After years of rumors and false starts,BlackBerry maker Research In Motion has pulled back the curtain on the BlackBerry 10 operating system, a mostly touch-based OS which is expected to work onsmartphones and tablets. The Waterloo, Ontario-based company announced the system at theBlackBerry World 2012 event.

The question, of course, is whether BlackBerry 10 will offer something unique for business owners. From the touch-based keyboard to a dramatic new program for app developers, there are some interesting new features.

Here’s what we found live from the show floor at RIM’s annual developer conference, attended by more than 5,000 BlackBerry enthusiasts, system administrators, developers and small-business owners:

BlackBerry 10 is coming, but we don’t know when.
Actual deployment dates of the new OS have not been announced. There is no scheduled timetable for the launch, according to RIM CEO Thorsten Heins, “because we want to get it perfect.”

The action here was about demonstrating capabilities for potential developers rather than showing actual products. Company executives touted new features: less emphasis on the physical keyboard and a dramatic new program for app developers.

Additionally, RIM said it will guarantee a minimum of $10,000 in annual revenue to certified app developers. Apps must be officially accepted into the BlackBerry App World, RIM’s online software market place. And if the app doesn’t make $10,000 in its first year, the developer will receive payment for the difference.

Touch keyboard to be gesture controlled.
The yet-to-be-released platform will be based on a software development language called QNX. The language will enable a new concept called “flow” in data entry for mobile devices, according to Heins. That means small, touch-based gestures can let users move from app to app and type in ways traditional QWERTY-based keyboards cannot.

But for business users who prefer a physical keyboard, the BlackBerry 10 platform will still support devices that run traditional QUERTY inputs, Heins said.

RIM claims the “flow” will enable cutting-edge personalization algorithms that potentially could not only finish the word a user is typing, but could predict the next word that person intends to type. It expects data entry to be faster and more intuitive the more businesses use the phone. Users will be able to stack several running apps on top of each other and controls are expected for how to use screen space.

It should be particularly useful for switching between a document and an email, for instance. Copying-and-pasting should be easy.

Real business potential remains to be seen.
The consensus among many developers and app companies here is that there is plenty of potential interest in the new software but aren’t sure yet if devices, plans and functionality will offer value to business users. For RIM’s efforts in building new partnerships with developers to succeed, the line of BlackBerry 10 phones and devices must compete with the major mobile players including Apple, Motorola and Samsung.

Source: Entrepreneur.com

Technology helps us stay organized, performs tasks easily that would otherwise take a long time, and it keeps us connected. Using your iPad in your financial planning practice is no exception. However, it’s often difficult to keep up to date on all the new gadgets designed to help us run our business more smoothly.

To help, Scott Steinberg, contributor with Inc.com offers his take on the best iPad accessories for entrepreneurs in the following article.

The iPad is quickly growing in popularity among start-ups and small business owners, and it’s no surprise why. With an endless range of apps and improving functionality, the tablets are great multi-taskers at the office.

Want to make your iPad even more functional? Check out these plug-and-play hardware options that address some of the iPad’s current limitations (hello, battery life?):

Sena Keyboard Folio Cost: $149.99

This leather carrying case has an integrated Bluetooth keyboard and folding kickstand. Beyond the obvious benefits of protecting your device and giving you a more comfortable way to type, it’s also elegantly designed. Heck, it’s even fashionable. Be prepared to pay for the style, however: Units don’t come cheap.

Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit Cost: $29

Digital cameras still produce better images than smartphones and tablets on average, especially under dimly-lit conditions. That’s why you might want to pick up this connection kit, which can import photos and videos onto the iPad via your camera’s USB cable or SD card. Support for JPEG and RAW images, and SD and HD video formats (H.264, MP4, etc.), make it especially handy for social media campaigns or those needing to capture low-light shots at product demos or events.

Zagg Apple iPad Screen Protector  Cost: $34.99

As with your laptop screen, it pays to guard your tablet PC’s display from scratches, dents, and dings. Zagg’s drop- and damage-resistant screen protectors protect against wear and tear, and come with a free lifetime replacement warranty.

