Word of the Week: Hyperlink

By admin03/02/2010 Leave a comment

Also referenced to as simply a “link,” a hyperlink is a simple and neat method through which websites connect users to supplementary media or information. A hyperlink allows a user to click through a tag (text, icon, or photo) in order to access additional content. Typically coded through HTML, hyperlinks are commonplace in modern web design.

Posted in word of the week Tagged , ,

Orbis Turns 10!

By Chris03/01/2010 Leave a comment

This month, Orbis Solutions is proud to celebrate its tenth year in business. It’s a big milestone for us, and it would not have been possible without the help of many people. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to work with great customers who trust us and treat us like valued partners, not simply vendors. We are equally fortunate to have an exceptional team of employees who are always willing to put in the extra time and effort to provide our customers with the high level of service they truly deserve.

A lot has changed since 2000 and many more changes are in store for the future, but our focus on helping our customers to operate more efficiently and effectively through the use of technology remains the same. We are extremely grateful for everyone who has helped us over the past decade and look forward to an exciting future together.

Thank you for your continued support,

Chris DiPiazza

Alex Yee

Posted in Uncategorized

Word of the Week: IP Address

By admin02/23/2010 Leave a comment

An IP Address is a number assigned to both servers and users connected to the Internet. For servers, the IP address comes to be the domain name through a Domain Name Server (DNS). For individual users, it is assigned by the Internet Service Provider (ISP) when the user logs on. This address could be the same number each time you log on – if this is the case then it is known as a “static IP” – however, your IP address could also be a newly assigned number each time you connect, based on what is available. A static IP address is the most common. IP addresses can be especially helpful for combating identity theft and cyberfraud.

Posted in Uncategorized

Top 5 Podcasts for Business

By admin02/18/2010 1
  1. The Starbucks Experience: Once a week Dr. Joseph Michelli hosts a podcast based on the principles related in his bestselling books The Starbucks Experience and The New Gold Standard. Dr Michelli analyzes business strategies implemented by the Starbucks Corporation – and relates these wildly successful procedures to how they can be applied to running a small business. No matter how you feel about Starbucks’ entity as a whole, it is undeniable that the corporation has become not only one of the strongest and most profitable businesses in recent years, but it has also become a sort of cultural phenomenon. The advice Dr. Michelli offers every week can undoubtedly help any business become more profitable, and reach its full potential.
  2. Wall Street Confidential: Every trading day, CNBC’s Jim Cramer and his team of leading financial commentators review the goings on of the stock market that day, and relate this information to how it can be helpful to businesses. This timely method of reporting could prove to be extremely beneficial to your business, or individual portfolio. Cramer’s in-depth analysis of important trends and events on Wall Street (and the financial world, globally) can be profitable to anyone who is looking to finance a business, make important buy/sell decisions, or save for retirement.
  3. Hesh Reinfeld Business Humor – Sometimes all this business talk can leave you feeling bewildered and maybe even slightly overwhelmed. For a much needed and well deserved mental break, we suggest a podcast hosted by Pittsburgh-based business writer Hesh Reinfeld. Reinfeld covers topics ranging from marketing, sales, and investment advice, to running a family business and advice for entrepreneurs. His stories and anecdotes will make you laugh, while his hard-hitting advice will keep you in the know.
  4. Business Explained: Business Explained is a weekly podcast by spirited Harvard Business School and MIT Grad Stever Robbins. Eager to help people accomplish great things with their lives, Robbins proves to be as insightful as he is expressive. Each week he provides an executive perspective on important events in business, through which he aims to widen the perspective of his listeners. The ability to look at your career in a different mindset is a great advantage in the business world, and if you are looking to breathe new life into your profession Stever’s podcast might just be the jolt you need.
  5. Wall Street Journal Podcasts: The Wall Street Journal’s website is not one, but instead a collection of various daily and weekly business-related podcasts, many of which could prove to be extremely beneficial to any small business. Your Money with Chuck Jaffe is one example of a popular featured podcast that provides money management tips for both businesses and individuals. WSJ.com hosts dozens of podcasts geared specifically towards small business, CEO’s, and everyone in between. Updated daily, this site has what you need to stay informed about the most modern and efficient ways to make the most out of your business and finances.
Posted in Uncategorized

Tech Story: 2010 Olympic Medals

By admin02/18/2010 Leave a comment

This year, the Royal Canadian Mint will produce 615 Olympic and 399 Paralympic medals for the greatly anticipated 2010 Winter Olympics being held in Vancouver, British Columbia. Not to be outdone by generations past, Canada has given the typical Olympic medal a thoughtful new facelift, blazing new trails in terms of design, composition, and innovation. The Canadian government has employed Teck Resources Limited – a Vancouver-based mining, mineral processing, and metallurgical company – to produce the medals, while keeping mindful of the company’s professed commitment to sustainability. In response to this request, Teck has designed a recycling process that salvages metal from discarded electronics (also known as e-waste) such as computers, keyboards, and televisions. This process provides a functional solution to the challenge of reducing the amount of e-waste material that would otherwise be destined to degenerate in landfills.

