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HTML5 vs. Flash: Apple Wins Both WaysApril 21st, 2011
The argument about Adobe’s Flash – “it’s great, we all need it” vs. “it slows everything down, go for HTML5” – has been getting some extra mileage since the release of the Flash-less iOS that runs Apple “iDevices” like iPad rentals from CRE Rentals. There are opinions across the entire spectrum, from “Flash’s time is short” to “HTML5 is vaporware,” but the safe, middle-of-the-tech-road guess is that Flash is not going anywhere. Fact is, Flash is being adopted at a greater rate than ever over the entire range of mobile platforms. Christopher Dawson at ZDNet cleared up the misconception that only Android, Google’s new mobile OS, would be Flash-friendly. The Blackberry line, Windows phones and HP’s WebOS all support (or plan to support) Flash. This means, says Dawson, that the only mobile OS not supporting Flash – which gives you “everything from YouTube to the latest hardware-accelerated web-based games” – will be Apple’s iOS. Apple certainly isn’t “killing Flash” by excluding it, but it is differentiating itself from the pack, as always. So, is lack of Flash even a problem? Apple means options The first thing you should realize is that, if you simply must have Flash on your Apple iOS device, you can use the Skyfire browser. It has a clever chunk of code that can convert many embedded Flash videos and animations. That said, you don’t notice a lack of video material at Apple’s Web site, do you? With HTML5, all Web standards are supported, as well as many popular add-ons and tweaks, so nothing is “plugged in.” From iMac rentals to every mobile device with a modern browser, HTML5 renders the Web identically. HTML5 (okay, maybe HTML6) may be the technology that eventually replaces Flash, but right now it is still being refined. It is, however, already in use and fully capable of presenting beautiful Web experiences on a full range of computer rentals with the three major OS installations (Windows, Mac OS X and Linux). The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has told its HTML Working Group (HTMLWG) to bring HTML5 to “last call status” later in 2011, with a target date of 2014 for a fully approved standard. Time is on your side A lot can happen in this time. As HTML5 is finalized, other technologies will be out there, too – mature versions of what is now new, as well as things yet to be created. Our Mac Pro with Kona Card rentals combine different technologies seamlessly, and Adobe will keep Flash working the same way. While Flash partisans and HTML5 supporters may scare each other with a few headlines, there’s nothing for tech pros to fear at all. When standards and technologies compete, we all win! Call or e-mail an experienced Account Executive and find out about all of CRE’s winning ways! As always, if you know what you need, use our handy Quick Rental Quote form. Gadget Grab BagMarch 29th, 2011
Remote access app for iOS The remote access app from developer LogMeIn is getting phenomenal reviews for its recent no-cost upgrade. Being able to log in to your home computer from work, or from Paris, is nothing new, but doing it seamlessly on an iOS device (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch) with a low-cost App Store product is newsworthy. Controlling one machine from another this easily, with a friendly interface and no “IT jargon,” is the best way to bring VNC (Virtual Network Computing) to the non-nerd masses. Among the upgrades to Ignition is the ability called Wake-On-Lan, by which you can turn on a remote computer. No longer do you have to leave your computer turned on while you take a two-week vacation. Ignition lets everyone enjoy quick, stable and inexpensive VNC access. CRE’s iPad rentals – original or iPad 2 – can be configured with this handy app if you so desire. Customizing Windows look and feel A member of the deviantART community designed a simple but gorgeous “glassy theme” for Windows 7. Or, give your computer a natural, even peaceful feel with Elune – but be careful whose instructions you follow for installing it. Several sites that feature this free download provide multi-step instructions for its installation, steps that include modifying dll system files; this could be trouble for non-tekkie users. Want something easier? Try Custopack Tools, a free download that simplifies the “theming” process. You can also make your own themes, or modify others. CRE believes that choosing a theme is a very personal thing – customize your own computer, but leave the B2B computer rentals alone. Here comes King Kindle Since at least late 2009, Amazon has been working on a tablet. Yep, another e-reader-slash-touchpad device, but based on the popular Kindle reader. The evidence piled up quickly in 2010 as Amazon bought a multi-touch developer, Touchco, and then folded the operation into the Lab126 division responsible for the Kindle. When the firm began hiring LCD experts, the recipe was clear – here comes Amazon’s iPad killer. Most analysts are guessing that Amazon will go with a 7-inch size, as that sector of the tablet market has no clear leader. If Amazon sticks with the book-reading theme that Kindle is now focused on, the device won’t have to be a powerhouse like the iPad rentals. It may run on Android, and it may not. There are still many more questions than answers, so stay tuned. If you know what you need, the Quick Rental Quote will save you time. If you call us or e-mail your gadget questions, our Account Executives can turn them into answers for you – the right ones, and right now. Surface Table: More Microsoft Magic?February 15th, 2011
