Tag: Mobile Devices

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Casserly Consulting Blog

How Much Have Smartphone Cameras Made a Difference?

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When it comes to selecting a smartphone, most consumers look to the camera as a major deciding point – after all, many popular applications geared toward the everyday user heavily lean on the use of a camera. This utility and, in some ways, reliance have only encouraged rapid advancement to phone-based camera technology since its origins in the Samsung SCH-V200.

The very first smartphone cameras were simply a handheld camera that connected to the phone via a cable. This all changed upon the release of the SCH-V200. While the user still needed a computer to remove the images from their phone via cable connection, and the image quality wasn’t great, the ability alone was enough to start a revolution in what is expected of our technology.

In the years since the SCH-V200, phone-based camera technology has grown in leaps and bounds, arguably being responsible for shaping how we view mobile computing today.

The First Smartphones
While the Samsung SCH-V200 was the first phone that featured a built-in camera, this feature was quickly capitalized on and adopted by many, allowing images to be taken and shared. This technology had some time to develop before the release of the original smartphones in the mid-2000s. Both the iPhone and T-Mobile’s HTC G1 featured rear-facing cameras, and while this feature wasn’t particularly focused on by reviewers, the significance of this pocket-sized technology was very quickly apparent.

The Smartphone’s Development
Later on, mobile phones began to sport front-facing cameras. This assisted in the development of “selfies,” giving a newly immersive experience to sharing points in one’s life. This made the expansion of Internet connectivity and advent of social media an even bigger piece of the smartphone experience, making such cameras a must-have feature.

As a result, more and more features were added that made the camera and its use better. The now-standard LED flash, allowed users to take pictures in low light (a much more difficult task beforehand). Software improvements enabled other camera features to come into their own, autofocus, video capture, and optical image stabilization being feasible thanks to the increased processing power that the chipsets possessed.

The Boost of Social Media and Other Applications
Of course, the first few generations of phones that had a camera were limited in functionality somewhat, the front-facing camera only adding so much. However, once the ability to capture high-definition video came into play, this all changed. The combination of this new feature with the birth of social media (at the time, mostly YouTube) made the camera a much more influential feature for the average consumer.

This concept seems strangely foreign, now that there are easily hundreds of apps that integrate both front and rear-facing cameras for their most basic usage. Returning to YouTube for a moment, a full 300 hours of video are uploaded to the site every minute, most of it probably originating from a smartphone. Since their introduction, smartphones and their cameras have captured images and footage that has been inspiring, outrageous, and socially relevant. An iPhone’s camera was exclusively used to shoot the award-winning, feature-length film titled Tangerine.

How the Camera Saves the Mobile Market
As it happens, the camera has become the primary reason to buy a new mobile device, with application development and processing power both plateauing, and the apparent fact that only Samsung and Apple can consistently manufacture smartphones that see any kind of profit. Yet the cameras on these devices only continue to improve, more high-end smartphones now featuring dual-lens cameras. These cameras provide no small amount of benefit to the user, providing them with more options behind their photography, in addition to:

  • Wide aperture – With more light reaching the camera, more accurate photos can be produced.
  • High Dynamic Range – HDR covers the gamut of image capture quality settings, piecing together a variety of shots to produce the best one possible.
  • Burst Mode – If the subject of a photo is in motion, Burst Mode allows a determinable number of images to be captured so that the best one can be chosen.
  • Portrait Mode – In order to provide an enhanced depth of field, a photo can be taken to automatically sharpen an object in the foreground while blurring the background.

Thanks to the continuing improvements in their cameras and software, the smartphone user is effectively walking around with a complete photography studio in their pocket. How well are you able to use your smartphone’s camera? Leave any hints you have in the comments!

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Casserly Consulting Blog

Our 2018 Business Technology Overview

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Businesses have a lot to think about, especially regarding best practices and upcoming trends in technology. Has your business been doing all it can to keep up? We’ve outlined some of the best IT innovations that we expect to see in 2018 as time goes on.

