In an article over at CIO.com, Bing's share is increasing at the expense of both Google and Yahoo. Just recently, Yahoo teamed up with Bing's creator, Microsoft, to remain more competitive in online search. 

There are conflicting reports on the market share numbers. First, analysis firm Experian Hitwise reported its search market data for last month. The data shows Bing almost gaining a full percentage point over 2 months, jumping from 8.92% market share to 9.70% while Google dropped from 72.25% to 70.95%.

One credit to Microsoft is the immense marketing push that began putting Bing on the map. With their sights set on mobile, Bing may be just as aggressive in the mobile sector as they were with the conventional market. 

Did Bing take all that traffic away from Google? And given a year or two, will Bing start to take more consistent bites out of Google's market share?

comScore, another analysis participant, reported a 0.1% increase in Google market share and a 0.2% increase in Bing market share over the period of January and February 2010. This is not as stunning as Experian's scores, but it did indicate a decline in Yahoo share by 0.2%, another possible indicator of Yahoo's loose grip on the search market arena.

What will this mean for SEO and SEM? Although it is farther down the road, Bing has the resources (Microsoft) and the unique direction to pursue a large chunk of the Search Engine market. Its footprint in mobile will be especially important in the next couple years as software technology is evolving to adapt to MID's and smartphone devices.

What search engine do you find most useful - Google or Bing? Or both?

Until next time -

Matthew Hymel

Switchfast Technologies
Chicago IT Support & Consulting
Rochester IT Support & Consulting

In yesterday's Patch Tuesday, two bulletins were issued to address eight vulnerabilities in Windows and Microsoft Office. One of these defects specifically targets Excel and may allow hackers to remote code execute, or take control of your system. Security experts believe this could affect many businesses due to the frequent use of the Excel application.

The second bulletin addresses an issue in Microsoft Producer 2003. Microsoft is actually NOT providing a patch for this, instead opting to advise businesses to uninstall the component.

Another unpatched (zero-day) vulnerability that Microsoft points out is one which involves IE 6 and IE 7. Here is a piece from the announcement:

"The vulnerability exists due to an invalid pointer reference being used within Internet Explorer. It is possible under certain conditions for the invalid pointer to be accessed after an object is deleted."

As infosecurity-us.com points out, several flaws in IE remain unpatched. Flaws that allow for information disclosure in IE (Advisory 980088) and enable remote code execution if a user can be lured into hitting the F1 key and activating Microsoft's help file system on a maliciously crafted website are still dangerous to businesses and users. 

Make sure to update your systems with all patches by Microsoft over at this website.

Until next time -

Matthew Hymel    

Switchfast Technologies
Chicago IT Support & Consulting
Rochester IT Support & Consulting

In this case, we can apply the mindset to consumers and small businesses. The fact is that some individuals or groups have been "forced" into entrepreneurship, making a living off a service or product that they can provide at a low expense to their own personal endeavors. 

This means the integration of consumer and business technology, a movement toward a sleek, up-to-date piece of hardware with software that the user has become familiar with or provides personal and professional levels of beneficial options.

Take Google's service, Gmail, for example. Many small businesses will set up a couple accounts specifically for their internal and external communication.  Although Google Wave still hasn't been tidal-worthy, its collaboration and real-time features are especially useful for small companies who are constantly on the go or in need of immediate internal feedback. 

In an article over at ZDnet.com, Dell, HP, and Lenovo have all pitted themselves in the small business PC market with respectable pieces of technology:

Dell's Vostro line - Mix of form, functionality, and service, while the important feature is the stress on available service for business problems

HP - Uniquely pitching financing options, this new line of mobile professional assistants boast DayStarter, allowing you to view your calendar before Windows starts up

Lenovo - As recently as Sunday, the new ThinkPad Edge series is designed and priced specifically for SMBs, focusing its IdeaPad and ThinkPad strengths into one device

A good term that the writer uses that best describes both the technology and the mindset of the small business owner is "consumer-SMB crossover." With an ever growing focus on mobile, cloud storage, and integrated access platforms, the very applications and hardware being used by consumers have proven valuable in a business setting, and sometimes vice versa. 

When you think about it, these PC vendors are attempting to make the transition easier from one set of historically-built technology to another without 'upsetting' your consumer needs and simultaneously maximizing business options and efficiency.

Until next time -

Matthew Hymel

Switchfast Technologies
Chicago IT Support & Consulting
Rochester IT Support & Consulting

According to a spokesman, NewEgg has "moved quickly" to replace the merchandise in question, so if you received one of the potentially counterfeit units, it's likely that NewEgg will contact you. However, if you haven't yet been contacted, it is in your best interest to reach out to NewEgg regarding the matter, as it will surely be more difficult to get a replacement after the initial buzz of the incident has blown over.

