Archive for June, 2009

23rd
Jun

Great plugins that will enhance your wordpress blog.

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WordPress is one of the easiest to use and most powerful blogging platforms around.  The versatility of WordPress is its greatest feature, it has the ability to act as a blog and also as a static web site.  The ease of use when it comes to both updating your site as well as maintaining it is phenomenal.

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One of the WordPress features that holds the bulk of the power of the software package is the utilization of plugins.  Plugins allow your blog to perform or display specific functions and are highly customizable in almost every way.  They are also easy to use as generally all it takes to put them into use is activating them in the admin screen of the WordPress platform.

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Lets look at some of the most valuable plugins you can use to enhance your blog.

Akismet – Probably the first plugin you should activate, it helps keep spam comments from needing to be moderated.

All In One SEO Pack – A great SEO plugin that gives each post its own Title, Keywords, and description.

Subscribe To Comments – This plugin is a nice way to get an RSS feed for the comments to each post.

WordPress Database Backup – This is essential as it helps lessen the chance that all of your blog info will be lost.  This plugin automatically backs up all of your database information and emails them to you at the exact time each day or week you specify.

AdRotator – This is a simple to use plugin that allows you to enter a list of banner or box ads, even text ads, that will be displayed on your site.  Then, each time a new page is opened or the same page is refreshed, a new ad appears in that one spot that you have specified.  This can also be used for cycling random photos or quotes too.

Sociable – A very cool plugin that puts links to all the popular social networking sites like StumbleUpon and Digg at the end of each post.  This is very handy as it allows your readers to bookmark them right there at the site of the post they are already reading.

Related Posts – This is a powerful plugin that allows readers to view other posts that you have written and they might be interested in.

Google Sitemaps – A nice plugin that helps to insure that Google knows about each and every post and page that makes up your site.

NextGen Gallery – A very easy to use photo gallery plugin that allows you to place single images, slideshows, and full blown galleries into posts and pages.

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Using all of these WordPress plugins, and others as well, you have the ability to convert your standard blog into a web based masterpiece.  The plugins provided for use with the WordPress blogging platform are the single best reason to choose WordPress as the package that runs your blog.  With the wide variety of options available through the thousands of available plugins made for WordPress, it will be no time before you have one of the best blogs on the internet working for you.

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Posted in Gadgets, General, Software, Technology, Tips & Tricks, Windows VPS Hosting

16th
Jun

Windows VPS Hosting: Bridging the Gap

Windows Virtual Private Servers (VPS) are becoming increasingly popular among business owners and developers looking for the security and the reliability of a dedicated server to host their websites, but at a lower cost. Hosting a website using Windows VPS Servers offers the perfect solution, bridging the gap between shared hosting services and dedicated hosting.

While shared hosting will most definitely serve the needs of small and personal website owners who don’t experience high traffic volume and do not require any special technologies, most larger business choose dedicated servers to allow for more flexibility and better performance. It stands to reason, when you share a server with other customers, you can potentially run into security risks, performance issues, and all too often, become stifled by the limited technologies offered by your hosting provider.

However, dedicated hosting, which allows for a single user to be in complete control of their software applications and server management on their own dedicated piece of hardware, can be very costly and difficult to maintain. Although Windows VPS Hosting is really no different than dedicated hosting, it is more affordable because the only thing that is shared with other customers is the hardware, which ultimately decreases the cost over dedicated servers.

Windows Virtual Private Servers use special software like Parallels Virtuozzo Containers to allow for a single server to host multiple “virtual” servers providing more reliability, isolation, and flexibility than a shared hosting account, but are less expensive and require little to no maintenance as compared to dedicated servers.

Yet there is more to Windows VPS Hosting than just having the perks of dedicated hosting at a fraction of the cost. In fact, if you choose the right host, offering Windows VPS Servers, you will find that the server may be much faster than your average dedicated server.

In short, if you find that shared hosting doesn’t suit your needs because you need specialized software, faster response time, more customization capabilities or just more power overall, before you decide to take the plunge into the world of dedicated server hosting, consider Windows VPS Hosting as an alternative. In fact, if you are familiar with dedicated hosting and have had experiences with it in the past, you will find that using Windows VPS Servers isn’t really that much different – but your wallet will notice a difference, for sure.