Wacom Bamboo Stylus  Cost: $29.99

Effective as the iPad’s touchscreen may be for casually drawing or jotting down notes with a finger, graphic designers, artists, and architects may find it offers inadequate precision when performing complex tasks. Try this hefty stylus with a rubberized tip. It sits comfortably in the hand and allows for more elegant sketches and designs when using PhotoShop Express or other art applications.

Apple Digital AV Adapter Cost: $39

The new iPad’s 9.7-inch, LED-backlit display provides an attractive way to screen websites, presentations, apps and video walkthroughs – but its size makes it impractical for group viewing situations. This video adapter, which connects with HDTVs and HDMI-compatible displays, lets you instead output high-definition photos and film clips to a full-sized television set or monitor for more effective screenings.

iHome iDM5 Executive Workstation  Cost: $129.99

An all-in-one solution for mobile professionals, this “Bluetooth keyboard speaker system” (read: full-service workstation) provides a physical keypad, stereo speakers, and two USB ports for device charging. Using it, you can videoconference, play music while working, and recharge mobile gadgets all while you’re getting work done.

Logitech Tablet Keyboard Cost: $69.99

A combination full-sized Bluetooth keyboard and stand, Logitech’s portable carrying case also guards against drops, spills, and harm. Plus, it has integrated multimedia controls and can function up to 30 feet away from your device.

Kensington PowerBack Battery Case Cost: $79.99

While the iPad offers entrepreneurs ample productivity tools and entertainment solutions, heavy app or wireless usage can suck the life out of your battery–fast. Add up to five extra hours of juice with this protective, battery-powered case. It also has a built-in kickstand for better viewing in portrait, landscape, or typing modes.

Source: Inc.com

Jason Fell, contributor with Entrepreneur.com offers 7 Ways for Upgrading IT Security in the following article.

With desktop computers and Android mobile devices still big targets for hacks and cyber criminals, and Apple posting the highest number of reported vulnerabilities for its devices, IT security should be a prime concern at businesses large and small. All it takes is one security breach to shut down an entire network and compromise your business’s sensitive client data.

“Unlike the ‘hacker’ of the past, today’s cybercriminals are after your most important information — your financial records, customer data, user accounts and intellectual property,” says Brian Burch, vice president of marketing communications at Mountain View, Calif.-based information security company Symantec. “And the bad guys know that small business has fewer defenses than the average large company. They also know that your small company might be the “backdoor” to your biggest client.”

Here, Symantec offers seven tips for how owners can beef up security at their businesses:

1. Know what you need to protect.
Look at where your information is being stored and used, and protect those areas accordingly. Lost and unprotected mobile devices can be a big problem. Companies often have at least some devices that, if lost, have no password protection and can’t be remotely wiped of data, according to a recent Symantec study.

2. Enforce strong password policies.
Creating passwords with eight characters or more and using a combination of letters, numbers and symbols (e.g., # $ % ! ?) can help make your passwords more difficult to crack.

“I take a long word that means something to me personally and capitalize some letters and, most importantly, change other letters for symbols that resemble the letter they replace,” Burch says. For instance, consider replacing the letter “s” in a word with $.

3. Map out a disaster preparedness plan.
Identify your critical resources, use appropriate security and backup solutions to archive important files. Test them frequently.

4. Encrypt confidential information.
Implement encryption technologies on desktops, laptops and removable media such as USB devices to protect your confidential information from unauthorized access.

5. Use a reliable security solution.
Today’s solutions do more than just prevent viruses and spam, Symantec says. They can also scan files regularly for unusual changes in file sizes, programs that match known malware, suspicious email attachments and other warning signs.

6. Stay up-to-date.
Your security systems might not be so secure if you’re not updating them often. New viruses, worms and other malware are created every day and variations can slip by software that isn’t current.

7. Educate employees. 
Develop internet security guidelines and inform employees about Internet safety, security and the latest threats, as well as what to do if they misplace information or suspect malware on their machine.

“In the event of a breach, every employee should be encouraged to come forward immediately if they spot a virus or a piece of malware rather than try to resolve it themselves or hope an intrusion or incident will blow over,” Burch says.

