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Tips for buying a business projectorIf your last corporate presentation looked faded or dim on screen, or your existing projector is still the bulky, heavy kind, it may be time to buy a new office projector. But before you purchase one, you need to be more informed of your options so your investment will not go to waste. Here’s a […]

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Tips for buying a business projector

If your last corporate presentation looked faded or dim on screen, or your existing projector is still the bulky, heavy kind, it may be time to buy a new office projector. But before you purchase one, you need to be more informed of your options so your investment will not go to waste. Here’s a quick and painless rundown of what makes a business projector worth your money.

Brightness and light output

A projector cannot display bright images without enough light output. Even if you dim the lights in the room to compensate, images will appear muddy and blurred if the light output is too low. 

To find out if a projector’s lamp has the correct brightness for your needs, look for its ANSI (American National Standards Institute) Lumens rating. It will tell you how much light that particular projector can put out. Projectors that have 1,000 ANSI Lumens or more are relatively perfect for the job, but other factors like ambient light, the distance or size of the screen, and the size of the room will also impact the need for fewer or more lumens.

Connectivity options

Some projectors in the market are more affordable because they’re only equipped with an HDMI port to connect to a TV or computer. You may have to spend more money on a projector that has multiple connectivity options, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB, and VGA inputs. If you want more flexibility, buy a projector that is compatible with various audio and video formats as well.

Front or rear projection

Many projectors can now be set up to project images from either the rear or the front of the screen, and can be mounted on the ceiling instead of just stationed on a table or flat surface. Front projection is the easiest to configure, and the most common set up for projectors.

Contrast ratio

This setting determines the variance between the darkest black and the brightest white, so the higher the contrast ratio, the clearer the images. Projectors with a good contrast ratio figures will allow you to enhance the quality of text onscreen and the depth of displayed images. For typical meeting rooms, the contrast ratio can range from 3000:1 to 20000:1. Any contrast higher than 20000:1 will intensify the presentation quality but bump up the price of the projector as well.

Resolution

Because high-resolution images and videos are so readily available these days, you may want your projector to have 720p as a native resolution. But if you can afford the full HD models, you will have the capacity to show off a comprehensive data image on screen. The caveat here is that your resolution will depend on the specs of your source media player.

Our customers often forget to utilize one of our most useful service options: hardware consulting. If you’re ever in the market for new equipment at your organization, or need advice on how to get the most of what you currently have, don’t hesitate to ask. We’re an office full of gadget geeks who love the opportunity to talk about the latest and best that the industry has to offer. Contact us today!

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

The post Tips for buying a business projector appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

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Tips for buying a business projectorIf your last corporate presentation looked faded or dim on screen, or your existing projector is still the bulky, heavy kind, it may be time to buy a new office projector. But before you purchase one, you need to be more informed of your options so your investment will not go to waste. Here’s a […]

The post Tips for buying a business projector appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Tips for buying a business projector

If your last corporate presentation looked faded or dim on screen, or your existing projector is still the bulky, heavy kind, it may be time to buy a new office projector. But before you purchase one, you need to be more informed of your options so your investment will not go to waste. Here’s a quick and painless rundown of what makes a business projector worth your money.

Brightness and light output

A projector cannot display bright images without enough light output. Even if you dim the lights in the room to compensate, images will appear muddy and blurred if the light output is too low. 

To find out if a projector’s lamp has the correct brightness for your needs, look for its ANSI (American National Standards Institute) Lumens rating. It will tell you how much light that particular projector can put out. Projectors that have 1,000 ANSI Lumens or more are relatively perfect for the job, but other factors like ambient light, the distance or size of the screen, and the size of the room will also impact the need for fewer or more lumens.

Connectivity options

Some projectors in the market are more affordable because they’re only equipped with an HDMI port to connect to a TV or computer. You may have to spend more money on a projector that has multiple connectivity options, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB, and VGA inputs. If you want more flexibility, buy a projector that is compatible with various audio and video formats as well.

Front or rear projection

Many projectors can now be set up to project images from either the rear or the front of the screen, and can be mounted on the ceiling instead of just stationed on a table or flat surface. Front projection is the easiest to configure, and the most common set up for projectors.

Contrast ratio

This setting determines the variance between the darkest black and the brightest white, so the higher the contrast ratio, the clearer the images. Projectors with a good contrast ratio figures will allow you to enhance the quality of text onscreen and the depth of displayed images. For typical meeting rooms, the contrast ratio can range from 3000:1 to 20000:1. Any contrast higher than 20000:1 will intensify the presentation quality but bump up the price of the projector as well.

Resolution

Because high-resolution images and videos are so readily available these days, you may want your projector to have 720p as a native resolution. But if you can afford the full HD models, you will have the capacity to show off a comprehensive data image on screen. The caveat here is that your resolution will depend on the specs of your source media player.

Our customers often forget to utilize one of our most useful service options: hardware consulting. If you’re ever in the market for new equipment at your organization, or need advice on how to get the most of what you currently have, don’t hesitate to ask. We’re an office full of gadget geeks who love the opportunity to talk about the latest and best that the industry has to offer. Contact us today!