Microsoft unveiled its new Surface Table at January’s CES, the first upgrade since its 2007 debut. Although fine for a single-user PC, the 2.9GHZ AMD Athlon II X2 may be a bit sluggish while processing media files from multiple people and input sources. The CPU is not as capable as those in CRE Rentals’ high-end computer rentals, and may be replaced before production ramps up in the next several months. But the concept? Wow! New Table with new apps coming The new unit, made by Samsung, has a gorgeous, 40-inch, full-HD LCD display like state-of-the-art LCD monitor rentals. Reviewers have noted that the people in the Microsoft promo spots look a bit cramped standing around it. Still, there’s a bit more room up close now, since unlike the original Vista-based model, the new Surface Table doesn’t require connecting a mouse and keyboard to complete the setup. Surface Tables now use Windows 7 (and supports 64-bit computing), so the entire experience, from setup through use of all available and potential applications, is touch-driven. The Tables are now about half the original price, making them affordable as interactive solutions as well as graphic arts production aids. The new Surface 2.0 Software Developers Kit (SDK) ships later this year, and the next development phase is all about third parties coming up with the requisite “killer apps.” Surface Table magic show Amnesia Razorfish has said goodbye to the antiquated “send and receive” procedure for file transfer with Surface Table software named Amnesia Connect. It uses a natural, gesture-based interface – like iPad rentals for instance – so tablet and smart phone users can move digital content between devices easily. How? Content is transferred to the Surface Table with a single swiping gesture on a smart phone or iPad. With the same motion, it can be sent to another device – but before it finishes the user will get a live preview like an X-ray going through to the Surface display. (check out the video). Amnesia says using its product with the Surface Table “promises a range of new possibilities,” and the company believes people will soon use their digital devices – from tablet PC rentals to phones and iPads – for fast, safe “commercial transactions for both physical and digital content.” When you need to know about the latest, greatest solutions – to the same old problems, or new ones – our experienced Account Executives are the folks to contact. Send an e-mail, make a call or fill out our Quick Rental Quote form, and we’ll explain the best strategies for taking care of business. Fact is, our business is helping you take care of yours! Ultimate Pen Tablet: Wacom Intuos4 XLFebruary 3rd, 2011
The Intuos4 line from Wacom comprises leading-edge “digitizing tablets” that are used as alternative input devices for creating original hand-drawn art or editing digital art files of all kinds. All the models have been reworked with a black-on-black scheme; are slimmer than their predecessors; and have a new 16:9 aspect ratio. Operations are handled via 8 programmable ExpressKey buttons and a four-function iPod-style Touch Dial, and the tablets work with both PC and Macintosh computer rentals. Along with redesigning the tablet, Wacom revamped the well-reviewed product line with sizes ranging from small, medium and large to extra large (XL), the model that CRE Rentals now rents! While all sizes of the tablet are capable and produce excellent results, the XL Pen Tablet is the one that serious digital artists will crave. As part of a workflow with digital video and an AJA Io HD rentals, Wacom’s Intuos4 XL is a dream device, especially with a redesigned pen that is far more responsive, supporting 2,048 sensitivity levels as opposed to the previous model’s 1,024. Power and flexibility with a Pen Tablet The unit’s ExpressKeys default to Alt, Shift, Ctrl or the Mac equivalents, while the Radial menu is an onscreen display that can be programmed for various individual operations, and is particularly useful for launching Photoshop Actions. It comes with presets for basic operations like cutting, copying and pasting, and provides a range of media controls for music and video files. There are also four Touch Dial presets for cycling through layers, automating scroll and zoom, rotating the canvas and selecting brush sizes. The Pen Tablet can be hooked up to everything from an iMac rental or LCD monitor rentals which takes advantage of the tablet’s wide screen format. Serious, high-end device Tablet The LED labels are extremely helpful and keep your work on track. The Intuos4 XL Tablet is a phenomenal product and a tremendous improvement over previous models. So, if you’re in the business of inking, scanning, drawing and retouching still or motion graphics – from editing video to doing digital photo retouching – this is the finest tool in the toolbox, bar none! Call or e-mail our Account Executives and they can explain the time-saving advantages of the Intuos4 XL Pen Tablet now available for rent from CRE Rentals. Fun Time with High TechJanuary 25th, 2011We blog about high-tech gadgets and toys at times (check out this post) just to balance all the hard work with a little fun. Today we’re talking playthings again – not Android tablets or the “big news” from CES (check our recent CES coverage for that). As the New Year starts picking up momentum, let’s take just a moment for a few smiles, shall we? Robot teacher
The Rover can negotiate obstacle courses in a room full of iMac rentals, carry small items, stand guard and go on missions (with 10 routes in memory at once). It is equipped with LED headlights, microphone and speaker, caterpillar tracks, a “third wheel,” a cargo bay, a “ReCon go home” command and sound effects. In addition to included sounds, there is memory space reserved for four more (like this cool sound). Indoor/outdoor flying Radio controlled (RC) devices are nothing new, and helicopters are quite popular. The latest advance is voice control, and the aptly named Voice Control Helicopter that recently hit the market follows five commands: start engine, fly higher, fly lower, hold an item and turn off upon landing. A standard joystick remote control turns it right and left, while a ceiling sensor prevents in-home crashes. New Mac Pro rentals, of course, have powerful speech command capabilities built in for doing serious work more easily. RC copter makers want to make it easy to have serious fun, too. Thus, the Voice Control Helicopter understands commands in English, French or Spanish, while another copter from Japan needs some commands in Japanese and others in English. Get set for more innovations from this industry. Party lights for Jedi Knights If you want a unique touch for a party, consider Illoom glowing balloons. There are LEDs built in, so you just pull a tab before blowing them up for über-cool lighting effects. In a room full of computer rentals with glowing plasma rentals, the balloons would complement the lighting nicely – another instant workplace party recipe. And there’s more to the Illoom balloons than a choice of colors, such as pumpkin and ghost images for Halloween, and others for different holidays and purposes. Make sure to have fun to balance your hard work, but when you need to blow through a production bottleneck, or put on a great show with our soup-to-nuts convention rentals, we’re ready with everything you need. Call or e-mail our experienced Account Executives, or fill out the Quick Rental Quote form, and let’s get it done. Event Planning on the iPadJanuary 13th, 2011In November 2010, Filemaker, Inc., released a new set of templates for the iPad version of its “personal database,” Bento 3. Bento 3 Event Planner is a The templates link so information flows from one to another without requiring redundant data entry. For organizing everything from small company meetings to trade shows, Bento 3 Event Planner syncs data among Macs, iPads and iPhones. Although the iPad and iPhone both run the latest iOS (4.2), Bento apps for each are sold separately. If you’d prefer Bento 3 installed on MacBook Pro rentals for your conference management needs, that can be done, too. Another approach for event planners Event managers and conference planners did not sit still waiting for Bento 3 Event Planner, of course. You can also assemble a number of separate iPad apps to customize your own approach to conference management. Here are a few suggestions:
The online storage-site-cum-utility, Dropbox is a great way to do backups, distribute files and much more. Dropbox syncs the documents you can’t afford to lose in 2GB of free online space. Create an account, download the app(s) for your device(s), and you’re in business. Office2 HD recognizes that document types “.doc” and “.xls” are the global standards. For opening and editing Word and Excel documents on the iPad, Office2 HD gives you near-total control over MS-Office documents. Desktop Connect means the “I left it on my desktop” excuse is a goner. Desktop Connect lets you control your PC or Mac’s desktop from an iPad. Meeting planners, of course, need this functionality during events, whether on tablet PC rentals or an iPad, since remote access to the desktop is crucial. Voice Memos enables recording voice memos on the go. Oddly, the iPad did not arrive with such a feature (but there is now an app available); Voice Memos is very handy and the fastest way to capture those fleeting thoughts (the ones worth saving, that is). CRE Rentals is an expert event planner and can supply you with iPad rentals to suit your event needs (Note: we stock “standard” iPads; for apps noted above, we can add them using trial versions and/or free downloads, upon request). To learn more about our services, call or e-mail an Account Executive, or fill out the Quick Rental Quote form. Linux Makes Three…December 7th, 2010There are three major computer operating systems (OS) running the world’s PCs. According to this ongoing survey the usage as of October 2010 split up this way: 87% Windows (with almost twice as many people using XP as Win7, and twice as many using Win7 as Vista), 8% Mac OS, and 5% Linux. The Mac usage has about doubled in just three years, while The history of open-source Linux is based on AT&T’s Unix, created in 1969, and got its name from Linus Torvalds in 1991. The main tools and “user space” libraries came from Richard Stallman’s GNU Project, and the Free Software Foundation still refers to the package as GNU/Linux. In the early ’90s, there was a great deal of