For more information, click here.

Best,

Michael Holley

Switchfast Technologies
Chicago IT Consulting & Support
Rochester IT Consulting & Support

Buyers of Office Home and Student 2007 will receive a free copy of Office Home and Student 2010, while buyers of Office Standard 2007 and Office Basic 2007 will be eligible for a free copy of Office Home and Business 2010, a new addition to the Office lineup. Purchases of Office Small Business 2007, Office Professional 2007 or Office Ultimate 2007 will be eligible for a free copy of Office Professional 2010.

While Microsoft readies their next upgrade in software, Google readies their own Operating System for consumer and, now, enterprise use. With Chrome OS set to launch later this year, the company has all but confirmed that they will release a "business" version of the software in 2011.

This business edition, however, similar to the OS launching this year, will be available only on netbooks first.

What will Chrome OS Business edition offer that varies from its consumer version and Microsoft's software?  An increased attention to built-in security technologies specifically made for protection from malware and other online threats. 

According to an article over at Networkworld.com, the auto-updating features of Chrome OS will reduce exposure to malware and assist you in a "safe-browsing" experience. There also will be a "developer mode" which may sacrifice a bit of specialized security functions for a better developer experience.

With the recent success of Google's Chrome Browser along with its emphasis on "speed and security," will Google make a powerful push into the Enterprise industry or focus mainly on their heavy consumer market? With a loyal consumer base, there have already been signs that companies like Apple and Google have infiltrated the small business setting in a big way. It's only a matter of time before companies will become more familiar with Google's intentions in Enterprise and the affect it could, or will, have on their internal operations.

Until next time -

Matthew Hymel

Switchfast Technologies
Chicago IT Support & Consulting
Rochester IT Support & Consulting

Microsoft's Windows Mobile brand fell into relative obscurity mostly thanks to a lack of attention from the creators themselves. In a time where smartphone technology is growing as fast as anything in tech, Microsoft paid for its negligence with huge loss in market share. Now, redoubling its efforts, it has decided to scrap the Windows Mobile project altogether and start from scratch with Windows Phone 7. In fact, a Microsoft spokesperson said that there are no current plans to provide updates of the new OS to older hardware at all.

One thing is for sure: Microsoft plans to take a much more active role in dictating the user experience with Windows Phone 7 than it did with the Windows Mobile series, which had few specific hardware requirements and would often be heavily skinned or modified by equipment manufacturers.

We still don't know much, but we can expect a lot more information at MIX10 on March 15th. Until then, check out CNET's FAQ on the situation if you want more details.

Best,

Michael Holley

Switchfast Technologies
Chicago IT Consulting & Support
Rochester IT Consulting & Support

This mindset may have crippled Microsoft, and Google certainly isn't taking anything for granted.

A plethora of Google properties was put through the wringer recently, as Google took a step back to evaluate their own optimization production.

The results were surprisingly harsh.

Out of the 19 subjects and topics tested, Google found 8 areas which they deemed, "need improvement," with almost half of those concerns dealing with on-page optimization. 

The two lowest scores came out of Search result presentation, in which 'Description meta tag use' and 'Appealing Google site links' raked in a 33% and 32% respectively. Overall, the company scored very well when it came to 'Clear main page result on Google for Google products' and using proper headline tags and internal anchor text. 

Keep in mind, Google is not content with anything but the best, so they have released a detailed report that contains some tips on improving SEO across the board.

Hit the link for further details as well as the actual report.

Until next time -

Matthew Hymel

Switchfast Technologies
Chicago IT Support & Consulting
Rochester IT Support & Consulting

For the most part, Windows 7 has been highly successful in drawing consumer interest, targeting the criticism of "user-friendly" interface controls.  Now that consumer penetration has proven fruitful, the enterprise industry is looking to get a piece of the successful OS.

According to Mary Jo Foley over at ZDnet.com, Microsoft's Klein pointed out the future interest that enterprise customers have in Windows 7 deployments, and believes it will be a great product once tailored for the workplace.

Unfortunately, for those really ramped up about the conversion, there is no established timetable for when and how fast this will happen. The best guess seems to be at the end of this calendar year.

Of course, one big factor is the willingness of PC-businesses to move away from IE6.

With all the excitement generated by Windows 7, is Microsoft re-inventing themselves as the current titan of the industry?  We have seen them succeed without competition but struggle in the face of open-source consumer options.  Will this drive employees and consumers alike to integrate Windows 7 within their professional and personal life?

