Is Your Business Prepared For Salesforces Multi-Factor Authentication?

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As we all know, technology is constant and continues to evolve. Businesses need to continue to evolve and protect their systems from cyber-attacks, especially if their employees work remotely. If their systems are not protected from attacks, confidential information about their customers and business will be exploited, which can lead to serious implications. In order to prevent this from happening, Salesforce has provided an extra layer such as Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to protect all customers from any technological threat. That is why the NPWR Group (“NPWR”) has decided to team up with Commercient to help their mutual customers in safeguarding their information on Salesforce, by providing the right tools and required knowledge for customers to have a seamless integration experience.

NPWR is a boutique, registered-Salesforce implementation partner. Driven by their passion for service and business transformation, they leverage the ever-expanding Salesforce customer success platform to improve the lives of their clients. Providing a full life-cycle of services, NPWR has completed projects across the entire Salesforce platform for customers in a broad range of industries. These include professional services, technology, retail, consumer goods, healthcare/life sciences, manufacturing, construction, professional services, general business, and non-profit. 

The NPWR team has deep experience with clients’ purchasing and leveraging technology to drive business optimization. Their client-side experience provides a unique perspective that contributes to successful outcomes for our clients. 

“Commercient has provided a reliable and effective solution for our clients with ERP and/or Salesforce integrations,” said Taylor Nen, Sales and Marketing Specialist at NPWR. “We have confidently referred Commercient to our clients, and they’ve delivered great results. We are working together to ensure Commercient and our clients are prepared for the new changes.”

What is MFA and How Does it Work?

MFA is an extra security layer for protection against cyber-attacks, such as account takeovers, phishing, and credential stuffing. The extra security layer involves a two-step authentication to prove you are who you are. The first step is for a client to utilize their username and password combination, and the second step is to provide a verification method that the user has in their possession, such as a security key or app. 

When Does MFA Go Into Effect, and Does Salesforce Need Their Customers to Use MFA?

By February 1, 2022, customers will be required to use MFA to log into Salesforce products through the user interface. The Salesforce Spring 2021 releases may impact an org, therefore it is advised to start implementing this change now.

With the Spring 2021 updates, when you log into Salesforce, you may see an update notice requesting you to activate MFA now. But it is advised to set your org up first in order to be ready for MFA, otherwise, users may get locked out, or they may not be able to log in to Salesforce.

Is There Anyone Not Required to Use MFA?

External users — your customer’s customer and partners — who log into e-commerce sites, help portals, Experience Cloud Sites, and more. 

Which Verification Tools can be Used for MFA?

There are a few verification tools, including:

  • Time-based one-time passcode (TOTP)
  • Salesforce Authenticator Mobile App
  • Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator or Authy
  • WebAuthn
  • Security Keys that support U2F

Each time a user logs into a Salesforce product, a verification method will need to be given.

How Will This Affect Current Commercient Customers Updating Their Salesforce to MFA?

If you update your Salesforce to MFA, a ticket will need to be logged with Commercient, explaining you are upgrading to MFA because MFA may disrupt your OAuth. If your OAuth is disrupted, Commercient will have to re-do OAuth with the MFA and Commercients customers will need to supply the MFA code.

How Does Commercient Work with MFA Going Forward with New Customers?  

If you have MFA set up in your new Salesforce org, or going forward when Commercient first integrates, they will need the MFA code for the first time. Commercient will not set up cell phone numbers, as per Commercient’s company security policy, and customers will need to provide this. If you do not have it set-up, Commercient will continue working with the OAuth token for API integrations.

Conclusion 

What do you think about these FAQs? If you would like to get your Salesforce org set up for MFA now in order to avoid issues, NPWR can help! They recommend taking immediate action to avoid any potential problems. If you are struggling with your data integration, or have any questions, Commercient and NPWR are here to help. Contact us today

Back-to-School Tech 2017: Best Technology for College Students

Fall is approaching rapidly, and besides the wonderful weather, falling leaves, and shorter days, it also means that students are returning to school.  In that spirit, we have compiled some of the best tech for college students.  We are not going to talk about dorms or apartments–these items are a matter of personal tastes and so many articles have covered them it is unlikely we could break new ground.  Instead, we have spoken with college students and ascertained what tech they cannot live without.  In other words, if you only buy a few things for your student this fall, these are the things to purchase.