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Posted in General, Software, Technology, Windows VPS Hosting

15th
Jun

New Virtual Private Server Hosting for SMBs Delivers Advantages of Dedicated Server at Lower Cost

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

– Benefits of Exchange My Mail Service Trumps High Fees and Management Headaches of Dedicated Server Scenarios

Albertson, NY – June 15th, 2009 –
Exchange My Mail®, a full service provider of customized web-based productivity solutions for small-to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and web hosts, today launched its Windows Virtual Private Server (VPS) service, which delivers the advantages of a dedicated server without the hassle and expense of managing a dedicated server in-house. SMBs and web hosts frequently have to pay vendors for space on multiple servers, and lack the flexibility to change plans based on their evolving needs. Exchange My Mail’s VPS solution offers the security, control and functionality of a dedicated server, but with the affordable pricing, simplicity and manageability of a traditional shared hosting account.

Exchange My Mail’s VPS service employs Parallels’ Virtuozzo Containers, a leading Operating System (OS) virtualization solution that creates isolated containers on a single physical server and OS instance. Rather than virtualize a complete set of hardware, Parallels containers virtualizes at the OS level. Virtuozzo runs all virtual environments on top of a single OS kernel, which is multiplexed to look like multiple Operating Systems. This configuration is ideal for hosting environments, and reduces stress on the OS, allowing customers to use more allocated resources for web sites and applications. Parallels is a global leader in virtualization and automation software.

All Exchange My Mail VPS plans offer 99.99% uptime, off-server backup, a dedicated IP address, unlimited DNS hosting and firewall protection. Plans also include full administrator access and a powerful, easy to use Parallels Plesk  panel for remote management. This allows customers to use their space as they wish, while ensuring that their server is totally isolated from other users. Plans start as low as $39.99 monthly, and are superior to dedicated server solutions in terms of cost, reliability, manageability, “burstability” and flexibility:

* Cost: All the functionality of a dedicated server at a fraction of the cost.
* Reliability: Bundled nightly backups ensure data remains safe.
* Manageability: Tools help users easily add applications or change and upgrade service instantly.
* Burstability: Get the resources you need right when you need them.
* Flexibility: Instantly increase your service plan to use more resources as you grow, and easily migrate to a more powerful server if necessary.

Virtual Private Server services are superior to shared hosting due to:

* Control: With administrative or root access, you can easily modify server configuration files, install applications or modify system software.
* Security: Your file system is not accessible or viewable by others.
* Isolation: You are fully isolated from other users and actions on the server.
* Performance: Resource availability and performance is guaranteed.

Name organizations such as Goodwill Industries International, The Weekly Standard, Marc Roberts Companies, Zayo Group, Community First Bank, Marjam Supply Company and the Iowa City Heart Center, P.C., have helped Exchange My Mail establish itself as a leading provider of web-based productivity solutions. ”Exchange My Mail has done a great job of developing cost-effective email and productivity solutions for us for years,” says Ken Ratner, Senior Managing Director, Marc Roberts Companies. “Because they’ve been so reliable, hands on and responsive, we definitely plan to take advantage of their VPS services.”

“What’s unique and particularly helpful about our VPS offering is that a customer can upgrade to a plan with more power, RAM or disc space with a click of a mouse,” said David Grantz, CIO for Exchange My Mail. “We make it cost-effective and simple for SMBs to start and monitor their VPS plan, and make adjustments on the fly as their needs change.”

Exchange My Mail solutions are backed by a 30 day money back and 100% satisfaction guarantee. We operate out of a secure, state-of-the-art Tier3 Data Center and Network Operation Center (NOC) that is fully N+1 redundant. Our Data Center has achieved SAS 70 Type II compliance and rigorously adheres to HIPAA and Sarbanes-Oxley requirements for the IT infrastructure of our customers. Exchange My Mail has been awarded Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program, with competencies in Networking Infrastructure Solutions and Advanced Infrastructure Solutions. Exchange My Mail uses only the best technologies available, including Dell Servers with six 10K RPM drives in a RAID10 configuration for maximum performance and reliability.

About Exchange My Mail®

Exchange My Mail, Inc. is a leading provider of customized web-based productivity solutions for individuals and SMBs, including Hosted Microsoft Exchange, Mobile email, Windows SharePoint and Windows Virtual Private Servers. A Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, every day our dedicated and experienced team delivers stellar service and support. To learn more about Exchange My Mail, please send email to sales @ exchangemymail.com, visit us at www.ExchangeMyMail.com or call 888.608.6245.

