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Software Development Tip: Supporting mobile apps on devices with varying resolutions

Thursday, January 05, 2012
Todd Snoddy, Senior Software Developer
I recently wrote a quick blog posting regarding things to consider when making the decision to develop a native or web-based mobile app.  Once a decision is made to develop a mobile web app, the developers given the task of implementing that app will likely need to consider which mobile devices their web app should target, and how the content should be displayed on devices with different resolutions.  Should the content scale automatically, or should the developer implement multiple views optimized for different resolutions?  One good reference that I came across which discusses this in more detail is located here: http://mobiforge.com/starting/story/mobile-web-content-adaptation-techniques.
 
Like many problems in software development, there is no “one size fits all” solution.  The article mentions a “hybrid approach” that provides good results, but it introduces some complexity and additional effort, so there are some tradeoffs to consider which will impact development time, cost, and user experience.  The bottom line is that making the decision to develop a mobile web app is just the first technical decision among many.  Unless the phrase “money is no object” applies to your project budget, you’ll want to consider your target audience and try to identify that “sweet spot” of which devices should receive a premium user experience, and then have a fallback plan for how other devices should be handled.  Lastly, don’t forget to test on multiple devices too.  HTML should be admired for trying, but there is no such thing as a “write once, run everywhere” technology.

Using Google Mail’s 2 step authentication to prevent hacking

Wednesday, December 07, 2011
Clint Nelms, Network Infrastructure Practice Manager
Do you know anyone who has had their email address compromised?  Have you started to receive spam emails from friends or family members?  Unfortunately this sort of compromise has become more and more prevalent.

Incidents like these indicate someone has used a password guesser to gain access to your mailbox.  Spammers do this to get your address list. They then blast out spam to everyone in your contacts.  Besides being a hassle, this sort of breach makes you feel like your privacy has been violated.  

How to Fight Spammers
Many online services such as Hotmail, Yahoo!®, and local services such as BellSouth are under attack constantly.  Once your account has been compromised, what do you do?  
  • Contact friends and family and tell them not to open any suspicious emails or links from your compromised account.  
  • Immediately change your password. Use a complex password with letters, numbers, a capital letter and a special character such as a dollar sign.  
  • Contact customer support and let them know your account has been compromised.  
What about prevention? 
Google has launched a service called, “2 factor authentication.”  In this configuration you need to authorize a computer before it can be used to check your email, this includes tablets, smart phones, and etc.  To verify your account, you can ask Google to text a verification code to your cell phone. Once you receive the text, log into your mail account on a new computer and you will be prompted for that code. 

The service also creates custom passwords to be entered into smart phones.  In this case, your smart phone uses this code instead of your actual password to check your mail. Although this method is a bit cumbersome, once set up, you will have the peace of mind to know that your mailbox is much more secure and that access to your mailbox can only be accomplished from a device you have authorized.  

For more info on how to set this up, click here.

Maximizing the Cloud: 5 Cloud Success Stories in Government

Thursday, December 01, 2011
Clint Nelms, Network Infrastructure Practice Manager
Forced with budget cuts, local government agencies have turned to cloud computing to streamline their IT needs, lower hardware expenses and improve accessibility and mobility to necessary data. 

In a special report on cloud computing, The Center for Digital Government, in partnership with Public CIO, compiled a list of five government cloud success stories, two of which are at the local government level. 

Wyoming
  • Problem: One year ago, the state of Wyoming was operating 13 different e-mail platforms in its executive branch. Each system required dedicated staff to maintain it, and myriad platforms meant the state lacked a shared address book across all agencies. 
  • Solution: In less than nine months, the state has migrated to a single cloud-based solution, and moved 10,000 state employees to the new platform. The move will save the state more than $1 million annually, but cost reduction is not the only benefit. State employees are able to collaborate in ways that were not possible before. 
Oregon
  • Problem: What builder isn’t troubled by permit requirement delays? 
  • Solution: By moving to a cloud-based solution for issuing permits, Oregon is dramatically accelerating the approval process for contractors, builders and developers. Oregon’s cloud solution will eliminate jurisdictional confusion and time-intensive paper chases. 
Nebraska
  • Problem: Four years ago, Nebraska was nearly ready to replace its creaky electronic applicant tracking system with a new application. 
  • Solution: Fourteen months into its cloud implementation, Nebraska has a new, more efficient and flexible paperless applicant tracking system, and an entire human capital suite that includes learning performance, succession and compensation management; a better benefits enrollment process; e-procurement; and a core human capital database. 
Hudson County, N.J. 
  • Problem: Ten years after September 11th, disaster recovery remains foremost in county officials’ minds. 
  • Solution: A private county cloud that took just eight months to build now provides back-up for all critical data and applications. Even if county offices are compromised, personnel can log in from any location and keep things going. The Hudson County IT Division’s plan is to offer servers on demand to all the towns in the county, turning its private cloud into a community one.
Nashua, N.H. 
  • Problem: For 30 years, Nashua, N.H., used an internal IT system that had, like a monster in a science-fiction movie, spread its tentacles into every agency in the city. 
  • Solution: When this system was replaced with a hosted ERP solution, city managers are able, to see integrated numbers that show what’s really happening in the city, find and eliminate waste, and change processes when needed. 
The report also takes a deep dive into the evolution of cloud computing technology, identifies the emerging trends, and discusses the exciting implications it has for the future of service delivery. Click the link below to read the results.

