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Cloud of Confusion?January 31st, 2012Confused about “the cloud”? You’re not alone. Still, believe it or not, we may be nearing that point where we’re finished defining it and are moving into some clearly understood efforts and approaches. Perhaps IT managers can finally stop going to every workshop or conference on “virtual teams” or “whatever-as-a-Service” (the first was probably SaaS, Software as a Service). We’ll call that the good news. And the bad? The cloud computing options are seemingly limitless. That a list of just the “top firms” in cloud computing runs to 100 is a sign of just how big this latest top-down paradigm shift might be. For now, though, the whole thing still seems big and a bit unwieldy – and hard to explain in the desktop computing vocabulary most people have learned via basic home and office use. The real problem with “the cloud” There is a dizzying array of activities surrounding “the cloud,” but that’s not really the problem – having choices is a good thing. But it gets complicated when you have to decide on vendors, choose commercial vs. open-source solutions, ensure the “portability” of applications among various clouds and so on. For individuals and firms exclusively using the Mac Pro or other Macs, Apple has a top-down solution in iCloud. But for PC users and mixed environments (like most companies), it can be messy. Running a business has never been more complicated than it is now. Everyone is talking about “cloud projects” but your IT manager (or outsourced service) spends 70-80% of the time (and budget) just keeping things running. Now, if you’re a small post-production firm handling your own IT you may be comfortable with high-tech gear like a Xserve RAID rental but confused by all these cloud offerings. And it’s expensive to acquire the right skills whether you promote internally, retrain, cross-train, get a consultant or hire a full-time expert. Public or private? For larger firms a Private Cloud may be worth a look, so study the best practices of current Public Cloud operators like Netflix to see what you can implement. And it’s not just about what happens in the office. If you outfit your conference team with iPad rentals you’ll want access to your cloud for PDF brochures and other data. Universal access is one of the main reasons to have a cloud. From chaos and confusion comes opportunity, as long as you’re open to change, new ideas and an incremental (read “cautious”) approach. We’re experiencing an historic change in computing and communications that will affect businesses on many levels. How inventors, vendors, businesses and individuals handle the challenges will chart the course of IT for the next decade or two. It should be interesting! For event production rentals or post-production gear, CRE is your one-stop shop. We can support your cloud project with a room full of iMac rentals or mass storage. One call or e-mail does it – and if you know what you need already, use the Quick Rental Quote form. First Look: Will iCloud Reign?October 27th, 2011Although you can use it as an remote archive, Apple’s new iCloud service that debuted on October 12th is not primarily for storage. It is made to keep your data synchronized among your iOS devices and computers (Mac, PC). After it’s set up, you can work on your iPad rental and know that the document will instantly be ready for editing on any synced device. Transferring files by e-mail or USB flash drives is on the fast track to obsolescence.
How iCloud works First off, iCloud doesn’t work without the latest OS X Lion update, 10.7.2, and the latest iTunes update, 10.5. For better iCloud integration, Safari also got a bump to 5.1.1. Pages, Numbers and Keynote – the iWork programs that run on every Macintosh, from the cutting-edge laptops to the mighty Mac Pro – now sync documents via iCloud. Contacts, Calendar and Mail data also updates automatically on multiple devices. Just as importantly, iCloud also stores device settings, apps, screen layouts, ring tones and text messages, so all your vital data comes with you when you upgrade devices. The new Photo Stream lets you download up to 1,000 photos for 30 days without counting against your storage total (see “What’s the deal?” below). Third-party apps can also leverage iCloud services, and it’s vital to remember that iCloud is “open territory” where tablet PC rentals running Windows are free to roam, too. Future blogs will update you on the features developers implement for their various iCloud products and services. What’s the deal? You get 5GB of iCloud storage for free, and iTunes music, e-books, apps and Photo Stream pics do not count toward your total. Your iCloud real estate will be populated by documents, application data, mail, non-Photo Stream photos, settings and other information. You can buy more storage for annual fees of $20 (10GB), $40 (20GB) and $100 (50GB), but Apple’s customer research indicates that 5GB of storage should be sufficient for most people. There are numerous variables – the size of your Camera Roll, how many documents you carry around, how much application data you’re amassing, etc. – so you will have to figure out what works for you. iTunes Match confuses There is a possible point of confusion with iCloud, and that revolves around iTunes integration. When you buy tracks from iTunes, they are automatically synced to your devices and don’t count toward your free storage total. However, if you want to sync music that was not purchased from iTunes, the privilege requires paying $25 a year for the separate iTunes Match service. CRE, like Apple, is all about “value added” and excellence. From Audience Response Systems (ARS) to high-end digital gear and Xserve for that new post-production project, we’ve got you covered. One simple call or e-mail puts an experienced Account Executive on the job for you, while a couple of clicks gets the ball rolling with our Quick Rental Quote. We’re ready with solutions for whatever challenges you face! One Very Polished Apple – OS X LionJuly 26th, 2011It’s impossible to avoid mentioning Apple when “talkin’ tech.” The company had its most profitable quarter in history, grossing $28.6 billion in revenues with $7.3 billion in profits. Its products dominate their respective categories, some of which Apple invented – iPod, iPhone, iPad and who knows what “iDevice” next. The firm has about $76 billion in cash, too, with no debt. Incredible.
