The Tech Gap

SmartVault v3.3 Released

I’ve spent the last hour or so digging in to the new features rolled out this morning in SmartVault v3.3. The Houston-based company gets kudos for listening to customers --- and even MORE kudos for reacting by making significant improvements to its already great service. Oh, BTW, the improvements are FREE and users can just log on and immediately take advantage of them.

For those using the “Pro Plan” they’ve added a “User Activity Log” function that will give you an audit trail detailing which users uploaded, downloaded, deleted, or changed the properties of  ant particular document and when. For those practicing public accounting and utilizing SmartVault as a “portal service” this report is a wonderful addition.

The new version also provides a direct link to any file (or folder). This allows users to embed a file reference anywhere --- email, desktop, website, etc. Very handy, indeed. I’ve included their video tutorial here. I think it explains the function very well.

The other nice new feature is the ability to create “vaults” directly from the SmartVault Drive. This will prove to be a time (and aggravation) saver for me.

Good job --- hats off to Eric Pulaski and his team!

gll

PS – full details of the update here.

Fujitsu Releases the ScanSnap S1100 Mobile Scanner

If you’re a regular reader here you already know of my long-running love affair with Fujitsu scanners. I was very satisfied with my current S1300 (previous post here) until ….. I saw their new “mobile” offering. Fujitsu calls the S1100 “mobile”, not just  “portable”. I assume that’s because they already have a portable --- the ScanSnap S1300. Both models are are quite small and lightweight — and run off power from the USB port (think: no power brick!). But the S1100 is specifically built to be used wherever and whenever you use your laptop.

Now I have “scanner envy”! This latest piece of wonderment is simply amazing. It weighs in at less than 13 ounces and is USB powered. It is absolutely diminutive in footprint, measuring only 10.74 in. x 1.87 in. x1.33 in. It scans in the sub 8 second range. Like its older sibling it’s “stupid simple” to operate. Just press the "SCAN" button and ScanSnap S1100 feeds a document (in color) at 300 dpi quality. The S1100 automatically recognizes the size of each document, detects and corrects for skew, and shows images in their proper orientation without operator intervention. Multiple page document? Just insert the next page with the automatic page detection sensor. Every time a subsequent sheet is inserted, it simply pulls the page and appends the file. To end the “job”, just press the scan button and you’re done. The S1100 enables you to scan documents directly to Evernote and Google Docs cloud services and also includes the “Quick Menu” that provides direct access allowing direct scanning to Folder, Email, Print, Word and Excel.

Like my friends from the U.K. say: “I’m gobsmacked”!  [Look it up – smile.]

gll

You Can’t Make this Stuff Up!!

If someone decides to prepare a list of the Top 10 Dumbest Uses for Social Networking --- or write an article about “solutions in search of a problem”, Planely is a “must include”.

Beyond that, I’m speechless.

Planely from Planely on Vimeo.