Antivirus Update from McAfee Causes PCs to Crash.. (Source SMH)

Computers in companies, hospitals and schools around the world got stuck repeatedly rebooting themselves on Wednesday after an antivirus program identified a normal Windows file as a virus.

Antivirus vendor McAfee Inc confirmed that a software update posted on Wednesday morning caused its antivirus program for corporate customers to misidentify a harmless file. It has posted a replacement update for download.

"We are not aware of significant impact on consumers and believe we have effectively limited such occurrence," the company said in a statement.

Online bloggers begged to differ, saying thousands of computers running Windows XP with Service Pack 3 were affected.

At Rhode Island Hospital in the US, the computer lock-up prompted personnel to divert emergency room visitors without traumas to other hospitals. The hospital also postponed some elective surgeries.

Patient care continued uninterrupted using back-up procedures, according to Nancy Jean, spokeswoman for the health system.

In Kentucky in the US, state police were told to shut down the computers in their patrol cars as technicians tried to fix the problem.

Peter Juvinall, systems administrator at Illinois State University in Normal, USA, said that when the first computer started rebooting it quickly became evident that it was a major problem, affecting dozens of computers at the College of Business alone.

"I originally thought it was a virus," he said. When the tech support people concluded McAfee's update was to blame, they stopped further downloads of the faulty software update and started shuttling from computer to computer to get them working again.

Intel Corp also appeared to be one of the victims, according to employee posts on Twitter. Intel did not immediately return calls for comment.

Online & Offsite Backup Solutions

I would strongly recommend that everyone backup their critical files online & off-site. Here's a link to the one of the best in the business, Data Deposit Box. Most of my Server & Client databases are being backed up using their services.
Its simple to use with an easy sign up procedure and costs as little as $ 2.00 per GB per month for a completely secure backup. Once you install the software it takes over and ensures backup is being properly done.
They also have a trial period to ensure this is what you're looking for. Pls backup your essential files before it gets too late.

Old Folk Story Retold - A Management Perspective

Please click on the movie above & pause and view each slide...

Let Your Customers Sell to Themselves....HBR

No one really likes to be sold to. Even the savviest salesman has to overcome people's resistance to the show-and-tell aspect of selling. Instead of persuading your customers to buy, try letting them sell to themselves. Don't just show them what is great about your products or services, let them experience and experiment. In a digital setting this may mean letting people participate in the creation of a new product or service (see Apple's App Store). In a retail setting, this could be providing samples or spaces in your stores where customers try out your products. Not only will this approach help you sell more, if used correctly, it will likely also teach you something about what your customers want.

Apple iPad delayed in Australia..

The Apple iPad will be available in the US on April 3, but we're going to have to wait a bit longer I'm afraid, you won't be able to buy an iPad in Australia until late April.

The good news about this delayed release date however, is that both the Wi-Fi and 3G models of the iPad will be available at the same time.

Unfortunately it looks like iBooks and the iBookstore are not going to be available when the iPad is released in Australia, in fact iBooks is only available in the US at the time of writing.

The delay of iBooks is disappointing but understandable -- when Apple first announced the iPad on January 28, they only had a few US book publishers signed up. Let's hope the delay isn't too long though, because I think the iPad is going to make an awesome e-book reader, and it's one of the main reasons I'm going to buy one.

Pricing for Australia has not been confirmed yet -- the iPad is priced from $499 in the US, so I think we'll see prices staring at around $599 in Australia.

"iPad is something completely new," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "We're excited for customers to get their hands on this magical and revolutionary product and connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before."

iPad lets users browse the web, read and send email, enjoy and share photos, watch videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks and much more. iPad is just 1.27 centimetres thick and weighs just 680 grams, it's thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook, and delivers battery life of up to 10 hours.*

iPad's revolutionary Multi-Touch interface makes surfing the web an entirely new experience, dramatically more interactive and intimate than on a computer. You can read and send email on iPad's large screen and almost full-size "soft" keyboard or import photos from a Mac, PC or digital camera, see them organised as albums, and enjoy and share them using iPad's elegant slideshows. iPad makes it easy to watch movies, TV shows and YouTube, all in HD, or flip through the pages of an ebook while listening to your music collection.

The App Store on iPad lets you wirelessly browse, buy and download new apps from the world's largest app store. iPad includes 12 new innovative apps designed especially for iPad and will run almost all of the more than 150,000 apps on the App Store, including apps already purchased for your iPhone or iPod touch. Developers are already creating exciting new apps designed for iPad that take advantage of its Multi-Touch interface, large screen and high-quality graphics.

The iTunes Store gives iPad users access to the world's most popular online music, TV and movie store. All the apps and content you download on iPad from the App Store, and iTunes Store will be automatically synced to your iTunes library the next time you connect with your computer.

*Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary.The Apple iPad will be available in the US on April 3, but we're going to have to wait a bit longer I'm afraid, you won't be able to buy an iPad in Australia until late April.

The good news about this delayed release date however, is that both the Wi-Fi and 3G models of the iPad will be available at the same time.

Unfortunately it looks like iBooks and the iBookstore are not going to be available when the iPad is released in Australia, in fact iBooks is only available in the US at the time of writing.

The delay of iBooks is disappointing but understandable -- when Apple first announced the iPad on January 28, they only had a few US book publishers signed up. Let's hope the delay isn't too long though, because I think the iPad is going to make an awesome e-book reader, and it's one of the main reasons I'm going to buy one.

Pricing for Australia has not been confirmed yet -- the iPad is priced from $499 in the US, so I think we'll see prices staring at around $599 in Australia.

"iPad is something completely new," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "We're excited for customers to get their hands on this magical and revolutionary product and connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before."

iPad lets users browse the web, read and send email, enjoy and share photos, watch videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks and much more. iPad is just 1.27 centimetres thick and weighs just 680 grams, it's thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook, and delivers battery life of up to 10 hours.*

iPad's revolutionary Multi-Touch interface makes surfing the web an entirely new experience, dramatically more interactive and intimate than on a computer. You can read and send email on iPad's large screen and almost full-size "soft" keyboard or import photos from a Mac, PC or digital camera, see them organised as albums, and enjoy and share them using iPad's elegant slideshows. iPad makes it easy to watch movies, TV shows and YouTube, all in HD, or flip through the pages of an ebook while listening to your music collection.

The App Store on iPad lets you wirelessly browse, buy and download new apps from the world's largest app store. iPad includes 12 new innovative apps designed especially for iPad and will run almost all of the more than 150,000 apps on the App Store, including apps already purchased for your iPhone or iPod touch. Developers are already creating exciting new apps designed for iPad that take advantage of its Multi-Touch interface, large screen and high-quality graphics.

The iTunes Store gives iPad users access to the world's most popular online music, TV and movie store. All the apps and content you download on iPad from the App Store, and iTunes Store will be automatically synced to your iTunes library the next time you connect with your computer.

*Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary.