New iPhone operating system, iOS 4, download adds features

June 25, 2010

If you have a recent iPhone, you’ll want to download Apple’s new iOS 4 software update today.If you have an older iPhone, the most highly touted features won’t apply to you.

Apple’s iOS 4 software promises 100 new features for owners of the iPhone 3GS, released last June, including the ability to multitask, or run more than one app at once. It also lets you take control of the growing inventory of apps by organizing them into folders.

 Will iOS 4 work for you? Check your model:

• iPhone. Besides last year’s 3GS, the new software will work with the 3G iPhone, released in 2008, but not with all features. For instance, multitasking and Bluetooth keyboard support won’t work with iPhone 3G.

• iPod Touch. The new features are mostly operable only with the latest version of Apple’s touch-screen iPod, the one released in late 2009. Multitasking doesn’t work with the second-generation iPod Touch, released in 2008.

• iPad. Apple’s latest hit — the hard-to-get iPad touch-screen tablet computer — doesn’t get the iOS 4 update until later this year.

Gene Munster, an analyst at Piper Jaffray, says Apple’s innovation with new software releases keeps products up to date and “is part of the science.”

“Apple is a smart company and wants to make a lot of money,” he says. “This is how it forces people to buy the latest products.”

In a note to investors, Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty estimated that 57% of current iPhone owners have older models that won’t work with all of the features in the new operating system, which will help fuel sales of the new phone. She expects more than 50% of current iPhone customers to upgrade to the new phone, up from just 18% for last year’s iPhone.

Apple says it has sold more than 50 million iPhones since its 2007 launch. Munster projects sales of 39 million this year, with total iPhone sales topping 100 million next year.

Apple and exclusive carrier partner AT&T began taking orders for the new iPhone Tuesday, selling out on the first day as demand overwhelmed resources. Apple says about 600,000 have already been sold. Its website says new orders will ship by July 14.

Apple hasn’t said what time the software update will be available Monday. To access the new iOS, plug your iPhone or iPod into your computer and you will be prompted to download the new software via Apple’s iTunes program.

Munster says the biggest new feature is multitasking, the familiar computer function that lets you, for instance, listen to Pandora online radio and answer e-mail at the same time. “It’s a feature that’s really been missing,” he says.

Among the other new features:

• Books. Apple’s iBooks store, first seen on the iPad, comes to the iPhone. (Current iPhone users already have been able to download e-books from Amazon and others.)

• E-mail. For those with multiple e-mail accounts, the new operating system lets you combine the accounts into one, for a unified inbox. A spell-checker has been added for e-mail.

• Playlists. You can now create playlists directly on your phone or iPod Touch.

The technical staff at Orange County Computer is available to assist in any set/configuration of your new Apple device.  Contact our Repair Center at (949) 699-6619, or email support@orangecountycomputer.com.

SVUSD Madatory Staff Furlough Days 2010

June 10, 2010

SVUSD Staff Furlough Days                         

The Saddleback Valley Unified School District issued mandatory Staff Furlough Days during the 2009/2010 school year. In attempt to save as much money as possible for the district, all SVUSD employees were issued  3 mandatory days off: June 7^th , 11^th  and 14^th, 2010.

Orange County Computer understands the sacrifice made on a daily basis of the educators and support staff that keep our local schools running. Bring your desktop or laptop into our Tech Repair Center in Lake Forest on any of the Staff Furlough Days and receive $25 off your repair.  We appreciate all that you do for the young leaders of tomorrow!

For more information call our Tech Repair Center at (949) 699-6619, or click here for a map.

Additional information about the 9 Staff Furlough Days for the 2010/2011 School Year can be found at the Saddleback Valley Unified SchoolDistrict Family Portal.

Orange County Computer Sponsors 26 Swim Season for Lake Forest Dolphins

June 8, 2010

Lake Forest, CA based Orange County Computer,Inc. sponsors the Lake Forest II Dolphins Swim Team

The Lake Forest II Dolphins Swim Team just kicked off their 26th Season last week! The highly skilled team of coaches,with head coach Sam Gelberger, are sure to have yet another fantastic season.  This team is unique because the focus is fun yet competitive.  The Dolphin swimmers ranging in ages from 5-17 have a blast swimming during practice and every week at local swim meets.  The kids develop lifelong friendships in addition to enjoying quality family time in between races. For more information about the Lake Forest II Dolphins program, visit www.lf2dolphins.org. Orange County Computer belives in supporting local community organizations and offers $25 off Tech Repair Services to all Dolphins families.  For more information about the Comprehensive Technology Solutions we provide, visit www.orangecountycomputer.com or contact our Tech Repair Center at (949) 699-6619.

Computer Repair in Rancho Santa Margarita by Orange County Computer

June 8, 2010

Orange County Computer and Bella Collina Towne and Golf Club

June 7, 2010

Orange County Computer acquires Network Management contract with Bella Collina Towne & Golf Club

San Clemente Golf Club, Bella Collina recently retained Orange County Computer Inc., as their Managed Solutions Provider.  Senior Technical Advisor and Managing Partner, Alex Pinedo stated that he “looks forward to streamlining their IT Infrastructure and implementing new solutions as they continue to grow”.  The course at Bella Collina was designed by  renowned Gary Player and has 3 nine-hole layouts that can be played continuously  to challenge even the most demanding golfers. Formerly known as Pacific Golf and Country Club, new owners, John Fornaro and Mark Zane have implemented modern landscaping, sustainability and conservation ideas into the daily operations of this cutting edge Country Club.  For more information about golf memberships and all of the amenities at Bella Collina, visit Bellacollinagolf.com.