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

The post Tips for buying a business projector appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

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Cloud migration tips for unified communicationsWith the increased popularity of cloud technology, the productivity benefits of cloud-based unified communications (UC) are well-known. But organizations migrating UC to the cloud must realize that its performance relies on a number of factors. If you’re considering moving your UC to the cloud, follow these tips. Opt for a gradual transition Migrating unified communications […]

The post Cloud migration tips for unified communications appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Cloud migration tips for unified communications

With the increased popularity of cloud technology, the productivity benefits of cloud-based unified communications (UC) are well-known. But organizations migrating UC to the cloud must realize that its performance relies on a number of factors. If you’re considering moving your UC to the cloud, follow these tips.

Opt for a gradual transition

Migrating unified communications to the cloud doesn’t have to be accomplished in one big move. It can be done gradually. You can move UC for departments that can benefit from it, while those with no pressing need for a cloud-based UC, such as a company’s call center, can keep using on-premises systems. This way, users can ease their way into the new system without experiencing network disruptions, which could lead to reduced productivity.

Secure sufficient bandwidth

Issues on speed and performance will inevitably arise, so make sure to cover all the bases before migration. That means securing a reliable internet service provider, checking the stability of your internal network, and having a Plan B. This is a critical point to ponder if you have operations in locations where unstable or slow networks could pose serious problems. Determine the level of bandwidth your entire business needs, and get it from an ISP that can deliver.

Test, test, test

Transitioning UC to the cloud may appear seamless, but there may be a few unexpected kinks that need ironing out long after the migration is declared a success. To soften potentially costly and time-consuming impacts, test the systems throughout the duration of the migration. Whether you’re trying out voice, data, or video, conduct tests, set benchmarks for performance, and predict future usage patterns.

Go live and act on identified problem points

After going live with your cloud UC, consider the overall user experience and availability of support for devices, applications, and other components. Are persistent connectivity issues going to cause troublesome conference calls? This and other issues may prove detrimental in the long run so keep them in mind when deciding to keep, enhance, or discontinue a cloud-based UC. Cloud migration should solve problems, not cause them.

Constantly monitor performance and quality

Don’t be surprised if you encounter a few issues even after extensive testing. Migrating to the cloud simply requires planning and a sustainable strategy, whether your organization is dependent on instant messaging, voice conferencing, or video calling. There’s also a good chance that you will be working with several vendors, so always demand for the best service.

Having your UC moved to the cloud may seem like a daunting move. But with our cloud technology and VoIP know-how, we’ll make sure it’s an easy process. Contact us today for advice.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Advanced anti-phishing features for GmailWhile cybercriminals create new malware strains or look for software vulnerabilities to exploit, other criminal minds happily rely on an old, yet effective, trick: phishing scams. Such scams persist because people still fall for fraudulent email that asks recipients to reveal personal information or download an attachment containing malware. Happily, Google has further improved Gmail’s […]

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Advanced anti-phishing features for Gmail

While cybercriminals create new malware strains or look for software vulnerabilities to exploit, other criminal minds happily rely on an old, yet effective, trick: phishing scams. Such scams persist because people still fall for fraudulent email that asks recipients to reveal personal information or download an attachment containing malware. Happily, Google has further improved Gmail’s anti-phishing security features, making them even more proactive.

Machine learning
Google uses machine learning technology to further enhance their email security. Phishing scams usually follow a predictable pattern, so Google experts developed an algorithm that analyzes such patterns and updates Gmail’s security database in real time. When the same phishing attempt is made, Gmail flags and quarantines potentially dangerous messages.

According to Google, around 50% of emails sent to Gmail accounts are spam and phishing emails, but with the new detection algorithm, Gmail has achieved 99% accuracy in detecting them.

Click-time warnings
Google has also added precautions for suspicious links. When Gmail detects an incoming email from untrusted senders containing either encrypted attachments or attachments with scripts, Gmail automatically flashes a warning message.

Gmail also identifies and scans links to external images, and prompts a warning if the links come from untrusted domains. Although Gmail does not completely block access to the link (in case of false positives), it advises you to be extremely careful if you do decide to proceed. Or you can choose to quarantine the message or send it to your spam folder.

External reply warnings
Another enhancement focuses on securing reply messages to prevent employees from falling prey to email spoofing. Spoofing is when a cybercriminal impersonates someone’s email address.

Gmail warns users when they are about to send a reply to an address that is not in their contact list or company domain, from an unauthenticated domain, or one that's similar to an authenticated domain. This improvement prevents users from being fooled into giving away sensitive information to third parties.

Every Gmail user can take advantage of these new security controls today, but keep in mind that these can’t replace security awareness. Even Google has emphasized that these Gmail features are complements to existing security systems and best practices. Being able to identify what is or isn’t a scam goes a long way in protecting your business. To find out more about the latest from Google, get in touch with our experts or watch out for more Google-related posts.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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