Our team is truly global, and here are just a few photos of our Nerds in action all around the world. Check out the rest of our photos at NerdSpotting.com.

Often times when I’m driving, I’ll slip into a slipstream right behind a transport trailer. And as many of you know, it saves money – it saves energy. And when I say saves, I mean I pay less to go the distance.

I’m often reminded that I come from a very good stock. My mother and father are, I believe, the best parents anyone could have been blessed with, and many times in conversations and meetings people hear me say “My father always said…”. And I’ll bring up a few of his sayings like “Son of a bear!” or “Man oh shevitz!”, and it’s more than his colloquial terms… it’s his wisdom. His wisdom is ageless. It’s as many of us know with parents, mentors and teachers. It’s a combination of all that they have shared or all that they have passed on through deed and act that allows us to discern a little bit differently… intelligently, to assess more effectively, and to decide more resolutely.

We often times forget that it is all those who come before us, that paved the way, that provide a slipstream for us… so that we can move more quickly and efficiently than those who don’t pay homage, who don’t pay respect, to those who came before them.

There are many… we know not names and we know not faces of those in many sciences, many different fields… who have paved ways that allow us today to live the life we do with the freedoms and conveniences we enjoy… the gifts of technology and lifestyle that lifetimes of generations before us never ever dreamed of. WE OWE THEM!

So perhaps in conversations in the next little while, you might want to give CREDIT by NAME to those who have in fact came before. Those who did in fact, plant seeds… who infused you with something more than who you were about to be, by giving you their observation, or articulating in a different way, that which you have never felt or seen or experienced before. And by their sharing, they allowed you to slip into a pathway that was a little less challenging, with a little less wind in your face.

Good planting! Good harvesting! Good day!

We have planned some mail server maintenance for New Year’s Eve. On December 31, 2011, we will be taking down our mail system for a few hours starting at 8PM EST (Toronto/New York). We do not have an estimate on the duration of the downtime, but do fully expect it to be completed within 4 -6 hours. As always, updates will be shared on our Twitter feed (@nerdshosting). All mail will be spooled by SpamExperts and then immediately delivered after the server is backup.

Many people use a cloud synchronization service (like DropBox) to sync our files and data between computers. Some of us think that this also constitues a backup of our data, but that is not really correct. Data syncronization is not the same as backup, and SmallBizTechnology.com has 8 tips to help you see the difference between the two. To really protect your data, try NerdsBackup!

Read all 8 Tips: http://smallbiztechnology.com/archive/2011/12/synchronization-is-not-backup-confused-read-these-8-helpful-tips.html/.

The University of Berkeley recently chose between the two giants in the cloud office space – Google and Microsoft. Nerds On Site offers both Google Apps and Microsoft Office 365 (resold from AppRiver) and thought we’d share some of the University’s work on this comparison. There are two major offerings because one solution doesn’t fit everyone’s needs. The University of Berkeley put together a comparison matrix, and you can view it here: http://technology.berkeley.edu/productivity-suite/google/matrix.html.

two of our founders, David Redekop (left) and John Harbarenko (right)

Nerds On Site would like to wish everyone happy, healthy, and joyful holiday season full of love and laughs!

While you’re out on the roads, please drive safely, and remember to have patience as others make their journey to see their friends and family during this busy time of year.

Happy Holidays!

I don’t know anyone who isn’t caught up in the holiday spirit by now. Getting together with family and exchanging gifts certainly is one of the highlights most of us enjoy. From our team at Nerds On Site, here are some techtips you may enjoy or find useful and add to your office or home enjoyment.

1. Tracking Santa. cnet did a great article on Four great ways to track Santa this Christmas. This one is great fun for everyone at work and at home.

1. Letters To Santa (and videos in return). A Dear Santa letter was found 100 years later in Ireland which has warmth written all over it. Kids all over are writing Santa and now apparently Santa sends video emails back. So for your son, daughter, niece, nephew, someone near to your heart, spend a few minutes filling in some details and voilá, you’ve got a personally-greeted and customized video ready to be sent. Just for fun, if you’re old-fashioned, read this letter to Santa for a good laugh.

