How do we keep up with Twitter?

We don't have an iPhone, just the office pc. Other than posting direct from Twitter web, what are our options?

There are a few ways to tweet. Several of these applications enable you to make one post which simultaneously tweets, adds to your blog and Facebook. Some allow you to schedule tweets in advance and will shorten URL links.

http://www.techhit.com/OutTwit/
Designed for Microsoft Outlook users, who have it open all the time. Update your Twitter status and follow your friends without having to open any other applications. OutTwit seamlessly integrates Twitter into Outlook.

http://twitterfeed.com/
This service will automatically twitter any post that you publish on your blog.

http://www.tweetdeck.com/beta/
Tweetdeck integrates services from Twitter, Twitscoop, 12seconds, Stocktwits and now Facebook. It has greater functionality for sorting out your tweets.

Tweetdeck enables users to split their main Twitter feed (All Friends) into columns allowing a broader overview of tweets. It allows you to group people together and search across the twittersphere. Grouping friends or work colleagues separately means you have a window on all aspects of your twitter life.


http://www.twhirl.org/
This runs on both Windows (2000/XP/Vista) and Mac OSX connects to multiple Twitter, laconi.ca, Friendfeed and Seesmic accounts. It displays notifications for new messages and follows topics in near-real time with saved searches automatically. It find tweets mentioning your @username.

http://hootsuite.com
This does most of the above and allows you to have multiple user profiles. If you have a personal and business Twitter ID this can be useful.

Open Day – Computime & ACUTEC join forces

Coleshill based Acutec and Coventry company Computime have just merged. We would like to invite you to our Open Day to meet with the whole team at St Peter’s House, Church Hill, Coleshill, Birmingham, B46 3AL.

When is it taking place?

Next week, on Thursday 2nd April 2009 at Acutec in Coleshill – the Open Day starts at 11:00 with coffee and pastries, there is also a buffet at lunchtime and the event finishes at 14:00.

How do I book?

To book your place, call the admin team 01675 469020 or email info@acutec.co.uk

eNewsletters

I want to send my clients enewsletters, can you suggest a good program to use?

eShotter allows you to create and send out email communications easily. You can use it for newsletters, alerts or updates.

The results can be measured as the hyperlinks can be tracked, so you know where they come from. Recipients who receive the email and open it can also be tracked.

eShotter is easy to use, comes with templates, incorporates automatic unsubscribe handling and much more. Contact us for more information.

Google AdWords voucher

Google are offering free trials of their Google Adwords advertising again!

To get a free £40 of advertising from Google you need

1. A Google account (it’s also free)
2. To visit https://adwords.google.co.uk
3. To enter your promotional code 3Q5Y-LWA8-J8AD-7NKG-GG
   

This code expires on 30th April 2009 and to redeem the voucher, click on the Billing Preferences tab and enter the code.

This is a great way to test market a new product or service and to see the results generated by Google.

What does the future hold?

My first introduction to a computer was a megalithic piece of equipment that took up a whole room. There was even a safety bar around the edge and we had strict instructions not to touch it!

I progressed to a PC, although I think it was the heaviest piece of kit on the planet. And do you remember life before thinner, lighter screens?

We’ve moved on so much from the blinking orange or green cursor on the screen to a more user friend WYSIWYG approach.

We’re in an era of constant contact where many people want to stay in touch with friends all day long. Facebook, Twitter and the Apple iPhone have made this easier. We probably know more about our friends and their lives than we ever did. Online digital diaries recording every important or eventful element of our lives.

New websites evolve with content from their users which is a complete turn around form the traditional approach to seeking copywriters, agreeing themes and developing storylines. It all happens at the click of a mouse.

Computers are ‘learning’ all the time. My PC decides which emails to show me and which to add to my spam box. Shopping websites retain my preferences.

So what’s ahead of us?

How do you see the future of technology in your life? Do share your thoughts with us!

Classic Menu for Office 2007

I'm finding the Office 2007 menu bar difficult to use, is there anyway I can change some setting so that I see the 2003 menu bar?

If you want to use Office 2007 with the Microsoft Office 2003 menu bar, you can download the software free at www.addintools.com/english/menuoffice.

Server backups

My server backup keeps on asking for another tape - what should I do?

This sounds as though the server backup is too big for one tape.

There are a couple of things you can do to reduce the size you are backing up.

1. Remove files from the server that you no longer need.
2. Copy files that you want to keep but no longer need backing up regularly onto CD, USB or other storage device and them remove them from your server.
3. Ask your IT team to remove files that they know do not need backing up
4. Speak to your IT team and ask them for a different backup solution

Inserting symbols in Microsoft Word

I need to type up a document that has been written in French and need to add in a special symbol – how do I do this?

You can either hold down the Alt key on your keyboard and using the number pad, enter in the relevant code if you know it eg Alt 0233 inserts é.

To view the whole list of symbols, go to Word, Insert, Symbol, select your Font from the dropdown menu and scroll through the symbols.

Displayed at the bottom is the Shortcut key eg Alt +0231 will insert ç

These codes can be used in many programs.

Microsoft 2007 Add on

There is a 2007 Microsoft Add-in to allow you to save documents from 2007 Microsoft Office programs as PDF and XPS formats. Download the Add-in here.

Award winning team!

Two award-winning IT firms in Coventry and Warwickshire have merged, creating one of the largest companies in the sector in the region.

Computime IT Solutions, a Coventry-based company, has come together with Acutec, which is based in Coleshill, employing more than 20 staff in total.

To begin with, the newly formed Acutec-Computime will continue to operate from two offices and under the banner of their original names. They will come together under one roof later in the year.

Chris Roche, managing director of Acutec, said: “It made perfect sense. There is great synergy between the two companies and this is a very exciting move as the two businesses become one.
“The two firms have built up strong reputations and have developed great expertise over many years. We intend to build on that and further enhance our strength in the region.

“This is such a fast moving industry that it is vital to seize opportunities when they come along. This was too good an opportunity to miss, particularly in the current economic climate.”
The merger sees two of the longest established IT firms joining forces. Acutec was founded in Birmingham in 1992 by Roche and now delivers hardware, IT security, network support, bespoke software, and IT consultancy services.

John Dixon set up Computime in 1985 as one of the first IT businesses in Coventry. For the past five years, the firm has been specialising in integration into the internet, telephony, accounts, and CRM as well as developing bespoke packages for clients.

Dixon said: “We had spoken some months ago about the possibility of coming together and I am delighted that the deal is now concluded.

“As companies, we have a very similar ethos. Technical expertise is, of course, the basis for IT businesses such as ours but we also put a major emphasis on outstanding customer service and I believe that is why we have, between us, more than 40 years’ experience in the industry.”
The newly merged company now has more than 300 clients across the Midlands region.
Both web addresses – http://www.acutec.co.uk/ and http://www.computime.co.uk/ – will remain online.