HTML5 Video: Benefits and drawbacks

In the latest HTML5 tutorial, we cover the topic that everyone’s been talking about: Video. HTML5 video will free us from “plugin prison.” Online video will no longer require external plugins, like flash, quicktime, or realplayer. Additionally, online video will be accessible via mobile devices, such as smartphones.

This latest tutorial covers everything about HTML5 video. It will teach you how to add video to your web pages, and explain a few hurdles you’ll have to jump over if you want to use HTML5 video right now.

You can find the tutorial in our forums.

9 great business apps for iPhones, Android

Did you know there are over 225,000 apps in the iPhone app store, and over 100,000 apps in the Android market? Those numbers will only increase over time, especially when Google releases their app inventor.

I’d have to say, there’s pretty much an app for anything. In fact, filtering through all of them for the right one is the challenge. If you’re in need of business apps, I recently ran across two great lists of apps (iPhone and Android) aimed at the business user. While they’re aimed at CIOs, the majority of them are incredibly useful by just about anyone in business.

I’d also like to add a few great business apps to the list that I’ve used:

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Three incredibly useful enhancements

We’ve recently made some significant m-Power improvements that I believe could help many companies. In case you missed any of them, I’d like to recap 3 of my favorites.

Web-based pivot table – m-Power can now create web-based pivot table reports. They’re easy to create, easy to share, and you won’t have to worry about problems associated with typical spreadsheets, such as: Security, data accuracy, accessibility, etc...

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5 ways to ensure an unhappy staff

Would you rather have a miserable staff, or a happy staff? What a silly question! Of course you want a happy staff. Happy employees create a better work environment and are all around more productive.

But, while I’m sure every manager wants happy employees, how many managers actually cause unhappiness among their employees?

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5 IT trends to watch

According to Steve Jobs, the tablet computer will replace the desktop computer in the near future. Though I doubt that prediction, he’s right about one thing: The world is trending towards mobile computing.

The obvious trend towards mobile computing leads to one question: How will this affect IT and the business as a whole? This article in techrepublic.com entitled, "The changing face of IT: Five trends to watch," highlights this topic very well. In fact, 3 of the 5 trends mentioned in the article pertain to mobility.

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HTML5 tutorial: New elements = easy maintenance

If you’ve ever worked with HTML, you know what “div overload” means. It’s when the web page designer relied too heavily on the “div” tag, resulting in a jumbled mish-mash of code. This creates code that is confusing and harder to maintain.

HTML5 adds new markup elements designed to decrease our reliance on the div tag and leave us with cleaner, more readable code. Page maintenance will be easier and faster than ever! No more scanning through a pile of div tags… HTML5 adds elements specific to certain sections on a page.

You can find the latest HTML5 tutorial covering new structural elements in our forums.

Google App Inventor: A game changer?

Google made news this past week with the announcement of their Google App Inventor. The idea is simple: The app inventor lets anyone (not just developers) develop applications for Android.

Is this a game changer? I think so. Here are a couple reasons why. First, this is huge for the Android platform. Google just increased their developer base by leaps and bounds. If Google was lagging behind Apple in the app department, they won’t be for long.

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14 inventions that you could’ve thought of

“Why didn’t I think of that?” We’ve all asked this question at one time or another. We see a new product or idea that makes so much sense it’s surprising that we didn’t think of it first.

I think the key to invention is how we perceive problems or inconveniences. Do you get frustrated and complain when something is difficult or inconvenient? Instead of complaining, view problems as an opportunity for a solution. Think about it: If you could find a solution to a common problem, don’t you think others would buy it?

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HTML5 tutorial: Forms are now exciting!

As mentioned last week, we are writing a series of HTML5 tutorials. They will help you learn more about the upcoming HTML standard, what’s new, and how it affects you. The new features in HTML5 will make you more productive and help you create even more powerful web applications.

The first of our HTML5 tutorials focuses on forms. While forms don’t sound very exciting, wait until you see what’s new with forms in the new HTML standard. HTML5 includes features that were formerly only available with javascript! As you will see from the tutorial, forms are about to get a lot more powerful.

You can find the tutorial in our forums.

20 tips for better time management

I love this quote:

“Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.” -H. Jackson Brown

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10 excuses your boss doesn’t want to hear

Some people spend lots of time explaining why they can’t do their job. They might even have valid reasons. But, in the end there are two types of people: Those who get things done and those who make excuses for not getting things done. Which one are you?

Now, I realize some managers make unreasonable demands. They assign impossible project deadlines. They provide limited resources and guidance. In all cases like this, communication is vital. This article in techrepublic.com entitled, "10 excuses your boss doesn’t want to hear", provides some great advice.

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HTML5: Much more than just iPhone video

The talk surrounding HTML5 these days is largely focused on video thanks to Apple’s decision to not allow Adobe flash on the iPod, iPhone, or iPad. However, there is so much more to HTML5 than the ability to play video natively.

In fact, when you really begin looking at the enhancements in HTML5, you realize video playback probably isn't even the most important new feature. Those who work with HTML at all will stand to save a ton of time and be able to do things they could never do before using plain old HTML.

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How to alienate customers and create bad press

The internet is like a bullhorn for your customers. In the past, if an angry customer told their friends and family, a company might lose a few sales. Today, offend a customer at your own risk. Customers have access to social media, forums, and sites like Consumerist or Yelp to air their grievances. One miffed customer can result in many lost dollars.

Nothing drives this point home better than the stories on Consumerist.com. Most of the stories focus on how a customer was mistreated or wronged by a company. However, I run across another type of story with alarming frequency: Customers that were wronged by a company's computer system.

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100 best places to work in IT 2010

Computerworld recently published their annual report of "100 best places to work in IT". The list includes a brief description of each company and why they were selected.

I think the real benefit of this list isn’t the companies mentioned, it’s how they got there. I don’t view this as a list of great places to work. I see companies who know how to attract the best talent.

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