Microsoft Azure Australia Geo announced.

Microsoft have announced that Azure is now available so that data is stored in Australia. There appears to be two locations. One in NSW and one in Victoria which I suspect will enable them to have redundancy in Australia. This should handle one of the issues where data was previously stored overseas. It however doesn't resolve the issue where the USA government seems to consider they have access to data maintained by American companies no matter where they are located in the world, or at least that's how I've read the situation. It is however a major step forward.

http://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2014/10/26/microsoft-azure-australia-geo-generally-available/

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for IT support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

A tip for those travelling in Australia wanting who may need extra data, and or better/alternate internet access.

I've used this technique a number of times with very good results both for myself, my family and clients.

On a regular basis Coles and other businesses offer mobile devices for less than it costs for the data alone.

The best special has been $10 for the combined Wi-Fi/USB device. I bought one for myself and then bought one for a client who moved into a new apartment but Telstra could not install internet because of the asbestos ban at the time. For $10 this gave the client temporary internet access.

My mobile plan used the Optus infrastructure (not using Optus). Optus is OK but quite often Telstra has better coverage in more remote locations. I don't go to remote locations that often, but I used this when I went to Monkey Mia in WA.

Also sometimes Telstra is better and sometimes Optus is better, so sometimes it is good to have a second network available just in case. In one instance in Townsville the free Wi-Fi provided in the hotel was worse than that provided by the dongle.

Sometimes you also use more data than expected. For example if I go over my plan (as I have right now) 1GB of data would cost me $100. This way I have extra data for just $15. This could occur when I've been giving more demonstrations than usual. Also have a second network available is a good back up strategy even in the city areas when demonstrating.

What I do is I buy one of these devices if I think I might new it in the next six months. I then toss it into the draw for when I need it. I consider $10-$15 a cheap back up plan. It is actually cheaper to buy the device and on special than it is to simply recharge. To me that's a waste because once used the device is no longer worth recharging if another special offer comes available.

So if you'd like 1GB of data in reserve with Telstra, keep an eye out for the specials. I just bought this unit from Coles as it it on special until tomorrow. Be warned they are very popular and can be hard to buy so it may be necessary to drop in to a couple of different Coles stores, or buy as soon as you can. Often it seems only a limited quantity is made available in each store.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 901 703 for IT support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

I'd suggest that people reconsider using online sites to generate more secure passwords.

I've seen a number of people recently suggesting to others to use an online site to generate a more secure password. I'd suggest that may not be the wisest idea.

First you usually have no idea who runs the site, what information they are storing, or what other sites they may be related to.

When you visit a site there's a lot of information that can be collected about your computer that could in many instances uniquely identify your computer and thus you, without even knowing who you are. With the password all that would be required is for you to somehow provide your username (which now is often an email address) and someone may have everything they need to hack your services.

When you visit a site, the ISP you're using provides you with an IP address (a unique number) which lets others know who your ISP is and often your location. Your browser then usually provides the operating system you're using, the type and version of the browser and since there are quite a few versions, this makes it easier to identify you. Next your browser may also provide things like screen resolution, number of colours and more, so there really is a lot of information that can be obtained from you without knowing it.

Think of your computer like the game of 20 questions, where by answering 20 questions the answer is often provided to you. Each bit of information you provide progressively helps to identify you and often, that can end up uniquely identifying you and you haven't even entered a single piece of information.

Now if the site had a sister site where you signed up for a newsletter or a great deal, then your email address or the second part of your security could also be obtained.

I'd seriously suggest that you don't use online sites to create more secure passwords. Generally you have no idea about the site so really is it worth the risk?

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for IT support.
Servicing Doncaster, Templestowe, Eltham and the surrounding area.

MyAnswers: What is the canonical statement and how to I implement it?

The following MyAnswers solution 2479 is now available:

I decided it was time to implement the canonical statement across my websites. In this solution I provide and example and explain why I felt it was important to implement the canonical statement in my web pages.

Click here to obtain the solution.

Click here for related solutions.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au/myanswers/
(An Online Connections service.)

MyAnswers: MYOB's Accountants Office upgrade (MYOB AO 2014.1) fails on installing on Windows XP. MYOB checks out the issue but then states they no longer support Windows XP.

The following MyAnswers solution 2477 is now available:

MYOB's Accountants Office upgrade (MYOB AO 2014.1) fails on installing and removes the ability for the user to use the program on Windows XP. MYOB investigates but then states they no longer support Windows XP.

Click here to obtain the solution.

Click here for related solutions.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au/myanswers/
(An Online Connections service.)

Windows Server 2003/R2 End of Support July 14, 2015 notice received from Microsoft.

I just received a couple of notices from Microsoft indication the end of support for Windows Server 2003.

The irony, except for one client I've never felt the need to install Windows Server in my client based. I made the decision over a decade ago to run email hosted via a third party company so could use a lower cost more basic file server for clients. Dead easy, inexpensive, redundancy so quick recovery if required. My client base is typically under 20 users per site so the approach has worked well.

Microsoft finally caught up and is now pushing, albeit for larger organisations the same approach.

Now if only Microsoft stopped shafting customers still using their old products (300 million perfectly good Windows XP computers), stopped trying to copy Apple (having to control everything) and focus on their own market, they may remain relevant. This is frustrating seeing Microsoft becoming irrelevant to this section of the market. No doubt not an issue for them as they're the modern day IBM and we no longer buy IBM PCs. As a diehard Microsoft support, the iron is I'm typing this on a MacBook Air. I could never have imagined saying that a few years ago. Perhaps it is time to accept change and go with the flow.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for small business IT support.

Google Drive - We're sorry. You can't access this item because it si in violation of our Terms of Service message.

I was quite surprised to get this message and thought I'd share it with others.

I created a form to collect data from those who were interested. I used Google Drive to create the form and shared a link to the form on one of my blogs. The filename was called monopolypieces. I tested the form and then launched it into the public arena. Bang. There was one person who entered their pieces and then it was locked up. I couldn't edit the form. It just sits with a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark in it.

It wasn't a major concern for me as this was a temporary measure. I quickly created my preferred approach which was a web app and was ready to go in a couple of hours. Those who don't have such skills may have a problem. I suspect the best way to handle this would be to create a new form this time without the term monopoly in the filename or in the form itself. That word was not really required as the context of usage would have been clear to people.

This does however show something I'd never anticipated. When you use Google Drive keep in mind that Google can lock your form unexpectedly. I don't know why they did it. I requested review and they released it, to later lock it again. I can only guess it was the use of the term Monopoly.

This was an interesting experience which I thought I'd share.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au