Security Worries
It should be clear that in today’s business world, security is everything. There are so many threats out there that one organization alone can’t possibly keep up with all of them, much to the chagrin of security companies. Most notable of these is the Internet of Things, a term used to refer to the collective body of mobile devices out there with interconnectivity features. Machine learning and improved methodologies have allowed organizations to better protect themselves from these emerging threats. Predictive technologies powered by machine learning have also greatly enhanced the ability of organizations to take on threats. Alongside new innovations like blockchain technology and the zero-knowledge proofs associated with it, machine learning will likely pave the way toward the future of security.

Big Data
Similarly, in order to make a meaningful impact on your business, you need to collect data that can be used to make educated decisions. There are plenty of sources out there that can help businesses acquire and accumulate data, if you know where to look. If your business utilizes solutions that allow it to collect and organize data, you’ll be able to make predictions about which decisions will most benefit your company over time. It can also help you make decisions based on trends in security, user experience, processes, and efficiency.

Artificial Intelligence
A.I. is the future of many business strategies. Since businesses today collect more information than any before them, A.I. can be the most efficient way to benefit from it. A.I. can help your business and its employees better manage both time and resources, and with this comes greater opportunity for innovation and savings to your bottom line. In essence, A.I. can potentially allow businesses to save time by automating redundant or time-consuming tasks, all while learning from the experience.

Accountability
Artificial intelligence presents an interesting problem that businesses haven’t had to deal with to this moment–accountability. If something goes wrong and an A.I. does something illegal, who’s to blame? Issues like these, and many more, all need to be addressed before innovations can be leveraged to the best of their ability.

What are some of your most anticipated trends for the future of business technology? Let us know in the comments.

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Casserly Consulting Blog

The Internet of Things Gives Great Power to Our Phones

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The Internet of Things is a bit of a paradox in and of itself. It has been leveraged to accomplish great things, but at the same time, it can be used in a way that can create considerable problems. However, innovations have proven that the IoT isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon, especially now that it can use the devices that we carry in our pockets.

Taking the IoT to New Heights
Smartphones are notorious for swiftly becoming obsolete, which means that there is a great opportunity to repurpose them and give them new life as a critical component of an IoT device. Just ask NASA.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has long been sending satellites into orbit – despite the intense costs to construct them, let alone get them where they need to go. To help decrease these costs without sacrificing the insight that these satellites provide, NASA started the PhoneSat Project in 2009. Rather than sending a few conventional, expensive satellites into orbit, many nanosatellites can be built from off-the-shelf components and sent into space. These nanosatellites rely on smartphones in order to function.

This initiative has appeared to be very successful, as version 2.4 of PhoneSat, “CubeSat,” reentered the atmosphere on January 31, 2017 after spending more than three years orbiting Earth. These nanosatellites have a relatively tiny price tag of $8000, and have, thus far, proved massively successful.

Bringing the IoT Down to Earth
Of course, the IoT has far more uses that are much more practical to the user who is not affiliated with NASA. Samsung Electronics created a team whose task was to figure out ways of taking older models from the Galaxy line of phones and figuring out how to leverage them as an IoT device. This “Galaxy Upcycling” team created a huge variety of IoT-powered purposes – including a few for the owners of hungry pets. The Smart Fish Tank they developed could feed the fish through a text message, and the Smart Pet Bowl would send the doting pet owner a picture whenever Fido or Fluffy chows down. This project has since been completed, the final product anticipated to be released soon.

Security Concerns
Of course, the same issues plague the IoT powered by a smartphone as have plagued all IoT devices that have come before: namely, security concerns. The IoT is notorious for its devices not having sufficient security installed, and often have no real way to update later. Time will only tell if this will eventually be a fatal flaw for the IoT, or if it will be overcome.

What do you think? Would you consider using an old smartphone to make another object smarter? Tell us why or why not in the comments!

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Casserly Consulting Blog

5G is Still Going to Take A While

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As technology has improved in function and convenience, we seem to demand more and more of it at an increasing pace. Take mobile data as an example: 4G was introduced in 2009, and less than a decade later, there is high demand for 5G. Unfortunately, while 5G has been worked on for some time already, it isn’t likely that it will be commonly available anytime soon.

The technology being touted as the driving force behind 5G has quite a few practical issues, many of which may prove to be too much for the anticipated improvements to offset. Many of these issues are rooted in the proposed use of enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) via millimeter wave (mmWave) and the inherent issues with this plan.