Backpacks. No matter where you send your child to college, whether it be an urban campus like NYU or Georgia State, or a more traditional, insular college like Carleton College or Cornell, they are going to need a way to tote their books, notebooks, laptop, and tech to and from classes. Today’s backpacks aren’t like the old-school rucksack made of canvas and straps.  The best backpacks need to have compartments for cords and tech, need to be water-resistant, and need to be sturdy enough to protect the contents should the bag fall or drop.  Some of the higher end versions can even charge devices and include a hard drive. Here are the picks from the students we surveyed.  Co-alition and AMPL are both gadget-oriented picks if a bit on the pricey side.  Herschel backpacks are the college-student gold standard, and at a price of less than $100, can be replaced easily should they tear.  The North Face also has a wide variety of sturdy backpacks at all price ranges.

Laptop. Forget the tablets. They are hard to type on and remember that this list is about absolute necessity.  A well-made laptop with plenty of memory, options for gaming, and high functionality is a must.  Students will be doing everything from taking notes in class to researching term papers and coordinating their social lives on this machine. Even if money is tight, there are great options for every budget. If portability is the most important issue, look into an Apple MacBook Air. For creative types, the 2017 MacBook Pro, with its gorgeous display, is a great option. For a durable, powerful option with great features and 8G of memory, the Asus ZenBook UX330 is a fantastic option at a great price. If the price of tech is overwhelming for you, eBay has a great site with refurbished technology.

Headphones. For parents, this may seem frivolous.  They managed to get through their 4 years of college without them.  Bear in mind that Millennials and Generation Z are used to a barrage of constant white noise, what with people on their phones, typing on laptops, and watching videos. Every student we spoke with said that the ability to be able to block out distractions and listen to music or podcasts while they study is imperative. Headphones offer a portal to focus on the task at hand.  Audio-Technica has a great wired version at a good price, while wireless fans can find quality,  bargain-priced versions through BeatsX or SkullCandy.

Apps.  Many apps that are helpful for students are free, but if you do want to purchase one that you can be sure they will use, Amazon Prime for Students is probably the best choice. They have great deals on items that students would want, including textbooks. It also gives your student an option for entertainment when they need to unwind, because Amazon video has a staggering choice. For on-campus safety,  Circle of 6 is a great app to reassure nervous parents. To make the deluge of group projects easier on your student, try GroupMe.  To help with studying, Brainscape offers a nifty app to create flashcards. To facilitate and encourage your student to call home more often, make sure to install FaceTime or Google Hangouts. The list is endless, and many apps are either low- or no-cost, which is great for students (and parents) on a budget.

 

If you are a college student and need to amp up your resume and earn a bit of pocket money at the same time, Commercient is offering paid internships in a variety of positions.

Sports and Technology, Weekly Tech Blog, Week of August 7-11, 2017

For North Americans, football season is right around the corner. Technology is changing sports just as it is changing every aspect of our lives.  Here are some of the best ways that football and tech are merging.  Of course, much of this applies to any sport–soccer, rugby, baseball–all of them are using technology for everything from marketing to training. Below, we discuss how technology and sports can work together to create the best experience for fans and players alike.

Connected stadiums  

With ticket prices to major events on the rise, as well as the costs for parking, concessions, and game day souvenirs, sporting venues need to keep bringing in fans. Think about it–if a fan can sit in comfort at home and enjoy a game with their friends in HD, why would they pay exorbitant rates to go to a game? That is where connected stadiums come in.

Connected stadiums seek to enhance and improve the fan experience in every aspect. The issues that some fans have with going to live events–parking issues, long lines at concessions and restrooms, and no wifi connectivity–are all eliminated with the new connected stadiums.  Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta’s newest offering, will take the crown of the most connected stadium in the world. Chelsea FC is embracing the digital fan experience at their new venue.

With full connectivity and digitization, fans will be able to order food and drinks to their seats.  They can find the closest restroom with the shortest lines, and an app will help them with parking. The app also lets fans watch instant replays, acquire stats about players, and update their fantasy leagues. Eventually, stadium owners hope to incorporate VR into the fan experience.  Regardless, today’s stadiums are making every effort to make an immersive fan experience well worth the price of admission.

Virtual reality

Virtual reality and sports seem like a natural fit.  For fans, the VR experience will allow them to view the games from the players’ perspectives.  In addition, some of the major U.S. sports leagues like the NBA (National Basketball Association) are offering VR coverages of games.  In addition, other sports leagues are following suit. NextVR, a VR broadcasting startup, has already covered NFL games and the Super Bowl, the live-stream broadcast of the International Champions Cup (ICC) soccer games, a NASCAR race and some NHL games.