The Lion roars Also incredible is the seemingly unending stream of improvements to OS X and the computer line. Apple released its long-awaited OS upgrade, Lion 10.7, on July 20. Lion incorporates some 250 new features, and brings full-screen apps and multitouch gestures into the mix. You can now see the family resemblance to the iOS on iPad rentals. The aim is to continue refining the “user nexus,” that shared space where the OS, the program you’re using and your workflow combine to produce everything from simple e-mails to complex editing projects with mountains of data on Xserve RAID rentals. Ready to upgrade? With its new “delivery paradigm” upgrading to Lion is a different animal. Before you download the nearly 4GB OS installer, you need to make sure your Mac can support Lion. The Mac computer rentals we had in 2005, for example, wouldn’t qualify – you need at least an Intel Core 2 Duo processor. In addition, although there are workarounds from some tech heads online, the Apple-certified installation can only take place on a Mac with Snow Leopard (10.6) installed. Online reports and consumer feedback point to a rousing success for the debut, although there are always problems for some people. For example, if you have any of several disk drive problems (even ones that don’t affect how your Mac runs), you will receive a message from the installer that Lion “cannot be installed.” Back up the drive, reformat, restore – then upgrade. Bing, bang, boom. Done! OS X Lion – Look and feel As an evolutionary, rather than revolutionary, advance, Lion is still recognizable, although navigating it is different. The new Launchpad dock icon brings up a page (or six) showing all your apps as icons for quick starts, and the Mission Control dock icon provides a view of all “spaces” you’re using. In future blogs we will look at some of these features in depth, but it’s safe to say that, once you use Lion, you will roar your approval like millions of others. Like Apple, CRE pays close attention to what its customers need. With great service to complement the expertise of our Account Executives, your call or e-mail will result in solutions and answers, not more problems and questions. If you know what you need, of course, our Quick Rental Quote form will get you in, out and on your way. Apple Conference (WWDC 2011) Insanely GreatJune 14th, 2011
The ailing but energized Jobs and a team of Apple executives put on a great show. Jobs, as predicted, unveiled Apple’s new iCloud service. Attendees also got a nice dose of information on the next iteration (iOS 5) of the mobile operating system used in CRE’s iPad rentals, as well as details about the long-awaited OS X 10.7 (Lion). OS X Lion arrives in July The subject of a recent blog, Lion OS is being finalized for a July debut. The WWDC presentation confirmed that Lion will feature • increased Magic Trackpad integration for multi-touch gestures, furthering the Mac’s “iPadification”; • an upgraded Mail application with threaded messages; • the new “AirDrop” file transfer utility for simple, short-range exchanges; • a “Versions” feature whereby apps save “editions” of documents as you work, automatically, letting you to return to any saved version, any time; • some new capabilities for the FileVault data encryption scheme; and • an Auto Save feature for everything you do, in every application. Apple announces iCloud Wherever you are – at work with CRE’s high-end Mac Pro rentals, at home with your iPod, on location for a commercial shoot with a laptop – Apple wants you to have access to your digital media, hence the new iCloud service. A user can stream media to computers or iOS 5 devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch), as well as through them to wireless networks and devices, via both Wi-Fi and 3G. If you have songs in your library that didn’t come from iTunes, a new service will add it from the online database or let you upload it manually. Called the iTunes Match service, it will cost $25 a year. As far as the new features coming in iOS 5, there will be a long-overdue overhaul of iOS notifications, “a weak spot in a strong OS.” The new notification system will work like the well-rated third-party “push notification” app, Boxcar, which integrates all message notifications (texts, tweets, IMs, etc.) into one window. Finally, OS X Dashboard-style widgets migrate to iOS, as well as voice-recognition for text-to-speech and speech-to-text functionality. Speaking of text and speech, you can contact an experienced Account Executive by e-mail or phone, or let us know what you need by filling out the handy Quick Rental Quote form. From audiovisual rentals to the best in post-production gear, CRE is ready to equip you for success! Mac OS X Lion: King of the OS Jungle? (Preview)May 26th, 2011Apple is due to release the latest version of Mac OS X this summer, numbered 10.7 and code-named Lion. Let’s look at the broadest, most basic changes coming to the OS X Lion.