Range
A big problem comes from the range of mmWave. Currently, 4G signals can reach anywhere between three and thirty miles, while mmWave can only reach a third of a mile – one ninth of its range now, under ideal circumstances. In order for 5G through mmWave to be successful, there would need to be some major infrastructure updates.

This has been addressed in the planning processes, as it is likely that the cell towers we are accustomed to today would instead be replaced by shorter-range femtocells. These femtocells would be approximately the size of a microwave oven, and could be added to existing pieces of infrastructure, like light poles, traffic signs, and even public transportation vehicles like buses. However, these open up the idea of implementing 5G to more complications.

Connectivity
For example, mmWave signals are incredibly easy to block, which is why there would need to be so many femtocells added to the existing infrastructure. When something as simple as an unfortunately positioned traffic sign can block a signal, signals need to be coming from more than one direction.

There is also the matter of bandwidth that needs to be addressed. Consider how much usage each femtocell would see – they just wouldn’t be able to network as efficiently as necessary for proper use. This would mean that the entire network of femtocells would also need to be connected via costly high-speed fiber cabling, which would be an expensive and time-consuming endeavor.

Cloud Confusion
With cloud computing having become such a widely utilized tool, it only makes sense that the femtocell network would be managed via the cloud. By creating a virtual network in the cloud, software-defined networks (SDNs) and network function virtualization (NFV) could be leveraged to manage the 5G network. Trouble is, there are various kinds of SDNs and NFV, with no one standard. The Linux Foundation is working to change this, but this still isn’t an issue that will likely be resolved in the near future.

Regardless, 5G is going to happen – femtocells are inexpensive and, for all their faults, a potentially beneficial way to make it possible. Furthermore, people want better mobile bandwidth. The technology is just going to take some time to develop.

However, if you want to improve your business’ connectivity now, we can help. Give COMPANYNAME a call at PHONENUMBER.

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Casserly Consulting Blog

Tip of the Week: The Internet of Things Poses Threats to Your Organization’s Network

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The Internet of Things has become one of the central parts of connectivity in a tech-centric world. Despite the incredible convenience that these devices offer to users, they come with considerable security risks that absolutely need to be kept in mind. We’re going to discuss some of the ways you can keep the IoT from being a security hazard while optimizing how much you get out of it.

Does the Device Need Connectivity?
The first question you should ask about your IoT device is if it actually needs to be connected or not. The reason for this is simple; the more connected devices on your company’s network, the more risk will be involved with your network. Certain IoT devices could be leveraged by hackers and other dangerous entities to spy on you, steal your data, or track your current location. If the device is worth the risk, you could potentially take advantage of great services that you might otherwise not get. If it’s not worth it, though, perhaps you’re better off not using the device. If the device is that of an employee, you should ask them to leave it disconnected during the day.

Have You Optimized Security?
In any environment where you’re using an IoT device, you need to make sure that security is at the top of its game. Ensure that all of your firmware is updated, as well as any security patches to fix any major vulnerabilities that might be present on your network have been applied. To make things easier, this process can largely be automated. You should also consider investigating your router to make sure that it’s updated properly as well.

It is also worth mentioning that your router may support guest networking, which means that you can use this capability to protect your business network from the risks of the IoT. By relegating IoT devices to the guest network, you can protect the business side of things from potential issues.

Passwords are a great way to make sure that security is at its maximum. You should never reuse passwords for devices or accounts. If these guidelines are followed, you’ll have easier time keeping your accounts from being compromised.

Make Sure Your Devices Are Maintained and Monitored
Your business should have practices put into place that promote transparency with the ongoing use of Internet of Things devices. For example, you should be monitoring user permissions.

Most of your IoT device issues can be resolved just by asking yourself one simple question: Do you even need the devices in the office? If not, they shouldn’t be there.

If your business needs help with managing devices in the workplace, reach out to COMPANYNAME at PHONENUMBER.

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Casserly Consulting Blog

Your Guide To Mobile Device Management as an SMB

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The use of mobile and personal devices for work purposes can be beneficial to your business operations. When handled, and supported properly, they have been shown to improve communication methods and increase productivity. However, the popularity of mobile computing, as well as the Internet of Things’ rapid expansion, means it’s more important than ever to make sure that you don’t allow dangerous devices to access your network. To keep your network safe, there are a few Mobile Device Management best practices that you should begin enforcing.