Another exciting element for this year’s medals is that, for the first time in history, each medal awarded  will be different, engaging an independent section of a much larger master image created by Canadian designer and artist, Corinne Hunt. For the Olympic medal design, Hunt drew inspiration from the orca whale for its beauty, individual strength, and loyalty to its community. To create each medal, the matte orca is lasered onto the front face of the medal, and within this design is a delicate wood grain pattern that can be viewed up close. Canadian industrial designer and architect Omer Arbel used his extensive knowledge of materials and fabrication processes to create an innovative undulating design to the medals, which is meant to illustrate the rolling hills of the Canadian landscape.

The 2010 Olympic medals prove to be a refreshing new example of how necessary it is to constantly reexamine the way we recycle. Instead of allowing discarded old ipods, desktops, cell phones, and televisions to pile up in a landfill like some bizarre island of misfit gadgets, we can instead melt them down, spruce them up, and again put them to good use.

Click here to take a closer look at the 2010 Olympic Medals!

Posted in Uncategorized

Product of the Month: Dell Studio One 19

By admin02/18/2010 Leave a comment

The Dell Studio One 19 is an extremely appealing desktop option for businesses interested in space saving designs. Equipped with ample memory (up to 4GB), this innovative new model manages to eliminate the bulky computer tower by instead incorporating it within the desktop monitor. The Dell Studio One 19 is not only aesthetically pleasing, it also offers quality performance. The Studio comes standard with an 18.5 inch widescreen display, optional touch screen capabilities, and built in Wi-Fi. This All in One PC will prove to be extremely beneficial for anyone looking for a high performance computer and a clutter free desktop.

Posted in Uncategorized

Word of the Week: Java

By admin02/09/2010 1

Java is a prevalent high-level programming language that it known for its Internet friendly modus operandi. Essentially, Java script takes the once complicated programming language used by computer specialists, and simplifies it in order to make the process more efficient. This intelligible computer language makes it easier for programmers to avoid making certain errors that had been common when using older methods. Java code is especially popular because it can run on all kinds of computers; operating systems such as Windows, Mac OS, and UNIX all contain Java interpreters.

Posted in word of the week

Word of the Week: Defrag

By admin02/02/2010 Leave a comment

Defrag is a term that acts as the succinct form of “defragmentation” (which essentially means “to refurbish your computer”). Just like all tangible things, every now and then your computer needs to be cleaned up and dusted off; and while an air-duster and cotton cloth may take care of the hardware, you will need a reliable defrag program to take care of the junk that may have accumulated on your hard drive. Windows computers come with sufficient defrag software installed; however, if you are looking for another option, MyDefrag is another program for Windows that comes highly recommended, and can be downloaded free of charge. Running your defrag software on a regular basis* is the best way to keep your computer running at its optimal level.  

*Admittedly, the phrase “regular basis” is quite loosely defined. To be more specific, if you run your computer 24/7 it is a good idea to defrag every few days; however, it is sufficient for the average user to defrag once a week.

Posted in General, word of the week

Word of the Week: Beta

By admin01/26/2010 1

The term beta refers to an accelerated testing stage for a new technology (this could be software or hardware). When a product is in its beta stage, developers typically select a few outside users to try the product and report any bugs or functionality issues they encounter while using it. Developers take user suggestions into consideration while they are beta testing a program to make sure that the final product runs as efficiently as possible.

Posted in Uncategorized

Word of the Week: URL

By admin01/20/2010 Leave a comment

Abbreviations can be tricky. We come in contact with them constantly; but, it is difficult to keep a firm grasp on what they all stand for. Take URL as an example.  The term could mean anything, really. Maybe it stands for Ugly Rotten Lizards or the Uptight Robot League. In actuality, this particular acronym stands for Uniform Resource Locator, which is a useful term to understand, because literally every website has one. For example, our site’s URL is http://www.orbissolutions.com, whenever you enter this text into your search engine you will be directed to our site. In this way, URLs perform the same function as your home address. They are text specific directions that take you to the sites you wish to visit. Most search engines allow you to “bookmark” URLs that you visit on a regular basis, which can save you time and energy while using the internet.

Posted in General Tagged ,