Centralized control panel Mission Control replaces the old Exposé and Spaces control panel and adds other new ones that help you “take control” of your desktop. With the increased power in every Mac, from the awesome new iMac models to our workhorse MacBook Pro rentals, multiple Spaces (virtual desktops) help you multitask with the best of them. You can now add, remove and edit Spaces on the Mission Control screen without even opening the control panel. Finder revisions Finder windows now feature a drop-down menu for quickly applying the “Arrange by” commands. Arranging icons in a particular folder or accessing additional Finder options is also possible with a simple right-click, which brings up a contextual menu. This is especially handy when navigating through hundreds (thousands?) of files on one of our Etherhet disk RAID rentals. Stylish new wallpapers The Lion Developer Preview 3 (aka DP3) release added some new wallpapers, but did away with some old favorites. You can take a gander at these Lion-worthy wallpapers at the Cult of Mac site. iCal upgrades Here’s proof that the iOS “style” is coming to the Mac. The “look and feel” of the iCal application on the Mac is quite reminiscent of the Calendar app on our iPad rentals. In addition, the to-do feature of iCal now refers to items on your list as Reminders. Safari “Reading List” This new Safari feature is front and center in DP3 – available in the toolbar, contextual menus, dialog boxes – as opposed to being tucked away in previous versions. Like the Web and iOS app Read It Later, you use Reading List to save (bookmark) Web pages “in the cloud” for later reading. No doubt this feature will find its way to iOS, letting you sync your Reading List among home-bound and mobile devices. Of course, Safari runs in Windows, too, meaning this cool feature could run on all computer rentals from CRE. Bottom line Among Mac fans, there is no doubt that Mac OS X Lion will be the best Mac OS ever. That’s what we think about every Mac OS upgrade. And at CRE we know that the latest Mac computers are always the best ever, too – but if you need a potent PC, we can do that, as well! PC or Mac, convention rentals or post-production gear, we’ve got you covered. Call or e-mail (or fill out our Quick Rental Quote form) and we’ll equip you to succeed, whatever the challenge! New Malware Threatens MacsMay 24th, 2011
An offensive “defender” The malware – known variously as Mac Defender, Mac Security and Mac Protector – appears in Safari, the Mac’s default browser on everything from the latest iMac rentals to laptops, iPads and iPods. After you click an infected Google search result, the malware announces itself as an anti-virus program and downloads in several ways, but cannot be installed without an administrator password. If Safari is set to open “safe” files automatically, you will see the malware install “automatically,” too. If you enter your password, the malware installs into your Applications folder, adds itself to your log-in (startup) items and begins running. The malware installs a menu bar item, but there’s no Dock icon and no way to quit/exit. The malware will say your Mac is infected and advise you to buy a subscription to fix it. If you don’t, the malware begins opening random porn Web sites. Multiple solutions Every Mac user should know what a recent CRE blog called the “sanity saving basics” of troubleshooting, as well as malware defense. Updated with the latest virus definitions, Norton Anti-Virus, VirusBarrier X5, MacScan and similar programs can find and remove malware quickly. Get a fully operational, 30-day MacScan demo if you need it and use the “Check for updates” command to add the latest virus definitions. To remove the malware manually, power users can use the Mac Terminal as described here. For a simpler manual method, follow these steps:
Avoid problems
We mean to empower you, with our blogs as well as high-tech render farm rentals and other technology. A call or e-mail puts an experienced Account Executive on the job for you, and our Quick Rental Quote form enables you to accelerate the process even more. It’s not really equipment we deal in – it’s solutions. Get yours here! Say “Hi” to the Awesome New iMacsMay 10th, 2011The new iMac models (released Tuesday, May 3rd), show that Apple is still at the top of its game. Let’s take a look at what makes the 2011 iMac a winner.
