september 2009

Snow Leopard and Exchange

By Casey D’Andrea (cdandrea@loop.ca) Application Specialist and Trainer

With the introduction of Snow Leopard, Mac OS X now has out-of-the-box support for Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, something even Windows doesn’t have. For the tightest possible integration with Exchange, users would need to be running Outlook (within Boot Camp, Parallels, Fusion) to access Exchange services such as email, calendar, and the Global Address List. Even though Microsoft Entourage has been recently updated to use AutoDiscovery, there are those of you out there that avoid Microsoft applications on your Mac wherever possible.

With Snow Leopard you can now access most of those resources with Mail, iCal, and Address Book. You can send and receive Exchange messages and accept and decline meetings right from your inbox; access Exchange calendars and view free/busy information to schedule meetings; and find contacts instantly by searching the Global Address List — then organize them using contact folders. And because you are using the built-in tools of the operating system, you can continue taking advantage of all the powerful Mac features you love, including Spotlight, Quick Look, and data detectors.

To make all this happen however, you need to ensure your environment has everything in place to support this setup. In the back end, you must be 1) running Microsoft Exchange 2007 Service Pack 1, Rollup 4 or greater, 2) having Exchange Web Services enabled (on by default), 3) AutoDiscover enabled for automatic setup. The great thing about setting things up, as a non-technical person, all you need to do is plug in your e-mail address and password in Apple Mail. If AutoDiscover is enabled the configuration happens automatically. This includes the required settings in Address Book and iCal.

Support Exchange Features within Snow Leopard

Mail

  • Send and receive Exchange messages in either plain text or HTML.
  • Organize messages with Exchange mail folders.
  • Manage event invitations from the inbox.
  • Autocomplete addresses from the Global Address List (GAL), contact folders, and distribution lists.
  • Find messages instantly using Spotlight search.
  • Preview document and file attachments to using Quick Look.
  • Set message priorities.
  • Manage quota limits.
  • Access mail offline.

Calendars

  • View and edit Exchange calendar events.
  • Organize your events on multiple calendars.
  • Send and receive event invitations.
  • Schedule meetings using free/busy availability information.
  • Find the earliest time available for attendees using Auto Pick.
  • Delegate your calendar to colleagues.
  • Book rooms and resources.
  • Add alarms to events.
  • Attach files to events.
  • Autocomplete event attendees and resources from the Global Address List (GAL), contact folders, and distribution lists.
  • Access Exchange calendars, events, and tasks offline.

Notes and tasks

  • View and edit Exchange tasks.
  • Assign a due date to a task.
  • Assign a priority to task.
  • Assign an alarm to a task.
  • Mark a task completed
  • View and edit Exchange notes.
  • View Exchange notes in inbox.

Contacts

  • View and edit Exchange contacts.
  • Organize contacts into Exchange contact folders.
  • Search the Global Address List (GAL).
  • Copy GAL contacts to contact folders.
  • Find contacts instantly using Spotlight search.
  • Access contact photos.
  • Drag contacts to iCal to create meetings.
  • Access contacts offline.

Now that you can integrate more seamlessly with the rest of the corporate world, you can make an even better case to keep those Windows machines off your desk. Of course all of this assumes you're working in a corporate environment with hundreds or thousands of users. However, that might not be the case. In all likelihood you're sitting within a small-to-medium business lacking the resources or budgets to support an enterprise level Exchange environment. The good news is, if you've always wanted to experience the benefits of that scenario, you can access it easily through a hosted Exchange solution. Instead of spending the money and people on managing the back end, let Loop handle it for you. If you've used any of the online email providers (Gmail, Yahoo, etc) or your ISP for your e-mail (POP or IMAP) the transition to hosted Exchange is fairly transparent. For a small per-user monthly fee you can have all the added benefits of an enterprise level, collaborative groupware environment. For more details, make sure you check our managed services section of our website:

http://www.loop.ca/managedsp/hosted-microsoft-exchange-server-services

Final Cut Server 1.5

by Glen Craven (service@loop.ca), Business Systems Analyst

In 2005 there was a little known product at the National Association of Broadcasters’ Conference called Artbox by Proximity. It was an asset management system for broadcast television and post-production studios that sold for about $30,000.

A year later, Proximity's Artbox shared a booth with Apple at NAB, introducing their product to Final Cut Studio users. Later that same year Apple acquired the company's technology, including their asset management system, Artbox.

Thereafter, in time for NAB 2007, Apple introduced Final Cut Server. It was more than just an asset management system; it was a whole workflow for users of the then new Final Cut Studio 2 - all at a fraction of the cost of the original Proximity version. Unfortunately, it took what seemed like an eternity before it was released a year later in 2008.

Now in 2009, Final Cut Server 1.5 has been released at a mere fraction of the original Artbox price (only $1,199.00). Final Cut Server 1.5 frees up even more time for creative work, with new features that make it exceptionally flexible and easy to use. Final Cut Server can manage thousands of assets, execute dozens of routine production tasks, and keep every member of your team in sync—all while you continue working. It now features deeper integration with Final Cut Pro, including support for the efficient new ProRes 422 (Proxy). Check out the project, edit with proxies on a MacBook Pro, and check the project back in for instant re-linking to the original source. Final Cut Server 1.5 also features image sequence support, new production hierarchies, and faster searches.