confusion involving drivers, those little bits of code that help your computer connect to monitors, peripherals, modems, and networks. Today’s Linux OS computers can be used with everything from CRE’s LCD monitor rentals to standard office equipment like printers, scanners, and external storage devices. The major packages of this open-source OS are Ubuntu, Red Hat, Slackware, and openSUSE, which differ mostly in the number of custom utilities added to the mix. Historically, installing Linux has been a bit technical, and it hasn’t been a particularly user-friendly OS, unlike the elegant Mac OS X on CRE’s MacBook Pro rentals. A new product named EasyPeasy aims to change all that with a drop-dead simple installation targeted at a specific kind of user, the netbook surfer. To that end, it is easy to install on any netbook, connects to the Internet out of the box, uses Web apps, and is built for the cloud. Linux done right Should you dump everything you have and move to a Linux platform? Probably not, and that’s overkill anyway. If you want to run Linux – to take advantage of open-source apps, learn the OS, whatever – you can install it on a PC or a Mac alongside your other OS (or alone). In fact, if you want to supercharge the already potent iMac rentals, you could install all three major systems on them – Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. If you need this kind of broad capability in a dozen top-of-the-line Mac Pro rentals for a TV/film project or training session, you just let us know. CRE Rentals can install the OS you need! At CRE, we do “everything tech” to support your workflow, convention presence, and presentation needs. Need the right solution for your unique situation? Simply complete a Quick Rental Quote and one of our expert Account Executives will follow-up to make sure you get what you need, when you need it. 10 Great Things About Office 365 (Part 2 of 2)November 18th, 2010
5. Stable and crash-resistant Reliability is nearly as important to users as security, since downtime costs money. Microsoft Online Services’ Service Level Agreement (SLA) targets 99.9 percent uptime. To make it happen, Microsoft has SAS 70 and ISO 27001 certified data centers around the world hosting “redundant network architecture,” so an outage at one means instant backup from another with minimal service interruption. 6. Compliant Microsoft’s attention to detail is evident in the careful transition plan it lays out for users upgrading to Office 365 from its Business Productivity Online Suite. Complying with numerous laws, standards and regulations around the globe requires this same focus. For the U.S. market, Microsoft has even added features to help users comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). 7. Compatible With a sluggish economy keeping companies from upgrading hardware and software, Office 365 seems a no-brainer. It works everywhere, on everything, supporting not only Windows 7 and Vista but the SP3, Home and Media Center editions of XP, too. Users of CRE’s Mac Pro rentals can use the Office 365 applications as long as OS X 10.5 (Leopard) or 10.6 (Snow Leopard) is installed. The online administration portal works with the latest versions of IE, Firefox and Apple’s Safari, while the Outlook Web Apps can be accessed with all those browsers plus Google’s Chrome. 8. Up-to-date on the server side, too Office 365 provides companies and their users all the functionality of Microsoft’s latest server products. The services run on Exchange 2010 SP1, SharePoint 2010 and Lync. Client software is Microsoft Lync 2010 for Windows and Communicator for Mac, while the enterprise edition includes Office 2010 Professional Plus. 9. Single sign-on If your network runs Server 2008 Active Directory, you can configure a single sign-on so that users can be automatically authenticated to use Office 365. 10. Office Web Apps These Web Apps are not meant to replace the full-sized Office applications. For comprehensive document creation, you need a powerful, local application, but when you’re away from your “Office” and need to do a quick edit, that’s where Web Apps shine. They are “special duty” tools offered in the increasingly popular Software as a Service (SaaS) model. No matter where you are, or whose computer you’re using, you can create or edit content with the same familiar interface as Office applications. At CRE, we continue to make special, high-end tools available to media content creators – Xserve RAID rentals, Final Cut Pro workstations, etc. – while also staying abreast of productivity advances on the Web. Wherever your business is taking you, we can help you get there. Call or e-mail an expert Account Executive, or fill out the Quick Rental Quote form – now! 10 Great Things About Office 365 (Part 1 of 2)November 16th, 2010