For the players and coaches, VR can be used to influence athlete training.  For example, Florida State University and Texas A&M have their players wired while at practice and games so they know how much effort the player expends. In addition, the STRIVR training module captures 3-D footage of football action and uses that to help players learn playbooks without impact. Sports teams can also use it to replay and analyze the game from different perspectives. Soccer clubs like Dutch team Ajax are already using VR technology to great effect, both to enhance the fan experience and in training.

Watching games and tailgating

Tech for every part of the game has gotten better. We no longer have to smuggle alcohol in pants pockets and risk getting caught. The Drinking Jacket has a solution for that. According to their site, the jacket has a built-in bottle opener, neoprene koozie pocket, hidden flask pocket, drinking mitts and sunglass holder. Now dipsomaniac fans can smuggle alcohol into stadiums with style. For soccer, Formula 1, and rugby fans, Sport Right Now has an award-winning verified sports news app that culls the latest news from every source and puts it into one place. Although the company is still a startup, NeuLion seamlessly syncs live video, live audio and live data (stats) to create dynamic live and interactive TV-like experience over the Internet to any device. interactive digital video experience that gives fans an action-packed experience anytime, anywhere. Features include live event player, DVR functionality, slow-motion viewing, 4K delivery, real-time highlights, and instant replay. This is ideal for fans both attending games and those at home.

Sporting events are no longer passive.  Sports fans expect an active connection with the teams and players, and new technology is making sports an immersive and interactive spectator journey. For the players, new tech to monitor biometrics and performance should help to keep players safer.  In short, sports have fully embraced the digital age, and it can only make the experience better.

Best Tech for Busy Professionals

This week’s tech blog is dedicated to our readers.  We know that you all are swamped all day long, so if you are taking 5 minutes from your day to read this, we appreciate it.  As a thank you, here is a list of great tech to make your life a bit easier.

We all have days where it seems that you don’t have time to get anything done.  Your to-do list is so lengthy that you cannot remember if you ate, much less whether you have left your lights on or charged your phone.  I have compiled a list of the best tech gadgets to help busy professionals keep on task and manage their time.

To manage your diet and eat healthy food even when time is nonexistent, the good people at Tovala have you covered.  You may not have time to cook for yourself and healthy options are few and far between.  Or maybe you just hate to cook. The company’s motto is that you should never have to compromise between convenience, health, and taste. They offer a clean-eating meal delivery service with everything included.  There is no prep work involved other than acquiring a fork. You then place the trays into the Tovala, scan the barcode, and the oven automatically cooks your food perfectly by switching between convection, baking, and steaming. The oven even sends you a notification once the food is done so you aren’t stuck in the kitchen waiting. It includes an app so that if you feel inclined to cook your own meals Tovala will walk you through the process, and even lets you know about the nutritional value of the food.

To manage your home, a smart home hub is a necessity. If you are unfamiliar with the technology, smart hubs connect a variety of compatible smart devices. This allows you to control an array of devices and functions and also gives you access to a wealth of information. You can do simple things like stream music or order food, but you can also control electronic devices such as lights and thermostats. There is a myriad of connectable smart devices now, so functionality keeps growing. You can unlock doors, turn on sprinklers, and control plugs and thermostats. The Roomba even has smart technology now, so if your carpet needs a quick clean before you get home, they have an app for that. Home hubs run the gamut in pricing and performance, so choose what features are most important for you.  Amazon Echo has a great one, but if the price tag is too high for you,  the Wink Hub 2 has a nice option for less than $100.

To manage your technology, there is so much great tech out there to help you keep up with your business no matter where you are. The Anker Power Port 6 is a multi-port USB Hub can connect up to 6 USB devices at once from a single outlet. Charge your phone, a tablet, and any other device you need from one place. To avoid carrying a bulky wallet and multiple cards try the Wocket Smart Wallet. With biometric security, your multiple cards become a single card to conduct any transactions.  To keep up with all of your passwords, try LastPass.  This clever little app remembers all of your passwords so that you don’t have to. Unlike traditional password extensions and apps, no one can get access to your passwords even if your devices are stolen. This comes in handy when you treat yourself to a new phone or computer.

 

Commercient has the newest technology to help you manage all aspects of your business.  Our newest brainchild, IoT Pulse, lets you connect to over 750 apps. Access to this app is currently by invitation only, so click here to learn more and get on the waiting list.