Its top features include

  • Easy asset cataloguing. Final Cut Server creates your asset catalogue automatically. It scans your network to identify assets, captures a wide range of metadata, and even makes thumbnails, proxies, and poster frames.
  • Blazing-fast searches. You can instantly access only the assets you need using Smart Searches and new Global Saved Searches. You can also organize the same assets in as many different ways as you want using new hierarchical Production “folders.”
  • New Final Cut Pro workflow. You can check out your Final Cut Pro project and edit on a MacBook Pro using the new ProRes 422 (Proxy). The catalogue updates instantly when you check the project back in, automatically re-linking your project to the original source files.
  • Point-and-click automation. You can automate a single task or an entire workflow with easy-to-use menus. You can even extend your workflow to include systems such as web servers, broadcast servers, and archive systems.
  • Seamless collaboration. You can share assets and divide tasks with confidence, using check-in/check-out protections, version management, and review and approval tools that are tightly integrated with Final Cut Studio.
  • Multiformat delivery. Final Cut Server 1.5 includes Compressor 3.5, Apple’s professional encoding software. Use Final Cut Server to automate Compressor for encoding a wide range of formats—from H.264 to five versions of ProRes to 4K—all at exceptional quality.
  • Quick setup. Final Cut Server helps you get started fast, with facility-specific workflow templates, easy-to-use menus, and a complete range of customization options that don’t require programming.
  • Flexible configuration. The server software for Final Cut Server can be installed on systems ranging from a MacBook Pro to a full Xserve configuration. The client software works on both Windows-based computers and the Mac.

When you edit in Final Cut Pro you can use Final Cut Server to manage your assets and automate your workflow. Install Final Cut Server on a MacBook Pro for use on location, a Mac Pro for small workgroups, or a full Xserve configuration with a network powered by Xsan for larger workgroups. You can also enjoy the clarity and resolution of an Apple Cinema Display when you work in the studio. Regardless of the scope of your project, this product delivers exceptional performance with great value.

Toner Program

By Bryan Chiasson (sales@loop.ca) Relationship Sales Executive

Have you ever had a big project that was ready to be printed and to your surprise you are out of toner? Loop offers our customers a solution that not only maintains your toner inventory on-site, but can also eliminate the additional administration costs for toner orders.
What is the toner-stocking program?

It’s a service where Loop maintains an inventory of toner cartridges at your location on a consignment basis so you don’t have to worry about running out of toner and interrupting your workflow.
Who maintains the inventory?

A Loop representative visits your location on a regular basis to monitor usage. You are then invoiced for the toner cartridges that have been consumed and the inventory is replenished.
What are the benefits?

Aside from always having a supply of toner onsite and available, you also benefit from Loop’s volume pricing even though you only pay for what you use, when you use it. You also reduce the administrative costs associated with ordering toner supplies since Loop does this for you.

Please contact Loop Enterprise at sales@loop.ca for more information on the program our to sign up.

Windows... that other OS

by Simon Strantzas (procurement@loop.ca), Product Specialist

None of us like to admit it, but like it or not Windows still owns most of the computers in the world. Mac users are pretty lucky to be blessed with a great operating system that only gets better with each in iteration. Windows users haven't been so lucky. Most are still using Windows XP for all their needs – an OS that is seven years old at this point. The last OS, Vista, was a fiasco for Microsoft, and they are quick to announce the next version, Windows 7, and rush it into production. It's due this October.

Anyone who was curious about the new Windows was able to download the "release candidate" version from Microsoft in August, which was essentially the shipping version, only with a set expiration of June 2010. This was an interesting experiment by Microsoft, designed to allay fears that another Vista was being thrust onto the market. Most reviews of the new OS seem to agree though that Windows 7 is a worthy upgrade to make. It's time, finally, for Windows users to join Mac users in the present. Say hello to your lost-long friends!

Windows 7 promises to be stable and to offer many technologies that until now only Mac users could enjoy. The question though is how to use the new OS with your Mac. After all, the Mac is completely capable of running Windows -- either through Boot Camp or using virtualization software like VMware -- but it may not be clear to the average Mac user what is required. The first thing to note is that the upgrade path from the previous version of Windows isn't clear. Microsoft promises to release an application that will tell you which version of the Windows 7 upgrade you'll need, but it's safe to say that if you currently own Vista, you can simply run the upgrade installer. If you run XP or earlier, you'll need to backup your info and then do an erase and install of Windows 7. That's right: there's no way to upgrade from Vista to Windows 7 without erasing your drive. Also of note is that as of this writing VMware Fusion and Parallels Desktop do not support Windows 7... at least, not officially. It can be done, and indeed both companies have tutorials on how to make it work, but the solutions are unsupported. By the time Windows 7 hits the market though we expect new versions of both these applications to appear. Last, there's the issue of Mac drivers. The previous Mac OS X 10.5 discs had drivers for their hardware in Windows, but none were written for Windows 7. Will this cause any problems? So far, testing with "release candidates" have shown there's nothing to worry about, but those who want to play it safe might want to upgrade to Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, the Apple OS that was just released (yet again leap-frogging Microsoft by a full month) which will no doubt have the latest compatible drivers for Boot Camp users.

New Fort Myers office opening October 6th

By Sherri Stirpe (vendorpartner@loop.ca) Vendor Partner Relationship Manager

Carmine has had an exciting 2009 with the launch of our new homepage (http://www.loop.ca), opening an online store (http://store.loop.ca) and now opening a new office in Fort Myers Florida. On October 6th, we will be hosting an event at the Crowne Plaza Fort Myers Florida. There are two seminars that day presented by Casey D’Andrea, Snow Leopard features and Troubleshooting Mac OS X as well as Managed Services in the Macintosh Environment. For more details on this event, please visit http://www.loop.ca/sp or contact me at vendorpartner@loop.ca and I would be happy to assist you.

Upcoming Events

Design Thinkers
November 3 & 4
Metro Toronto Convention Centre
www.designthinkers.com