Source: Entrepreneur

Financial Advisors, like many business people are always looking for ways to better connect with their clients and prospects. Your advisor website is a great conduit to engage users, present your specific offering of products and services, talk about what is new in the industry, and gain important client feedback. Your website can be a way to connect with your clients on another level all throughout the year. While clients may be already visiting your financial advisor website to access their statements, it is helpful to learn ways to help increase other traffic and keep people coming back.

Fiona Collie, with Investment Executive writes about how to get more traffic on your website in the following article.

The most effective advisor websites, according to online marketing specialists, are like one-stop shops.

Your website should be a hub, says Marie Swift, president and CEO of Communications Impact Inc., in Leawood, Kan. That hub should be a place where people can learn about your firm and how you serve clients.

These tips will help you direct more traffic to your website:

Get noticed on Google
A key to success on  the web is ensuring members of your target market can find you through search engines such as Google.

To help raise your visibility, Swift says, work with a search engine optimization specialist. An SEO expert can help you to set up your site so it gets the highest-possible ranking in search-engine listings.

Connect with social media
Make your website more credible by connecting it to your other online initiatives.

The more “digital assets” you have, such as a LinkedIn profile or a Facebook page, Swift says, the more credibility and visibility your website will have.

Those social media profiles will create a “spider-web effect,” Swift says. A search engine can pull your name from several online locations, which in turn will give you a higher ranking in a search.

Create links
Use your website to demonstrate your connections to your target market.

Set up links between your website and important associations or organizations related to your niche, Swift says. For instance, she says, if you work with doctors, set up a link to a medical association: “It shows that you’re in that community. It also enhances your [SEO] when people are looking online for an advisor who serves physicians.”

Remember to set up links to any articles you have written, Swift adds, to establish yourself as an expert and to further improve your SEO.

Generate leads 
Include a call to action on your website, says Loic Jeanjean, director of web marketing with Vancouver-based Advisor Websites. Invite prospects to give their names and email addresses in order to download a piece of information, such as a case study or to register for a seminar.

Including such a call to action, he says, will give you a list of names of prospects you can contact further. For example, you could add those names to a “drip marketing” campaign, in which you routinely send information to leads in the hope they will contact you.

Alternatively, you could contact these leads directly to ask whether they have any questions about their financial goals or would like to arrange a meeting.

Stay relevant
Keep the information on your website fresh and timely to maintain visitors’ interest.

Update the site with new content, such as educational material and tips on seasonal issues a couple of times a month.

If you have a blog, Swift says, maintain a regular publication schedule. Most successful blogs are updated weekly — or at least, monthly — in order to draw repeat visitors.

Source: Investment Executive

HAMILTON, Ontario (April 26, 2012) – AdvisorTek is proud to launch its new revamped website www.AdvisorTek.com. Targeted to financial planners, accountants, brokers and insurance professionals, the redesigned site complements the company’s forward–thinking commitment to the growing needs of the financial services industry and its clients.

Tony Valaitis, Managing Partner of AdvisorTek said, “Improving access to solution providers is the goal of this initiative. With its improved functionality, the new website provides more intuitive access for financial service professionals seeking to improve their business through software and technology. Most importantly, the new site features free access to an extensive, up-to-date directory of North American businesses that provide solutions for professionals in this industry.”

The upgraded site features a clean-cut user interface with easier navigation and a more streamlined browsing experience. The new homepage welcomes visitors with a fresh look, relevant articles, free tools and interactive financial calculators.

The revamped website also provides the most comprehensive directory of software and technology vendors ever assembled to date, providing financial advisors with a one-stop-shopping resource to easily find solutions on one convenient website. The site is organized into channels that reflect key components of an advisor’s practice – financial planning software, contact management solutions, asset allocation, insurance illustration, social media, web content, marketing and more.

About AdvisorTek
Designed for financial service professionals and their companies who need industry-specific solutions, AdvisorTek.com offers an extensive directory of premium providers of software and technology solutions. Through a hands-on commitment and wealth of financial knowledge AdvisorTek.com delivers relevant information, tools and solutions to help financial professionals manage and grow their business. For more information, please visit www.AdvisorTek.com.