Network Support Tip: Pin Up the Folders You Use Most

Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Scott Miller, Network Engineer
Pin Up the Folders You Use Most 

Windows 7 allows you to “pin up” the folders you use most on your taskbar. Simply hold your mouse over the favorite folder, right click, and drag the folder onto the taskbar. Windows 7 automatically pins itself to the Explorer Jump List. To open the folder, right click on the Explorer icon and select the folder you want.

Network Support Tip: Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Brian Ocfemia, Network Engineer
The Windows Logo Key
 
The mouse proved to be a lifesaver for users who want an easy way to navigate Windows' graphical user interface.  Unfortunately, it's not always the most efficient way to interact with your computer.  There are several keyboard shortcuts that can help you save time.  However, one of the most underused keys on the keyboard is the Windows logo key   (found between the CTRL and ALT key).  There are many things that you can accomplish by using this key.  To start with, you can open and close the Start menu just by pressing the Windows logo key .  You can display the desktop by pressing Windows logo key  + D or open Computer by pressing Windows logo key + E.  You can even open any program on your taskbar by pressing the Windows logo key and the number that corresponds to the position of the application on the taskbar (i.e. Windows logo key  + 1 launches the left-most application on the taskbar, Windows logo key + 2 launches the second left-most application, etc...).  For more information on keyboard shortcuts that can make your daily computing easier and more enjoyable go to: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Keyboard-shortcuts.

How digital is your city?

Tuesday, November 08, 2011
Dave Mims, President
The results are in! On November 2, Govtech.com announced the winners of the eleventh annual Digital Cities Survey. The survey spotlights the municipalities that best show how information and communication technology are used to enhance public service. The survey is conducted by the Center for Digital Government and Government Technology.
 
The top 10 cities were selected by four different population categories and judged on the following criteria:
  • Enterprise applicability/Impact across multiple program areas
  • Measurable progress from the prior year
  • Hard dollar savings/soft dollar benefits as a result of technology use
  • Innovation
  • Demonstration of effective collaboration 
The cities chosen were selected from hundreds of municipalities nationwide. Winners include cities like Chicago, Corpus Christi, Texas, Eden Prairie, Minn., Honolulu and Virginia Beach, Va.
 
So, who else made the list? Did your city? See for yourself.

Software Development Tip: LINQ to SharePoint

Thursday, November 03, 2011
Ohm Sadasivam, Senior Software Developer
Microsoft has added many useful features in SharePoint 2010. One of interest for developers is support for Language Integrated Query (LINQ). LINQ abstracts us from data source specific syntax such as SQL for SQL Server as well as Collaborative Application Markup Language (CAML) for SharePoint content data. Nice! I won’t steal all the thunder, but if you need to programmatically access SharePoint data and you aren’t already using CAML for SharePoint data access then checkout these two articles on LINQ to SharePoint from Microsoft at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee535491.aspx and http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/gg620622.

Network Support Tip: Desktop background pictures can impact computer performance

Friday, October 28, 2011
Michael Kappel, Senior Network Engineer

People really seem to enjoy placing high resolution photos on their backgrounds.  They will take pictures of places that they visit, their family, or their pets and set that as the background on their laptops or desktops.  A lot of people don’t realize that this can actually slow the computer down.  To see if your background pictures are impacting performance on your computer, right click on the desktop, click properties, and set the background to a solid color.  If that seems to improve your computers speed, you may need to consider either not using the image you choose previously, or getting a lower resolution copy of the image.

With that said, if you really love background, checkout some seasonal ones at: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/downloads/personalize/wallpaper-desktop-background

Network Support Tip: Windows 7 Snap

Friday, October 28, 2011
Scott Miller, Network Engineer
I have been using Windows 7 for a while. From the beginning, I have liked the “snapping a window” feature, which while simple, is pretty cool. With the feature, you can Snap windows to size by dragging them to the edges of your screen. Read more about snap at: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/features/snap.

Golf: A Cinderella Story…

Thursday, October 27, 2011
Dave Mims, President

 
 
Sophicity was a sponsor for the 4th Annual Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) Mayors’ Christmas Motorcade Golf Tournament held Monday October 17, 2011 in Dublin, GA at the beautiful Riverview Park Golf Course. The proceeds from the tournament will go toward the Mayors’ Christmas Motorcade charity event in December.

Yalonde Tanner from GMA summed it up best, “For the first time in 4 years Sophicity did not make last place”. Yes, a Cinderella story. Every year until 2011, we have driven, swung, swung, putted, putted, and putted our way into last place. But not this year! I chose to step aside and let Clint Nelms, Sophicity’s Network Infrastructure Practice Manager, and Michael Kappel, Sophicity’s Senior Network Engineer (aka Mr. Sophicity Golf) compete. Definitely a good move, one of improvement for the team… ;-)

Every year, the Mayors' Christmas Motorcade provides gifts during the holidays for patients at Georgia's mental health and retardation hospitals. The golf tournament is essential for raising money for the Motorcade, and Sophicity proudly supports GMA’s efforts to help Georgia’s less fortunate during the holiday season.

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