Weekly Tech Blog, Week of July 24-28, 2017

Formula E Racing takes off in New York City:  Formula E Racing, or ePrix, is a fairly new arrival to the racing circuit–the sport has only been around since 2014.  Formula E was introduced in an effort to show off the potential of “sustainable mobility”. Many of the best names in motorsports–McLaren and Williams–and some of the most storied drivers in racing, like Senna and Piquet–have made Formula E the newest darling of the racing scene. Unlike traditional auto racing, which takes places on specially designated tracks, ePrix is kind of like a real-life version of Metropolis Street Racer on steroids.The 2-day race takes place on city streets, which is ideal for these cars.  The cars are silent, so the noise and emissions associated with gas-powered auto racing are eliminated.  The short straights and myriad corners display the noted acceleration of these vehicles.  The speed and artistry of these drivers is enough to woo even the most hard-core traditional racing enthusiasts. Other races this season have been held in such diverse locales as Hong Kong, Marrakesh, Monaco, Berlin, and Buenos Aires. While Formula E racing is still in its infancy, New York has signed a 10-year contract to sponsor the race, so expect much more from this sport in the future.  For those of you that are already avowed fans, you can watch the final race of the season, held July 29-30, 2017 in Montreal, on Fox Sports.

Virtual Reality experiences are literally out of this world.  Virtual Reality (VR) headsets are wonderful–we love ours! The problem right now is that there is not much VR material to experience.  Enter the brilliant minds behind VRLO (Virtual Reality London). At this conference, VR companies show off the latest and greatest in VR tech.  While most of the tech at VRLO was great, the most mind-blowing, awe-inspiring experience was created by the developers at Rewind. Their “Spacewalk” VR has snagged almost every award in the genre and even won a Silver Lion at Cannes.  In this spectacular VR experience, you are an astronaut whose mission is to repair a piece of the International Space Station (ISS). Created on Unreal Engine 4 and engineered for the HTC Vive, this VRX project is inspired by NASA. My paltry words won’t do it justice, so here is a video of the VR.

Afghan girls’ robotics team takes second in competition. The magnitude of this win cannot be overstated. In the FIRST Global Challenge, robotics teams from all over the world were asked to come up with a robotics-based solution to access clean water. Sounds pretty straightforward, right? For this team of girls, every possible obstacle was thrown at them. First, they had issues getting their supplies due to officials being concerned about the supplies falling into the hands of extremists.  So when other teams got their items in March, the Afghan team didn’t receive theirs until June. Add that to the fact that Afghanistan isn’t known as being a nation that embraces women in STEM careers. The girls were then denied visas into the U.S. twice before President Trump finally interceded on their behalf.  In the end, the girls took home the silver medal in the competition and an award for courageous achievement.

Commercient hasn’t been lagging behind in new technology! We have a number of great new apps on the Salesforce App Exchange.  We have introduced SYNC for NetSuite and Salesforce,  SYNC for SAP and Salesforce, SYNC for Exact and Salesforce, and more. Contact us for more information.

Weekly Tech Blog, Week of July 10-14, 2017

There is a ton of great stuff going on this week in the tech world.  Here is my roundup of some of the best.

The folks at Tesla must never sleep.  The state of South Australia has had some energy concerns of late. In order to help alleviate them, the crew at Tesla and Neoen Energy have made a wager to create the world’s largest lithium-ion battery. Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla, bet that the company could build 100 megawatts of capacity in 100 days or he would give the State its money back. The government of South Australia asked him to prove it.  In a collaboration with local energy company Neoen, Tesla built a grid-scale energy storage system to be used in conjunction with the Hornsdale Wind Farm. The storage system will provide power for some 30,000 homes according to Tesla.  Musk has also promised to complete the build in 100 days. We should see the final product this December. Whether you like Elon Musk or not, the guy keeps his word.

Amazon Prime Day starts today. If you have a minor Amazon addiction like I do, Prime Day is like Christmas, New Year’s and Black Friday rolled into one bargain-filled circus of consumerism. The difference is that you can sit in the comfort of your home and shop to your heart’s content.  All you need is a decent wifi network and a debit card.  Some of the best deals are on electronics, including 50% on the Amazon Echo, which is priced at $89.99, and $30 off on the awesome Kindle Paperwhite, making it only $89.99. Whatever your interest, Amazon will have something for you.  Even if you don’t have a Prime account, you can get a free trial for a month and take full advantage of the deals.