• Batteries. I know it never fails in my family, perhaps you’re a better planner. But with little kids and the variety of batteries required these days, there’s always a shortage of batteries by the evening of December 25th, and again the first or second week of January. So it’s not too late to get a good deal on batteries at a place like monoprice.com (not available in SA). Please be environmentally responsible and recycle old batteries properly. any electronic stores offer free recycling of old batteries.

BONUS TIP: If some of your family is not with you in person, consider having a video chat to include them in some of your family time. Three easy ways were just published in our previous blog posting.

Merry Christmas from the Nerds!

Is not everyone together this Christmas? Do you have broadband at both locations? One of these three ways of video-chatting may just bring you a little closer these holidays.

1. Skype. Skype is available for free and requires you to download a program and install it on your computer that is equipped with a webcam. Skype has a distinct advantage over the other two options listed here as it allows for a video conference to include up to four (4) people. There is a free trial for multi-user video and mobile phone version of skype work with audio only. However, you can video-skype one-on-one from an iPhone4 or later or many Android smartphones as well. Skype works on Wifi and 3G.

• FaceTime. FaceTime works only on Apple devices calling other Apple devices. iPhone to iPod Touch, Apple computer to iPad2, iPad2 to iPhone4, etc. The setup is not the most intuitive, but once you’ve navigated through that process, it really is the best video conference experience from person to person. FaceTime works on WiFi only (not 3G).

• Facebook video calling. Facebook is probably the easiest way to get started if you have never video-called before. Even though the Skype engine is used behind the scenes, the setup and installation is much simpler. So, if you and the person you want to call are both on Facebook and you’re both available on computers, it’s probably your best choice. Facebook video calling is not available on smartphone apps.

Update: BONUS method: Arthur’s comment below is absolutely right – we should have included this one as well: Google+Hangout. The only “excuse” I have, Arthur, is that perhaps it is more of a nerdy tool than that of our clients.

Whether you’ve used video calling for years or about to enjoy this technology for the first time, the Nerds wish you the best experience technology can offer, especially where it can bring family and friends closer together.

Our team is truly global, and here are just a few photos of our Nerds in action all around the world. Check out the rest of our photos at NerdSpotting.com.

RADIO & other invisible SIGNALS

You hear that? (radio playing in the background) That’s NPR. I know there are lots of podcasts I listen to, as many of you do. I would recommend wholeheartedly you do, if you drive 12,000km a year – which is not very far – it’s about 8,000 miles – but they say that’s what the average Canadian drives. It’s quite a remarkable amount of time – the equivalent of a college diploma, each year. So filling your vehicle – that drive time – with important information from leaders, thinkers – of the day and of yesterday – wouldn’t be a bad idea.

But going back to the radio signal from NPR. You probably don’t hear it right now… There you hear it again… and there it’s gone. Now, the touch of a button allows, with the particular piece of science & technology, allows you to pick up on what is presently there: wave-lengths/radio signals that are quite literally jammed in space bombarding you. You choose to listen to one or another station. If you’ve flipped through the channels you know that they’re all out there, ready to be received.

In life, we often times end up on stations that aren’t good ones. We listen to the wrong stuff – we don’t do or accomplish all that we could, because the station we’re on, or the signals we are picking up on, are not the ones that are challenging or engaging us at the highest possible level. We need to be aware that there are vibes that are constantly accessible, and they are not all good. We have to clue into the good ones, pay attention to them, and hang around them, make certain our technology – our receptors, our signal receivers are strong enough so we continue to pick up on them. That means not just the radio we listen to, the podcasts, the sites we surf, the people we hang around with, the TIME we spent in some circumstances as opposed to other circumstances… all of these reflect our choices that in their own small way determine whether or not we are being fed the good stuff, or the right stuff.

Also remember, as you’re driving down the highway – perhaps you are listening to a radio signal – passing by power lines or cell towers as well (and the signal is interrupted). That’s another subject all on its own – what’s actually out there that’s interfering in perhaps a dangerous way. But remember, there are all kinds of signals that CAN interrupt – that CAN in fact infect the good stuff.

So, do your very best by choosing the right reading, the right mentors, the right partners, the right players you work with, play with, socialize with – to ensure the signaling is the right stuff and your receptors/receivers are in fact in top shape, So you’re doing your doing your level best, and get the best stuff on a regular basis.

Good planting! Good harvesting! Good day!