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Published at Enterprise Mobile Today – 9/10/2010

With iOS 4.1, Apple delivered bug fixes, new features (Ping and Game Center), and support for FaceTime on the new iPod touch. At the same time, the company also updated its iPhone Configuration Utility to support basic management of iOS 4/4.1. Despite the emphasis on iOS 4′s mobile device management service (and the related management server platforms that implement it), the updated iPhone Configuration Utility can still provide a free option for basic iOS management in smaller businesses and schools.

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Published at Computerworld – 9/10/2010

In addition to the major announcements of iTunes 10, a new iPod lineup, and a revamped Apple TV, Apple quietly updated the iPhone Configuration Utility last week. The iPhone Configuration Utility was introduced two years ago with iOS 2 and the iPhone 3G as Apple’s first stab at providing IT departments a solution to secure and auto-configure iPhones in business. Although much of that functionality has been shifted to third party management solutions in iOS 4 (see my coverage of those solutions for more information), the update of the iPhone Configuration Utility brings several of iOS 4′s enterprise features to organizations without the resources or need to invest in a broader management tool. Find out all the details of the update in this article.

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Published at Peachpit Press – 9/9/2010

Even with the best hard drive tools and a solid backup plan in place, there is always the possibility that any computer user may face a minor or catastrophic data loss. Data loss can mean losing recent work on a term paper, losing precious family photos and home movies, or even losing all data on your Mac. In this feature, I look at how to respond immediately following a data loss to preserve your best chances of recovery as well as at the top Mac data recovery tools and professional recovery services to help you know exactly what to do when confronted with any form of data loss.

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Published at Enterprise Mobile Today – 9/8/2010

Part of my ongoing coverage of how to manage mobile devices in business or enterprise environments. In this article, I look at the challenges posed by a fragmented mobile market and supporting employee-owned devices (which can include iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, Symbian, webOS, and even Windows on a tablet or netbook) and the key things to consider when choosing a management solution. I also show how solving those challenges with the right solution can offer a number of additional advantages for an IT department and an entire company.

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Published 9/2/2010 at Computerworld

Apple’s new iPod lineup and preview of iOS 4.2 were big news at Apple’s annual Fall music event, but the redesigned Apple TV along with Ping and other additions in iTunes 10 were also major news that illustrate Apple isn’t going to rest on its laurels when it comes to be a key player in the music and entertainment industries. Here’s my take on Apple’s 2010 music announcements.

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Published at Computerworld – 8/11/2010

Apple’s iOS 4 introduced a new mobile device management (MDM) service that significantly improves the iPhone’s enterprise pedigree. In this article, I look at Apple’s decision to have third-party vendors to provide the actual management console and server. Along the way, I look at the challenges facing IT professionals when it comes to managing an ever-growing range of mobile devices (each with their own potential management and security issues) and how many of those third party vendors can provide a solution for managing multiple mobile platforms (Android, Blackberry, Windows mobile, and so forth) as well as just Apple’s iOS.

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Published at Enterprise Mobile Today – 8/9/2010

With the release of iOS 4, Apple included a new mobile device management (MDM) service. This service is the cornerstone behind the major enterprise features introduced in iOS 4/ In this article, I review the methods and limitations for managing iOS devices in past iOS releases and discuss how the new MDM service functions, the advantages it offers, and introduce you to the third-party vendors who are shipping management server solutions based around this new service. If you need to manage iPhones or other iOS devices in the workplace (be it a small office or a large enterprise), here’s your introduction to how to do it.

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Published at Peachpit Press – 8/4/2010

Do I need a hard drive tool beyond Disk Utility and which tool should I buy? That’s one of the most common questions I get asked and something I’ve written about several times. The truth is Disk Utility can repair many problems, but it has some limitations that make having some other options a good idea. In fact, some of the tools on the market are worth having because they have some great features beyond the basic diagnosing and repairing of problems. In this article, I take a look at the current field of excellent drive utilities, what extra features they offer, and how to pick the one(s) that’s best for you.

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Published at Computerworld – 7/6/2010

With it’s recently announced Cius tablet, Cisco is taking aim at the iPad in the workplace and healthcare (an industry that has already begun to embrace the iPad) is likely to be the first battleground for the two devices. After speaking with a range of healthcare professionals about the potential for tablet devices in hospitals and medical practices, I tackle the question of whether one is inherently better or more likely to win over the industry… and the answers might surprise you.

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Published at Enterprise Mobile Today – 6/16/2010

Supporting the iPad in business and education environments presents new challenges for IT departments in terms of how deploy, manage, troubleshoot, and secure the devices. Part of the challenge is that the iPad is a new form of device and part of it is that iPads used in an organization may be a mix of organization-owned and personally-owned devices. Here are the major questions, potential issues, and concerns that IT staff need to consider when the iPad begins to show up in the office or on campus.

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Published at Computerworld – 6/12/2010

Apple’s latest revision of its Safari web browser advances the cause of HTML 5 and patches security holes. It also improves performance and comes with some great new features that place on par with Chrome and Firefox. In this list, I pick the top five features that will help you get the most out of Safari 5 and your web browsing experience.

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Published at Enterprise Mobile Today – 6/8/2010

There wasn’t a lot of real surprises in the WWDC keynote delivered by Steve Jobs this year, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t a lot of important news. Join me as I break down the important details about the new iPhone 4 and iOS 4 (both coming later this month). I’ll also look at how those details play into daily life at home and at work and what they could mean for Apple and the mobile industry going forward. I’ll even examine the things some people expected to see that were not part of the keynote.

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Published at Computerworld – 6/5/2010

Developers eyeing Apple’s iPhone and iPad for the first time have a choice to make: go for distribution in Apple’s App Store (which requires ponying up $99, learning Apple’s development tools, agreeing to Apple’s sometimes changing rules and restrictions, and hoping your app makes it through Apple’s approval process) or create a web-based application (which has no content restrictions, can be done with ordinary web tools, can work on multiple platforms, but can only access the most basic of iPhone/iPad hardware features). Join me as I weigh the pros and cons of each option.

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Published at Enterprise Mobile Today – 6/3/2010

The saga of potential announcements at Apple’s WWDC this year has included the usual slew of rumors and leaked reports as well as the soap opera-like saga of a prototype iPhone that was lost or stolen, sold to a media outlet, and triggered a criminal investigation (not to mention other prototype parts that found there way online in countries across the world). But what do all these pieces of information add up to? Check out my list of iPhone/iPad related predictions (and check Monday afternoon to see how many I got right).

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Published at Computerworld – 6/1/2010

Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference is a set to open in under a week. Unlike years past, the even is completely centered around the iPhone and iPad with developer sessions specific to Mac OS X development scaled back or removed. Along the way, Apple has also removed the IT track that in years past has served as information, training, and professional networking resource for Mac and multiplatform systems administrators and IT managers. Here’s a look at what’s missing for those folks and the potential longterm impact of Apple’s devision.

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