Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is a system that integrates all the systems/functions into a single system in a common database, designed to serve the needs of each different department within the enterprise.

There are many different systems in a large company’s “back office,” such as planning system, manufacturing system, distribution system, shipping system and accounting system. Imagine all the systems are standalone and all data are not sharable. As such, EPR was introduced to solve this problem, with an objective to integrate all these systems into one system.

Advantages of ERP Systems

• An integrated ERP system collaborate all the functional areas together
• The ability to communicate information across various departments
• Improved efficiency, performance and productivity levels
• Enhanced tracking and forecasting
• Improved customer service and satisfaction

Disadvantages of ERP Systems

• ERP systems can be extremely expensive to implement
• Training required to make the system work correctly, inadequate education in ERP might cause personnel can’t operate it efficiently
• Security issue

The growing information needs and integration of system are the main reasons for improvement or replacement of old systems. With ERP, an organization runs all of its core functional applications from a single database. Each functional unit of a company such as finance & marketing uses its own supporting applications within the same ERP. However, ERP is not necessary the only solution to consider as the cost to implement ERP is very expensive, which easily amounts more than $100K.

In 2011 itself, in only few months apart, Mozilla already released 3 new versions,  i.e. Firefox 5, 6 and 7. These versions differ only on smaller incremental updates, primarily on the improving speed, stability and security.

Released on September 27th 2011, Firefox 7 focuses on improving memory consumption and performance.

New features in Firefox 7 consist of:

• Lesser memory usage. Memory usage is now cut down (as much as 50% lesser) and Firefox 7 is able to free up memory by closing tabs, which was not possible previously.
• Improved rendering performance.  Azure Direct2D allows quick rendering of HTML5 canvas operations.
• Quick retrieval of bookmarks. With Firefox Sync, now bookmarks and passwords sync almost instantly between different computers that you used
• Shorter display of web link. “http://” URL prefix is now removed from the address bar. However, some users prefer this to be added back, or have it be optional, not just completely gone.
• Better logging. Includes the option to send back telemetry data / memory usage statistics to Mozilla. E.g. the CPU and RAM load, interface responsiveness, startup speed.
• Updated Websocket for HTML5. The WebSocket protocol has been updated from version 7 to version 8.

Due to the emergence of notebook, iPad, and other tablets, PC seems to begin losing its importance in today’s world. Is this statement agreeable?

Well, some still using PC as their main device, while others especially those techno geeks may just find it too out-dated. Let’s compare the PC with the latest and highly popular iPad then for the sake of a better insight!

PC

iPad

First of all, iPad isn’t going to be your only computer. When you turn it on for the very first time, it asks you to connect itself to a PC or a Mac running iTunes, via USB cable. You also need to sync your iPad from time to time, especially since that’s the only way to back up an iPad.

If you use iPad to create data or document rather than use it for browsing for example, the on-screen keyboard is no match to a real and tactile keyboard. The real keyboard of PC allows you to type more comfortably and speedily.

Besides, iPad doesn’t run all Web apps, doesn’t print, and doesn’t provide a file system that lets you get to all your documents in any app. PC does.

The iPad’s lack of freedom to install basic apps and plug-ins (such as FireFox or even Flash), and the apparent lack of multitasking, make this far too limited a system to be considered a full-fledged computer.

However, the iPad’s profoundly un-PC-like personality turns out to be its biggest virtue too. Its small size, half-inch profile, 1.5-pound weight, a touch interface, and impressive battery life, make it far more portable than even a netbook and also make iPad one of the best devices ever built for browsing Web pages, watching movies, playing games, or even working.

In addition, iPad’s simple finger-driven interface, zippy performance, and true instant-on capability, make it a quicker, more efficient, less annoying alternative to a Windows PC or Mac.

To conclude, PC is still important in our lives, especially for working people who use their PC to create rather than consume data. The iPad is an entirely new category, somewhere between a handheld phone-size device and a full computer. Hence, it makes much more sense that iPad is taken as a supplement to the other computers in your life than as a replacement for any of them.

iCloud is a cloud storage and cloud computing service from Apple which was announced on June 6, 2011. The service allows users to store data such as music files on remote computer servers for download to multiple devices such as iPhones, iPods, iPads, and personal computers running Mac OS X or Microsoft Windows. It also acts as a data syncing center for email, contacts, calendars, bookmarks, notes, to-do lists, and other data.

iCloud

Now, how can iCloud assist businesses?

• 5 GB free storage

When you sign up for iCloud, you automatically get 5GB of free storage. Since your purchased music, apps, books, and TV shows, as well as your Photo Stream, don’t count against your free storage, you still have plenty room to go for your documents, mails, etc.

• Online Document Sharing

iCloud makes it easy to move Pages, Keynote, and Numbers documents between your computer and your iOS devices. You just need to sign in to icloud.com/iwork, and all your iWork for iOS documents will be there. For example, Upload a Keynote presentation from your Mac desktop or laptop into iCloud and it’ll be available to run as a slideshow from your iPad.

• Automatic Storage

Whenever you edit or create a document, the document stays up to date on all your iOS devices and there is no obligation to save your work. That is because iCloud automatically stores your content so it’s always available to your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or PC.

• Automatic Update

It also keeps your email, contacts, and calendars up to date across all your devices. For example when you add a new appointment date on your iPhone’s calendar, the calendar on your Mac or iPad is also updated accordingly.

• Routine Recovery

You don’t need to worry about losing your important data. The iCloud recovery routine will load the most recent version of everything back onto your iDevice.

Businesses, particularly small companies, reliant on iOS and Mac OS X hardware, are likely to find iCloud an appealing way to simplify their file management and distribution.

iPhone 4S

iPhone 4

Disclaimer: The information provided on this blog is for reference only. Although extreme care has been taken to ensure that the information provided on this blog is accurate and up-to-date, we do not warrant that all, or any part of, the information provided is accurate in all respects.

Windows Intune is a PC security and management service which simplifies and helps businesses manage and secure PCs using Windows cloud services and Windows 7. Windows Intune Cloud Management Service delivers management and security capabilities through a single Web-based console so you can keep your computers and users operating anywhere. Windows intune is suitable  primarily at SMB customers who don’t currently have a PC management system in place and with Windows Intune  it only cost SGD 11 per PC/month.

TOP 5 Reasons to Deploy Microsoft’s Windows Intune:

1. Protect PCs from malware

Help protect your PCs from the latest threats with centralized endpoint protection built on the award-winning Microsoft Malware Protection Engine.

2. Monitoring and Alerting

Using a system similar to Systems Center Operations Manager, Intune can alert you when there is a problem with a desktop, such as a virus infection or a failed hard drive.

3. Manage updates

Intune can manage your system updates and patches and give you control over which patches get deployed to which systems and verify that the patches have been applied.

4. Provide Remote Assistance

You can use Intune to access your PCs to perform remote problem solving.

5. Set security policies

manage update, firewall, and endpoint protection policies, even on remote machines outside the corporate network.
Windows Intune is just one more example of how Microsoft is taking advantage of the cloud to help customers solve their IT challenges in new ways as well as with windows intune they can manage their PCs wherever they are without requiring a huge investment in infrastructure. Windows Intune Cloud Management Service cost SGD 11 per PC/month only it’s still affordable for small to medium sized business.