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Posted in General, Hosted Exchange, Press Releases, Software, Technology, Windows VPS Hosting

15th
Jun

Microsoft Gold Certified Partner status renewed for 2nd year.

As a leading provider of Hosted Microsoft Exchange and Windows VPS Servers, we are committed to achieving the highest level of technical expertise.  We believe in order to deliver a truly high quality service you must poses the greatest skills possible.  Exchange My Mail is pleased to announce that Microsoft has renewed our status as a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for the 2nd consecutive year!

Achieving Microsoft Gold Certified Partner status is a result of hard work and continued focus. In order to gain, and maintain Microsoft Gold Certified status we are required to maintain a number of Microsoft Certified Professionals on staff, complete an annual customer satisfaction performance review, provide customer references, and meet an annual volume licensing commitment. Exchange My Mail is proud to say we have achieved all of the above needed requirements for the second year in a row.

We have completed two Microsoft competencies, and have an additional four competencies in progress. We expect to have earned an additional two Microsoft competencies by the end of this year, and the remaining two competencies by next year.

Exchange My Mail,  as a recognized Gold Certified Partner receives advanced technical resources and training, consultation services, early access to the next generation of Microsoft software, and access to a dedicated team of experts within the Microsoft Hosting Solution group. These benefits are only available to Microsoft Gold Certified Partners, and help us to maintain and achieve the superb level of service our customers deserve.

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Posted in General, Hosted Exchange, Press Releases, Software, Technology, Windows VPS Hosting

3rd
Jun

Launched! – Windows Virtual Private Servers


Exchange My Mail Launches Windows VPS Service!


Exchange My Mail is proud to announce the launch of our
Windows VPS Hosting offering. VPS, short for Virtual Private Server is basically your own dedicated server without the cost and hassle of a dedicated server.


Operating System Virtualization
Rather than trying to virtualize a complete set of hardware, Virtuozzo virtualizes at the operating system level, which makes it ideal for a hosting environment. Virtuozzo runs all the virtual environments on top of a single operating system kernel which is multiplexed to look like multiple operating systems, especially from the perspective of running users and services. This results in lower overhead from the operating system, allowing you to use more of the allocated resources for your websites and applications.
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VPS solutions provide isolation and functionality of a dedicated server with the low price and manageability of a shared hosting account. All of our Windows VPS Hosting plans include full administrator access, and a powerful remote management interface. This allows you to use your space as you wish and have the peace of mind that you are completely isolated from other users.

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Virtualized services have many benefits over a dedicated server:

Cost: All of the functionality of a dedicated server at a fraction of the cost.
Reliability: Bundled incremental backups ensure your data remains safe.
Manageability: Tools help you add applications, change and upgrade your service instantly.
Burstability: Get the available resources you need when you need them.
Flexibility: Instantly increase your service plan to provide for more resources as you grow, easily move to a new more powerful server.

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Virtualized services have many benefits over shared hosting:

Control: With administrative or root access, you can modify server configuration files, install applications or modify system software.
Security: Your file system is not accessible or viewable by any other customer. Your files are ensured full privacy and security.
Isolation: You are fully isolated from other users and actions on the server. No other customer can slow down or affect your service.
Performance: Your resources are guaranteed based on your plan. Nothing else on the server will affect the performance of your VPS.

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With our 30 day money back, 100% satisfaction guarantee and plans starting at just $39.99 a month, we are sure you will love our service.

We use all Dell Servers with six 10K RPM drives in a raid10 configuration for maximum performance.

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Ready to order? Choose your plan now!

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Posted in General, Hosted Exchange, Technology, Windows VPS Hosting

3rd
Jun

Evernote Comes to BlackBerry.

evernote-for-blackberry

As you may already know, we love Evernote. We’ve blogged about it several times here, but today is special. Although this post is a bit late, we are very excited to se Evernote on the BlackBerry!

The team over at Bnet blogged about this on May 12th, and I’ve personally been loving it since that day.

Evernote for BlackBerry lets you create notes containing text, snapshots, voice recordings, and file attachments. Once created, the new content is automatically sent to the Evernote Service, making it available across all the versions of Evernote that you use. You can also access your existing notes, search by keywords, filter by tags and notebooks, or simply browse.

So lets give credit where credit is due, and link you right to the source.

Read the full Bnet blog post here

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Posted in Blackberry, Gadgets, General, Software, Technology, Tips & Tricks