Microsoft has distributed a beta version of its Office 365 “cloud-based” software suite. When released in 2011, it will have versions tailored for small and large businesses, government agencies and the education market, with a monthly per-user fee depending on a lot of details. Reassuring users with a familiar look and feel, Office 365 will offer total communications capability in addition to Office Web Apps. From desktops to iPad rentals, every Web-capable device at CRE will work with Office 365. Here are 10 great things about it that you need to know (items 1-4 in Part 1, 5-10 in Part 2 on Thursday, 11/18). 1. E-mail on steroids Exchange Online has all the standalone app’s new features, including MailTips, personal archiving, secure messages and more. Windows users can connect via Outlook 2007 or 2010, the Outlook Web App or any major Web browser (a Light version supports old or “alternative” browsers). Users of Macs running OS 10.5 (Leopard) or 10.6 (Snow Leopard) – like CRE’s iMac rentals – can connect through Microsoft Entourage 2008 Web Services Edition. 2. Collaborate online, work offline SharePoint Online works with all the Office 2010 applications, and on mobile devices running Windows Mobile 6.5.x, Windows Phone 7 and Apple’s iOS. Two or more users can edit the same document simultaneously – we discussed collaborative workflows in a recent blog – and SharePoint Online supports PowerPoint broadcasting over the Internet, even to PCs without the program. You can mirror your online files locally, so that when you are offline you can still work. When you’re done, the Web server will update according to your preferences. 3. Communication center Lync Online provides instant messaging (IM), audio/video calls and Web conferencing. It is a slick way to set up online meetings with audio, video and Web conferencing, and supports Lync clients and phones with PSTN audio conferencing, data sharing, desktop/application sharing, virtual “whiteboards” and document sharing. Tablet PC rentals from CRE are just one way to leverage Office 365′s communications capabilities (which are many and varied). 4. Safe and secure Security worries have kept many companies off the cloud so far. Microsoft addressed this by beefing up the encryption that renders intercepted messages unreadable and tailoring Microsoft’s Forefront Online Protection for Exchange (FOPE) to guard your inbox against malware and spam. Since you manage your own security settings over the Web, all CRE computer rentals are 100% Cloud Safe, and Microsoft constantly scans the Internet to keep you covered on all sides. For the remaining great things about Office 365, Part 2 will be posted on Thursday, November 18th. In the meantime, if you need audiovisual rentals or computer and storage technology, CRE can equip you for success. With a phone call or e-mail you can put an experienced Account Executive to work configuring a solution. If you know what you need, complete the Quick Rental Quote form and we’ll get “out of the clouds” and right back to you . WordPress: Will It Work for You?November 2nd, 2010Web site software ranges from template-based applications that make things quick and easy (like Apple’s iWeb) to programs so complex that beginners, and a surprising number of longtime users, get lost (Adobe Dreamweaver). Of course, “code heads” can build sites with a simple text editor, since no matter how you create a Web page it’s the HTML behind the scenes that brings all the pieces – text, images, colors, links, etc. – together as a (hopefully) compelling whole. As the Internet matured, “Web log” diaries became “blogs” while specialized tools allowed small business owners and writers to create a Web presence by themselves. Word Press…it’s not Dreamweaver Frankly, it’s not like any of the major site-building applications. Developed for writing content, WordPress is not your best choice for creating a site with a broad range of page types and media. Yes, there are templates available for making WordPress “sites,” but that’s not its strength. It’s great for SEO In its standard form, WordPress is good for SEO, but only gets into “great” territory after you install the “All In One SEO” plug-in. This tool greatly increases the number of SEO options, and adds some very potent capabilities. Among other things, you can stop the “spiders” from crawling through your archive pages, which eliminates the chance of their mistaking them for duplicate content. There’s more to SEO than what’s on the page In practice, the impact of on-page SEO will pale in comparison to what you do with backlinks and off-page SEO tactics. WordPress is designed to help writers, in particular, because “content is king.” WordPress has got the goods behind the page, too WordPress outputs “proper HTML” and has plenty of available plug-ins to help with SEO tasks, plus provide solid analytics. As opposed to the output of some high-cost, high-learning curve programs, HTML from WordPress is neither non-standard nor “tainted” in any fashion. It’s not push-button simple Once you become familiar with WordPress, it could save you a great deal of time and effort, but when starting you must allow time for a steep learning curve. The bottom line is that the look and feel of blogs are not dependent on the tools, but on the skills and know-how of the designers using those tools. The skills and know-how of CRE Account Executives is what gets you the right Mac Pro rentals for your production personnel, and the perfectly planned package of convention rentals for exhibits, booths and breakout sessions. You can call or send an e-mail, even fill out the online Quick Rental Quote form – we make things easy. You’ll encounter no learning curve working with CRE. You get straightforward solutions, on your schedule, at your site – and done right! |
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Linux use has increased by about 80%. CRE’s 
Among today’s top Content Management Systems, the 800-lb. gorilla is 