Quad-core processor in every model The previous iMac models offered quad-core processors (Intel Core i3, i5 and i7) on some models, but all iMacs now have at least a quad-core i5. The four “stock” models include two with 21.5-inch screens and two 27-inchers, with the former getting 2.5 and 2.7GHz i5 chips and the latter offering 2.7 and 3.1GHz i5′s. Build To Order ( BTO) models get you the most potent CPU’s: a 2.8GHz i7 with the smaller screen, and a 3.4GHz i7 with the larger, which will make them among the fastest (and definitely the coolest) computer rentals available. Advanced graphics Three new AMD Radeon HD cards offer two to three times the graphics performance of previous iMacs. The base 21.5-inch iMac (same size as the current iMac rentals) has 512MB of dedicated graphics memory. The top 21.5″ version and the base 27″ model have the mid-range card (also 512MB) and the top 27-inch model boasts the best card with an incredible 1GB of video memory. (The BTO option gets you 2GB of memory.) All models support a second monitor up to 30 inches in size – which brings us to Thunderbolt. Lightning fast data transfer Thunderbolt is a new high-speed connection that works with multiple devices (using adapters for some). In addition to new Thunderbolt devices, you can connect USB and FireWire drives, scanners, cameras, etc., as well as LCD monitor rentals and other displays. There is one Thunderbolt port on 21.5-inch models and two on the 27″ models, carrying two simultaneous streams (in and out) at up to 10Gbps, over 20 times faster than USB 2. Top tech firms such as AJA (maker of our AJA Io HD rentals), Avid and Western Digital are already making Thunderbolt products including displays, storage devices, audio/video interfaces and more. Details, details The iSight camera is gone, replaced by the same HD FaceTime camera that debuted in the recently revamped MacBook Pro (along with Thunderbolt). Other common components are 4GB RAM standard (max 8 to 16GB depending on model), 1TB hard drives (512MB on base model), SDXC card slot (32GB to 2TB), FireWire 800, four USB ports and audio in/out. Solid State Drives (SSDs) up to 256GB in size can be added as a BTO option (with an interesting twist). Finally, of course, the iMac has Gigabit Ethernet for hooking up to networks and Ethernet disk raid rentals. Every iMac comes with a wireless keyboard, plus either a Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad. CRE will keep you posted as to when the new iMacs will be in stock, what configurations will be available and so on. Call or e-mail an expert Account Executive about the new iMacs, or anything else you need to get the job done. We’re here with the solution – and if you already know what it is, save time with the Quick Rental Quote form. Virtualization of the Desktop Gets RealMay 3rd, 2011Many Macintosh users know the company, VMware, because of its product Fusion, a “virtualization” program that enables Intel-based Macs (the only ones made anymore) to run Windows. But VMware has a range of virtualization programs, including VMware Player, a free application for running multiple operating systems – including Windows 7 and Google’s new Chrome OS – on Windows and Linux computers. VMware brings total OS flexibility to the desktop on iMac rentals and other Apple models, while also supplying virtual machine technology to servers with VMware Server. VMWare Forum 2011
VMware claims its products can meet your company’s precise business needs, even as you lower costs, with custom-tailored IT service based in “the cloud.” Whether or not it works for your unique situation is something you must look into. With a full range of computer rentals capable of running any OS you need, CRE is ready to support VMware’s goal of a “cohesive, secure and compliant cloud strategy in three core areas: infrastructure, applications and end-user computing.” We can install VMware Fusion on Mac Pro rentals (even Mac laptops) to introduce you to desktop virtualization, but to get the corporate-wide “view from the cloud” you should attend this free event. No crowd in the cloud
At Forum 2011, you will discover a proven method for providing safe, secure access to applications and data – to and from any device, wherever and whenever users need them. You will see how the power and potential of VMware vSphere can help your company make a swift, secure transition to the cloud. We know all about virtualization here at CRE, and our expert Account Executives are ready to respond right away to your call or e-mail. Whether you want to test a new virtual server with your customer service reps or set up a new branch office with same-day office equipment rentals, we’re here with the expertise (plus the hardware and software) to help you pull it off. As always, if you know what you need you can skip right to the Quick Rental Quote form. Whatever you need, call CRE Rentals! Sanity Saving Basics for PC and Mac ComputersApril 28th, 2011Even if your work computer is maintained and repaired by the IT department, and your spouse takes care of the ones at home, you really should know the basics of troubleshooting. Since about 90% of issues are caused by about half a dozen things (on PCs and Macintoshes both), any time you put into learning basic troubleshooting is