digital ad campaigns, branded content and sponsorship of long-form, quality health and wellness programming, we can craft unique targeted marketing programs for health advertisers.”

Added David Porter, Vice President, Marketing and New Media at Cox Media, “MyLife On Demand’s health and wellness programming is now available 24/7 to educate consumers while providing healthcare industry marketers with a highly effective means to cut through the media clutter. It is a priority for the cable industry to come together and roll out distinct products for consumers and advertisers. We believe MyLife On Demand proves that commitment.”

MyLife on Demand is currently available in over 30 million cable homes across Comcast, Cox Communications, Time Warner Cable, Bright House, Insight, Bresnan and OnMedia, and is expected to reach the full footprint of digital wired cable subscribers in the near future.

For more information about NCC, visit www.spotcable.com. Healthcare industry marketers can request more details about MyLife on Demand by contacting Andrew Capone directly at andrew_capone@spotcable.com or 212-548-3386.

Nine Lives

When it comes to backup, you can't be too safe. I've been moving many of our offices over the online backup over the past year. For your home files, there are many online backup sites. If you're worried about them going out of business (HP's online backup just announced they are folding), you can upload your files to a few sites, but that takes time. Or, just use Gazup!, which uploads your files to 9 separate sites at once (as long as you have accounts with those sites). Very handy tool.

Quick Step

I've been recommending dual monitors for many, many years. One of the downsides is that if your mouse cursor is all the way over on one screen, you have to drapg it back to the other screen all the time...this can get annoying and takes a lot of time. Enter Multi-Monitor Mouse, a small utility which simplifies and speeds up that process by assigning mouse clicks or keyboard shortcuts to the process. A bit of a learning curve, but once you use it, you'll never go back.

Hacky Sack

The days of viruses causing complete computer crashes are over. For the most part, the hackers want your computer up and running to steal information or do other nefarious deeds. Here's a good review of how to tell if your computer is infected.

We have started to install Managed Services for many of our clients. This is 24/7 monitoring and repair of problems like these and most offices will be at the $199/month range. Feel free to contact me if you'd like more info.

Image is Everything

I'm becoming more and more of a fan of disk imaging software, as they are easier to use when you replace an entire hard drive. Here's one called DiskImage which is worth checking out.

Life of the Party

With more and more people turning to laptop computers, it's important to do whatever you can to extend the battery life, as this is the main issue that limits use of a laptop. Here are 20 Ways to Increase the Life of Your Laptop's Battery.

Time after Time

With laptops becoming more powerful, many of us are turning to laptops as our primary computers. The biggest downside is limited battery life. Here are Seven Ways to Make Your Laptop Battery Last Longer.

Monitors to the Max

Here's a great utility that I think is really helpful for dental offices: MaxTo.
MaxTo is a small Windows program that divides your monitors into regions. When you maximize a window, it will no longer fit the entire screen, but only the region it was maximized into. Your windows are neatly organized into the grid you have defined when they are maximized. MaxTo has been described as a tiling window manager. You can have your PMS in one region, the images in another, and the Internet in a third...very slick.

You Know....for Kids

Here's a great utility that I see being useful in two situations: Kid-Key-Lock. If you have kids, the utility is obvious: to prevent kids from hitting the wrong keys or mouse buttons. I also think this is great for the dental ops when you are wiping down the keyboards, as it will prevents keys from being pressed. Free to use.

Release the Hounds!

If all goes well, expect to see the first Release Candidate of Windows 7 on April 10. A Release Candidate is the version of the software between the beta and the final release, so this should pretty much be close to the end result. You can read the news here.

Digging for Gold

If you've accidentally deleted some files or photos and want to get them back, here's a great free utility that does it: DiskDigger. It's easy to use and as far as I can tell, works pretty well.

Up in Smoke

One of the most annoying things in the IT world are when companies make promises on new hardware and software...and then never deliver. The term is best called vaporware. There were plenty of vaporware products in 2008...here are the best known culprits.

Smiling Faces

While email is the preferred method for virus to attack people, there are now reports of viruses and worms that have hit social networking sites like FaceBook. You can read about these new threats here.

Movies To Go

There are many ways to watch movies on your laptop, with DVD being the easiest. But, what if your laptop doesn't have a DVD player (many smaller laptops and netbooks do not)? Here's a really simple utility: DVDSmith Movie Backup. It does exactly what it says...copy entire DVD movies to your hard drive.

Looking Out

If you send a lot of emails (like I do), then you need a business-class email client. I've used Outlook for years and it continues to be my client of choice. However, Outlook is lacking in a few features. Fortunately, here are the Top 10 Outlook Boosters to enhance your experience with Outlook.

Small is In

Lares has just introduced a tiny, lightweight soft-tissue laser called the XD-2.

Here's the news:

Chico, CA: March 4, 2009— Lares Research has introduced the XD-2 Diode Laser, an exceptionally lightweight and portable laser system. With the XD-2, clinicians can offer a comprehensive range of soft tissue procedures without having to make a major investment. The laser is manufactured by Fotona, the leading European manufacturer of all-tissue dental lasers.

The Lares XD-2 Diode Laser is an affordable solution for dentists who want to increase the number of services they are able to offer patients. With 7 watts of peak power, the XD-2 can perform procedures such as frenectomies, gingivectomies, crown lengthening, papillectomies, gingivoplasty, treatment of aphthous ulcers, removal of diseased tissue within the periodontal pocket, photocoagulation, soft tissue curettage, and laser-assisted whitening.

The XD-2 is easy to use (there are 4 preset treatment options), and an intuitive operator interface allows the operator to quickly tailor parameters to specific treatments. At just over 2 pounds, the compact, hand-held laser is extremely user-friendly and is an excellent choice for clinicians making their first laser purchase.

Lares is a recognized leader in the development, manufacture and distribution of oral cutting technology, supplying dentists with precision handpieces and high performance lasers worldwide. The company has been an innovator in the field of dental lasers since it began offering lasers to dental clinicians in 1997. For more information, call 888-333-8440, ext. 2050, or go to www.laresdental.com.

Click Clack

I've been playing around with a new patient education program called Click & Print which is pretty slick. They have both online and offline versions, and customizable forms you can print out. Very easy to use and learn. Looks like it's around $1500 and then $500/year so it represents a good value.

DIY

Back in the day when I had more than 3 minutes free time each day, I used to build my own computers. It was the best way to have complete control over the parts and learn a lot about computers while you did it. If you want to take the plunge, there are many online guides you can follow. Here's a really good one.

Foxy Lady

Here's an absolute must if you use Firefox on multiple computers: Foxmarks. One of the biggest hassles for me was to bookmark pages on my laptop when I travel but not have access to them on my home or office computer. Not a problem any longer. Foxmarks works in the background, syncing all 3 of my computers' bookmarks in real time. Free add-on, and it works great.