There's been much discussion regarding Microsoft's stance as an "underdog" in the mobile, search engine, and Web-based apps departments. However, with all the emerging competition, Microsoft has remained faithful to its dedicated users by listening to consumer advice and launching products - Bing and Windows Phone 7 Series - designed with simplicity and usability.

Take it or leave it, Microsoft will continue to evolve as the technology and enterprise industry grows. Along the way, competitors may hack away at Windows 7 platform, but be assured that the OS has driven itself in a positive direction for Microsoft's software presence.

Until next time -

Matthew Hymel

Switchfast Technologies
Chicago IT Support & Consulting
Rochester IT Support & Consulting

Of course, in the beginning, the fight was all about who had the most muscle or in this case the most users. Internet Explorer became the "prototype" of internet interface accessibility, which rooted in both the consumer and enterprise mindset. With such a powerful following, any competitor would surely have to flex their accessibility muscles or take an alternative route.

In comes Firefox whose vision of free and open source web browsing unlocked the possibilities of browser capabilities. In a matter of 5 years, or half the time of Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox surpassed IE as the most used browser (not dependent on an operating system) with almost a quarter of recorded usage share of web browsers. 

Twenty five years after the first release of Internet Explorer and the browser revolution has begun. Users have embraced internet accessibility and now demand unique user interfaces and efficient connections. Google, the search engine giant of the last decade, has established their presence with Google Chrome, stressing the speed and customizable features of their respected browser. Safari and Opera claim a small percentage of the browser market as well, however, with not as strong a following.

Where does the revolution go from here?

The first step was ousting the king. Internet Explorer 6 has proven that its vulnerability isn't worth the continuing support, as Google has backed away completely. The browser industry has grown competitive enough to provide sufficient options outside of IE 6, including an in-house option of IE 8. However, to pry a familiarity away from users, especially enterprise users, will be a long and daunting task.

The next step will be variety. The browser has certainly diversified in both function and interface, but users still look for an experience appropriate for themselves. In a fast growing technology field with mobile web becoming a new standard, internet interface will have to stay one step ahead of user trends and technology capabilities. 

Of course, after all the bells and whistles are advertised, the long-term success of any browser will be its security issues. The web community has finally initiated the burial of IE6 for this specific reason, and will never accept anything but the most secure internet browsing experience. 

Will there ever be a browser "king" again, or will browser usage continue to spread out among competing brands?

Until next time -

Matthew Hymel

Switchfast Technologies
Chicago IT Support & Consulting
Rochester IT Support & Consulting

As technology advances each decade, more businesses are quickly adapting to the newest, most efficient means of running their company - and in a lot more cases, there is an overwhelming voice for Apple's Mac computers.

Here are three reasons why the Mac continues to populate the workplace:

• The growth of the iPhone - Initially, the iPhone was the most-wanted piece of consumer technology on the market when it came out in June 2007. With its popularity and intuitive usability, employees began to integrate their iPhones with Enterprise tasks. Now that the iPhone has pitted itself against the previous Enterprise champion, there will be debates on whether a device with established business control or software with the continued momentum of application development should rule the workplace.
• Cross-platform program support - Another strike against Apple products when they first emerged was the lack of IT support in an enterprise setting. The knowledge of cross-platform development equaled more company time and resources. Instead, the established Microsoft safeguard was simple and adaptable. With pressure from users, Microsoft-loyal software has emerged for Macs and Apple's mobile units. As more knowledge of managing a Mac-PC environment emerges, a plethora of employees will consider either the exceptional UI of Mac or the well-established familiar formula of Windows.
• Industry momentum - Microsoft has taken a lot of criticism lately for its buggy IE 6 and the latest venture in mobile experience with Windows Phone 7 Series. Google's Android is just beginning to crack the marketplace with its open-source development. Apple's effect on consumer technology has translated into the workplace. With the current "Application Hype," more companies will look to integrate their business solutions with Apple's world of apps.

Is your company using both Macs and PCs? For many businesses, it may depend on the industry and its current consumer trends. It may also depend on reliability, user trust, or user compatibility. Some enterprise solutions serve best on Microsoft simply because of how rooted businesses have become in Windows, and considering the history of Microsoft, Mac has a ways to go if it intends to conquer a majority of workplace computer usage.

Hit the link for more information on the anticipation of Mac's Enterprise presence.

Until next time -

Matthew Hymel

Switchfast Technologies
Chicago IT Support & Consulting
Rochester IT Support & Consulting