a good investment. The PC side On PCs, that “90% of all computer problems” phrase means that your computer likely suffers from one or more of the following conditions: a fragmented hard drive; Windows registry errors and improper settings; too many programs loading at startup; and adware, spyware, malware and viruses. Bad RAM, dying hard drives, faulty motherboards and other serious problems cause the 10% of cases that require expert repairs. CRE computer rentals, of course, arrive in perfect working order, but there’s no magic involved, just the generally accepted PC regimen: Use a decent defragmenter (the one that comes with Windows is notoriously bad); use a registry cleaner; get your startup routine in order; and use a well-rated tool for removing adware, spyware, malware and viruses. If you don’t have time to study all the alternatives, a recent PCmag.com article discusses the best maintenance and tune-up tools. On the Mac One recurring problem with Mac OS X is programs crashing (freezing). It can happen even with well-maintained iMac rentals, but the solution is easy – press Command-Option-Escape or choose Force Quit from the Apple menu, and select the unresponsive program from the resulting list. Forcing a crashed program to quit will rarely affect other programs or the OS itself, and the application should run fine when restarted. If your Mac is beginning to slow down and feel sluggish, on the other hand, it could be many things – but remember, the chances are nine out of 10 that the problem is among the basic ones we’re discussing here. At least 20% of your hard drive should be free space (with Windows, too). Check yours by highlighting the drive icon in the Finder and pressing Command-I (Get Info). If there’s not enough free space, throw out garbage, offload files and/or buy a bigger hard drive (internal or external). You also may need to repair permissions, which you do with the Disk Utility program. This application will also “verify” your drives and “repair” a number of common problems with files and volume structures. The same problems that can crash an iMac can bring down the mighty Mac Pro rentals, too – but never fear, Disk Utility comes on every Mac. Bottom line reminders If you learn the basic steps in this article, and read the other instructional blogs that we publish regularly, soon enough you will only have to worry about the 10% of computer problems that require expert intervention. Speaking of experts, our Account Executives are ready to reply right now to your call or e-mail. Of course, you can use the Quick Rental Quote form if you know what you need. Net (and OS) Neutrality Is Already HereApril 14th, 2011There’s been a ton of talk lately about “net neutrality,” but one of the major problems in the discussion is the lack of an accepted definition. Google has been explaining for a few years where they stand on the subject: “Network neutrality,” Google says, “is the principle that Internet users should be in control of what content they view and what applications they use on the Internet.” This issue, hopefully, will be worked out in the marketplace and not in the halls of Congress. But you don’t have to wait to establish your own kind of net and computer neutrality. Third party saviors Back in Spring 2009, one of our first blog posts concerned Steve Jobs’ decision to begin using Intel processors in Macs in 2006-2007. By 2008 the transition was complete, from the Mac mini to the potent Mac Pro rentals. What “changed everything,” as Jobs remarked, was an Apple utility, Boot Camp, that let users install and run Windows. By May 2009, a few “virtualization” utilities from Parallels Computing and VMware had brought a new dimension to multi-OS computing. With them, you can run Windows and the Mac OS simultaneously, even cutting and pasting between programs on the different platforms. These applications now run swiftly on the entire Mac line, from the latest iMac rentals to the powerful Mac towers. A clear advantage of an OS-neutral Mac
The advantages of the “OS-neutral Macintosh” to regular users are clear. You don’t have to be a “code head” to understand how efficient it is to use a single computer to run both Windows and Mac OS X. Many artists and engineers that work with AJA Io HD rentals and massive video files settled on Macs long ago – as did graphic artists, writers, musicians, publishers and other “creatives.” Now, they can avail themselves of important Windows applications and be right at home in the firm’s Windows-based network environment, too. Our Account Executives know the hardware and software, and understand what you need to accomplish your project. They’ll converse in fluent “computerese” if you want, but can translate for you too either by e-mail or over the phone. Know what you need? Complete the Quick Rental Quote and be on your way to “OS-neutrality”. |
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Before this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2011), which took place on June 6, Apple released 
A new malware program is targeting Mac computers. According to an 
VMware is taking its show on the road between May and July, hitting eight cities (including Anaheim on May 19; city schedule 
We’ll take a look at a few of the most common issues.
With 
