Solve360 Tips

Internet Explorer 7 Recommendation

By Norada Engineering

Microsoft recently distributed IE7 to Windows XP and Windows 2003 systems as a regular Windows Update (installation was optional). IE7 is a significant improvement over IE6 and Solve360 fully supports this new browser.

IE7 does however have a bug which can cause the browser to slow down resulting in delayed typing and/or missed keystrokes. To workaround this bug Microsoft recommends disabling IE7's new "Phishing Filter" or applying a software patch.

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User Application Epiphany

By Norada Corporation

Customers occasionally drop us an email when they discover a feature in Solve360 that solves a problem or makes their life easier. Long-time customer John Bardos' company abcfrog.com (based in Nara, Japan) focuses on English as a Foreign Language education for children. While on a recent trip to North America, he had a technology epiphany and took the time to send us this note. If you've got something you want to share with us about how you're using Solve360, or have an observation about the SaaS (Software As A Service) industry that you think other users would find valuable, send us a few lines and we'll post them.

Dear Norada:
I have been using Solve360 for several years, but it is only recently that I have begun to fully realize the power of online collaboration tools.

As a novice user, I used my account to check email when I was away from the office and to occasionally upload files for access when I was working out of a different location. I always felt it was such a hassle to maintain my emails, folders, contacts and files on multiple computers. I needed virus protection, had to update software, make backups, etc. I am not a techie, and I don't want to waste my time maintaining my computers. I would hate to imagine the costs of all that effort.

Next generation online services such as Flickr, Bloglines, Writeboard, etc. have finally changed the way I view computers. I don't need to copy all my files to my laptop when I work out of the office. I can access all my emails, contacts, files and bookmarks wherever I go without the hassles of maintaining many computers. My computer is not a box to hold files. Any computer anywhere is just a window to access the information I need. My data is always available, always backed up and always current because it is online in my Solve360 account. With the current quality of Internet based applications and services, the old idea of computers as dumb terminals is finally starting to make sense.

I check my email at airports, at Internet cafes, and use other computers in different offices I work out of, all with zero headaches. All I need to do is remember my Solve360 password.

I finally got it. Solve360 isn't what I use when I am on the road. Solve360 is what I ALWAYS use. I have had computer crashes where I have lost many contacts and files that haven't been saved since the last backup. I have learned my lessons, it won't happen again. All of my key files, bookmarks and contact lists are always safe and backed up with Solve360. The most profound shift in my thinking has just begun. The collaborative tools Norada offers allows unprecedented productivity in working with staff and developers in different locations. Keeping track of projects, schedules, and files has opened up completely new ways of working. I can see a future where I won't need to buy or maintain any software at all. All I will need is any dumb terminal and all the applications and information I need will be available online for free or a nominal subscription.

The industry is calling these "new" developments Web 2.0 or SaaS (Software as Service). I know that Norada has been offering this services for years because I have been a loyal customer.

John Bardos
ABCfrog.com

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Keeping Your Browser Lean

By Norada Engineering

Often referred to as the browser Cache, the Temporary Internet Files folder contains a copy of all content you have downloaded from the Internet. This folder can grow to a massive size, causing your Web browser to run slower than normal and in some cases preventing pages from loading properly.

To avoid this problem, clear out your Cache periodically by following these two easy steps:

1. In Internet Explorer click on the Tools menu item, then choose Internet Options
   
   
2. On the General tab, in the Temporary Internet Files section, click the Delete Files button, then choose OK (and wait until completed)

This will delete all the files that are currently stored in your browser Cache (except Internet Cookies).

If you've never performed a cleanup, clearing the cached files can take take from 1 to 5 minutes. The longer it takes, the more likely you will benefit from clearing them out.

Additional Tip

You can adjust your Internet Explorer settings to automatically clear the Cache whenever you close Internet Explorer. Go to the Tools menu, and click Internet Options. Click the Advanced tab. In the "Settings" box, scroll down to the section labeled "Security", and click to check the box next to the "Empty Temporary Internet Files folder when browser is closed" option. Click OK to finish. This option does not delete cookies, but it will clear your cache of other files when you close your browser.

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