Define Acceptable Devices and Limitations: To prevent the abuse of your network, it’s a good idea to define which type of devices are allowed. Even though there have been some improvements in IoT security, many devices still have no defense and put your network at risk when connected. A good way to protect your data and network is to only allow network access to devices that can be used in a professional capacity.

Of course, there is also a distraction-factor when there is an excessive use of these devices – even if they’re technically allowed. For example, if you have several employees with smartphones, laptops, tablets, and wearable devices that are all constantly sending and receiving data, the likelihood of interruption increases and productivity decreases. Consider limiting the number of devices per person that are allowed to access your network at one time.

Develop Access Policy: One of the biggest reasons for data loss is accidental human error. To make your employees aware of the dangers of abusing the use of mobile devices on your network, it’s a good idea to create a policy that makes them aware of their role. The policy should include password requirements, antivirus expectations, privacy terms, data loss security reporting process, and even things like penalties of texting and driving while using a company device.

Mobile Device Management Solutions: To take that extra step beyond developing/enforcing a policy regarding the use of mobile devices, a mobile device management solution (MDM) gives your company more control over mobile devices on your network. MDM applications enforce proper use, as well as requiring maintenance and security patches to be up-to-date. Many of these MDM solutions have the ability to remotely wipe data from the device in the event it’s lost or stolen.

Studies show that employees who are allowed to use their personal mobile devices for work are more satisfied with their job. Smartphones and mobile devices are a permanent part of business technology and can’t be ignored. With the constant threat of cybercrime, SMBs need to be vigilant about allowing only authorized users to connect mobile devices on their network. Questions on keeping your network safe or if an MDM solution is right for you? Contact us at PHONENUMBER.

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Technology

Tip of the Week: Every Mobile Device Policy Needs to Cover These 3 Areas

b2ap3_thumbnail_smb_mobile_400.jpg Smartphones, laptops, tablets, and other mobile technology are practically necessities in today’s modern workplace; especially if you want to keep productivity flowing at all times. However, implementing mobile devices into your workplace infrastructure is more complicated than it sounds, especially if you want to preserve security. Here are three topics to consider when implementing mobile devices in the workplace.

Data Security
One of the key concerns that any business using mobile devices needs to account for is security. When you add new devices to your business’s network, you’re adding endpoints that could potentially fall victim to hacking attacks. The more devices that are connected to a network, the more patches and updates that need to be installed in order to maintain security. Basically, adding new devices means more work, and more work can lead to cut corners, which inevitably leads to compromised devices.

A mobile device management solution is capable of securing all of your organization’s devices, be they smartphones or laptops. It’s the easiest way to manage access to mission-critical data, whitelist and blacklist apps, and remotely wipe devices that have been compromised.

Connectivity
When you’re taking mobile devices out of the office, you need to consider how your employees (and yourself) are going to connect to sensitive corporate data. While you could just connect to your cloud solution through a public Wi-Fi connection, this is discouraged, as public Wi-Fi can often be compromised. You never know who else could be on the network, watching your every move.

In instances like these, a virtual private network (VPN) is a valuable tool. With a VPN, you can access your network’s data over an encrypted connection, meaning that as long as you are connected to a wireless network, the data sent to and from your device will be secured so that any onlookers won’t be able to do anything with your data. The data sent to your device is encrypted and then decrypted upon arrival, so if any hackers try to steal it in transit, they’ll only get a jumbled batch of letters and numbers.

Cloud Access
Of course, you’ll need access to your organization’s data, especially when you’re out of the office and using several different devices. To do so, you need a cloud solution that allows your business to share and collaborate on files in real time, across multiple platforms. Most importantly, you want to ensure that your team can open crucial data that’s needed to keep operations moving forward, even when out of the office. A dynamic cloud solution–either public, private, or hybrid–is the key to solving this pain point. Depending on your business’s specific needs, you’ll want one that prioritizes the functionality and security your business requires.

For all of your business’s mobile device security needs, you can contact COMPANYNAME. We’ll work with you to ensure that your devices aren’t putting your business’s data at risk. To learn more, reach out to us at PHONENUMBER.