Tablet computers seem set to take over the world but do they go beyond the sleek, light-weight wow factor to a tool that can be useful in business? Clearly their ability to perform well in the field of business will vary depending on the make of tablet; an iPad 2 will differ from an Android tablet for example. However, there are many similarities between the different types of tablet available.

REMOTE CONNECTION: There are various apps for the iPad which allow you to stay in touch with your office computer. Desktop Connect for example lets you connect to and administer Windows servers that support Remote Desktop Connection technology. The app is designed to work with Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows XP Professional, Windows Vista and Windows 7. This app allows administrators to set and change passwords, create or disable users, review logs, restart services and more – all protected with 128-bit encryption and all controlled from your iPad wherever you are.

For Android tablets there is remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) which is used by apps such as Remote RDP Lite and Wyse PocketCloud. PocketCloud is easy to set up – you just put in your computer’s IP address, user name and password and connect straight to your work computer. However you can only save one connection at once whereas Remote RDP Lite lets you save as many connections as you like. Both these apps are free for the basic versions, with options to upgrade to a paid app with more features.

DOCUMENTS: Most tablet computers have apps such as Google Docs or iWork which allow you to create and edit Word documents, Excel spread sheets and PowerPoint presentations just as you would with Microsoft Office on your PC. In the majority of models remote access to your PC will allow you to access pre-created documents which you have made previously.

If you use an online backup program such as Dropbox or Mozy you can save files simultaneously to your PC and mobile device, or alternatively you can access your files online from your mobile device. For more information about online backup look out for upcoming posts.

PRESENTATIONS: Tablet computers really come into their own where presentations are concerned as they wake from sleep mode more quickly than a laptop allowing you to show a presentation at very short notice, and the portability aspect means presenting on the move is viable. The large, LED-backlit display and ability to connect to a projector or TV via the HDMI port means your presentations look good whether shown to a small group on the tablet screen or to a larger group on a projector or TV screen. With the iPad 2 you can access presentations made with PowerPoint on your PC or export them from your iPad as Keynote, PowerPoint or PDF files.

EMAIL: Access your email the same way you would on your PC, but with a bigger and more portable screen to view and use attachments. You can also keep track of your calendar and save and schedule tasks. Apps such as WebEx and Fuze Meeting allow you to video chat and set up virtual conferencing from wherever you are using Wi-Fi or a built-in 3G connection.

NOTES: Various note-taking apps allow you to record your notes whether you want to type, hand write or dictate them. Tablets also make it easy to share notes and ideas and brainstorm with professional looking sketches, PDF mark-up and whiteboard apps.

PRINT/SCAN: With android tablets you can add the Google Cloud Print App which allows you to print from your tablet to any printer which is connected to a PC, whilst other apps allow you to use the camera on your tablet as a scanner and save scanned files as JPGs or PDFs. The PrintCentral or Print n Share apps will allow you to do the same thing from an iPad 2.

CONTACTS: Store contact information like photos, contact details, follow up reminders, notes on past conversations and call dates and manage your customer relationships with mobile access to your CRM database.

BUSINESS ANALYSIS: Most tablet computers have apps which allow you to use financial calculators, exchange rate calculators, online banking and stock tracking. The iPad 2 uses an app called MicroStrategy Mobile to view, analyse, manipulate and share business data; allowing you to monitor key performance indicators and make real-time adjustments. This app also allows you to transform data from Excel, Google Docs and Salesforce.com into visual reports which are easy to share and analyse.

TRAVEL: The tablet computer is built to be portable and the wide range of travel apps reflects this. If you travel a lot for work you will probably make good use of apps to see airline guides, expenses tracker, translators, driving directions and tracking billable hours. The battery life promises to be longer than that of a laptop – 10 hours for an iPad 2 and about 8 for the best Android – so portability does not need to be compromised by charging time.

For reviews of the best apps for business see http://tinyurl.com/2vqqvv9 for the iPad or http://tinyurl.com/3ggfg4t for Android tablet computers.

If you have any questions, require more details or need help setting up your tablet computer for business contact Flint IT at sales AT flint-it DOT com or call 0845 3309680.   

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Having your mobile devices stolen can be a disaster. It could reduce your business continuity by cutting remote working or mean important business information getting into the wrong hands. Depending on your password settings it could even mean that the thief could have access to your emails.

Getting a new phone or mobile device is expensive and annoying but is a small cost compared to the security risks you and your business could face if important or confidential data goes missing with your device.

Fortunately there are steps you can take to help recover a stolen device, and make sure that your business data stays safe.

If you are working on an iPhone or iPad it’s a good idea to register your devices with Mobile Me at http://tinyurl.com/352fdsr which will enable you to setup and use ‘Find My iPhone’ or ‘Find My iPad’. Once your devices are registered you can sign in to mobileme.com at any time and take advantage of the following services:

• Tracking and geographical location finder so you always know where your device is
• Display a message on the screen to help anyone who finds your device locate you and return it
• Play a sound which will override any silence or volume settings to help you locate your device if you lose it at home or in the office
• Set a four-digit passcode lock remotely to stop strangers from accessing any personal information
• Remote wipe to restore your device to its factory settings and prevent anyone getting hold of confidential information. If the device is found or returned you can connect it to iTunes and restore all data from your most recent backup

If you are working with Android phones or tablets there are often similar programs or applications you can set up. For example HTC Sense for HTC’s range of smartphones gives you similar options to Mobile Me. If your phone is lost or stolen you can track it on a map, make it ring loudly, lock or wipe its sensitive data. See http://www.htc.com/uk/htcsense/ for more information, or for other android devices have a look at the manufacturer’s website.

The key thing to remember with programs such as HTC Sense and Mobile Me is that you can only access these features if you have registered your phone and turned on the necessary settings beforehand. It doesn’t take long to visit the websites and register your devices, so why not do it today just in case your mobile devices ever do go missing.

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