If you are interested in the Network Management services of Orange County Computer, Inc., contact our sales team via sales@orangecountycomputer.com or call our Tech Center at (949) 699-6619.

Social networking fastest growing mobile app type in US and Europe

June 3, 2010

Social networking is the fastest growing application segment in the US and Europe, research by analyst firm ComScore has revealed.

The use of mobile social networking applications in April 2010 increased by 240% in the US and 239% in Europe compared with April 2009, according to US reports.

Other application access categories recording 100%-plus growth over the year included news, sports information, banking and weather.

Despite the increase in application usage, most Americans still prefer using their browsers, with close to 73 million mobile users accessing their browser in April, up 31% year-on-year.

In Europe, the preference is for applications: 81.87 million users accessed applications in April 2010, a year-on-year growth rate of 13.4%, while only 58.9 million used their browsers. However, the browser category recorded stronger growth, at 40.5%.

Like the US, social networking applications recorded the highest growth rate, but mapping services still have the most users, with 11.13 million people accessing maps through apps in April, up 131.3%.

Although growth in application use on smartphones is growing rapidly, the audience using mobile browsers remains larger and is growing just as quickly, said Mark Donovan, senior vice-president of mobile at ComScore.

“Brands need to remember to take into account the user experience across both channels when building their mobile strategies,” he said.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs says Windows in permanent decline

June 3, 2010

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs has predicted that personal computers running Microsoft’s Windows operating system are in a permanent decline.

At the D: All Things Digital conference in Los Angeles, Jobs said Windows computers would decline in popularity as people used other means to connect to the internet, consume content and work.

Jobs was referring to the rapid spread of smartphones and other internet-connected devices, such Apple’s newly-launched iPad, which he said would continue to evolve.

Jobs cited security issues, poor battery life and difficulty in use as drawbacks to the PC laptop.

His assertion has been met with support from executives and other technology and entertainment companies, according to the Financial Times.

Jeffrey Katzenberg, chief executive of DreamWorks Animation, said he had stopped using a laptop in favour of an Apple iPad and a BlackBerry, made by Research in Motion (RIM).

Dan’l Lewin, the Microsoft executive who manages relations with Silicon Valley allies, said that many more types of hardware would come into use, but that this did not necessarily mean a decline in revenues for Microsoft as the number of users continued to increase.

Apple recently surpassed Microsoft in stock market value, marking a significant comeback this decade, which Jobs described as “surreal” after several failed products in the 1980s and 1990s.

In April, Apple reported 2010 second fiscal quarter revenue of $13.5bn and net quarterly profit of $3.07bn, a 90% increase in profit compared with the year before.

Apple sold 2.94 million Macintosh computers during the quarter, representing a 33% increase over the same quarter the year before. iPhone sales were up 131% to 8.75 million units.

Sales of Apple’s iPad have continued to exceed expectations, with the company reporting more than two million units sold in just under two months since the product was launched

The Benefits of Utilizing Remote Access Support

June 2, 2010

Remote Access Support May Be Your Most Important Business Connection

Businesses must be able to respond to changing conditions with lightning-quick reflexes. This reality is especially true in the realm of information technology. Any glitch in your company network can grind productivity to a frustrating crawl, if not an outright halt. The drain on your time, money, and other resources can be devastating. Fortunately, businesses have a number of options that offer powerful protection against such productivity drains. One of the options that is rapidly increasing in importance is Remote Access Support.

As the name implies, Remote Access Support is online support provided from a location outside of your actual place of business. The service is performed by trained computer support specialist who accesses your desktop computer or company network via an internet connection and specialized software.

Remote Access Support offers businesses three primary benefits:

Time Savings – Since your system is monitored 24/7, problems very often will be discovered and resolved before you even know about them. This, of course, will deprive you of the time-draining opportunity to get on the phone or internet, contact your local IT provider, schedule an appointment, and wait for the rescue squad to arrive at your doorstep. But, of course, you’ve got better things to do with your time, don’t you? Far better to let somebody else deal with all that technology.

Money Savings – Let’s face it, service calls aren’t cheap. With remote access support, you won’t be footing the bill for the time it takes an IT specialist to trek to your business, analyze and resolve the problem, and travel back. Everything happens in a fraction of the time and therefore a fraction of the cost.

Maximized Efficiency – Since everything is done off site, you’ll never have to deal with disruptions from strangers showing up in the middle of an important meeting. You get to carry on business as close to usual as possible.

With so many obvious benefits, Remote Access Support clearly is an option all businesses should consider. If you’d like to put this powerful solution to work for your business, Orange County Computer is ready to help. With Orange County Computer, you’ll be working with Microsoft Certified Professionals who can quickly diagnose and repair any of your desktop/laptop issues, correct errors, and update your systems. Typically, our technical support team can resolve problems in 30 minutes to 1 hour, saving you about 75% off the average on-site service call charge.

Contact our TECH SUPPORT TEAM for immediate support or to schedule a support call at 949-699-6619 or Contact Us

Orange County Computer is your Comprehensive IT Solutions Provider.