Laser tag is back, and I for one am really excited. Drone maker Skyrocket has created Recoil, an updated version of the laser tag we all loved in the 80s. The basic idea is the same–you shoot lasers at other players, and if you hit them, they die.  Unlike the old game, there is a neat bit of tech added. You use Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and your phone to track players’ positions in real time. The app’s tracking capabilities add the fun of airstrikes and land mines, which means that if one player calls in an airstrike opposing players have to get out of the area immediately or be “killed” in the game.

Commercient has some news, as well.  Our SYNC application has two new listings on the Salesforce app exchange.  We now have SYNC for SAP and Salesforce and SYNC for NetSuite and Salesforce.  

 

Great Tech to Make Your Summer More Awesome: Weekly Tech Blog, Week of July 3-7, 2017

Whether your summer is almost over or you are just starting to enjoy the long days and steamy nights, we have a wrapup of the best technology to make the last few months of summer that much better for you. Whatever your interest, we’ve got some great products.  Check out our list below.

For the beach or lake vacation:  Grills have gotten smaller and perfectly portable. The nifty little Una Grill is small enough to fit in a backpack but can make a meal for up to 4 people. It comes in a variety of colors and is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. If you love the beach but hate tracking sand everywhere, the CGear Sand-Free Beach Mat is a great solution.  For the fisherman, the Deeper Smart Sonar takes the guesswork out of finding the perfect catch. If you are a budding photographer, drones have gone down in price dramatically and can help you get that great aerial view of that sunset to make your friends at home jealous.

For backyard movie nights and barbecues:  You can have a great movie night without spending a fortune. For a great starter projector, look at the Epson HC 600 cinema projector and fixed-frame screen.  Whether it’s a barbecue or a movie night, you still want to have clear sound. The UE Roll 2 is one of the best portable Bluetooth speakers on the market. Add a great, multitasking cooler that can play music and blend up some daiquiris and your backyard fetes will be the talk of the neighborhood.

To make airline travel suck less:  Odoyo earphones are a must, particularly if you are stuck on a long flight.  These waterproof earbuds promise to cancel out all noise and include a built-in remote and microphone. With the exception of certain flights from the Middle East, a Kindle can be your best friend on long-term flights. The new Kindle Voyage, with its adaptive display, intuitive page press technology, and long battery life, can keep you amused all flight long. If TSA lines drive you crazy, try smart luggage. BlueSmart luggage has auto lock, GPS locator, and a supercharger. It can even weigh itself to make sure you’re always compliant.

For camping and music festivals: There is a plethora of awesome technology for campers, hikers, and festival goers. From mini USB lights to portable generators, camping has gone high-tech. The best two innovations are the CamelBak All-Clear Bottle, which can create clean drinking water in 60 seconds, and the Heimplanet Inflatable Tent. This little tent fits into a small bag, pumps up in seconds, and can sleep up to three. Lastly, one of the apps to find your friends in a crowd may be a lifesaver. Check out FindMyFriends for Apple or Android.

Whether you are traveling all summer or staying at home and enjoying the balmy weather, there are some great options out there to make this summer memorable.

 

Have a safe and happy summer from your friends at Commercient.

Best of Disruptive Tech: Weekly Tech Blog, Week of June 26-30, 2017

What is disruptive technology?  It’s a term that has been batted around a great deal in the last decade.  What is it, and what does it mean for you?  

In short, disruptive technology is any kind of new innovation that disrupts or overturns the established technology or creates a completely new industry. For example, the personal computer (PC) replaced the typewriter.  The PC permanently changed how we communicate, how we work, and how we do business. Disruptive companies change how we think, how we view the world, and how we use technology.

Below are 5 companies that we think offer the best of disruptive tech.

  1. Tesla. Elon Musk’s innovative company constantly pushes the envelope. Their cars are both environmentally friendly and luxurious. While some tech pundits argue that the expense of the cars takes them out of the aegis of disruptive tech, the fact that Tesla has made a viable and attractive alternative to traditional gas-powered vehicles may force the auto industry to follow suit.
  2. Helix. The idea of consumer genomics is not new, but Helix has taken it to another level. The startup offers an amazing variety of DNA-powered products that supposedly will help you make better decisions about your life.The company offers products that will give you insights on everything from disease markers to fitness solutions.
  3. CryptoMove. The company bills itself as “Moving target data protection”, and promises to protect even the most sensitive information with an assortment of techniques.  CryptoMove uses decentralized movement, mutation, distribution, and fragmentation to make any site hacker-proof. The company has garnered contracts from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, so it must be pretty awesome.
  4. ShieldAI. This company is a U.S. Department of Defense darling. Shield AI delivers next-gen recon, intelligence, and surveillance systems.  The company hopes to solve the actionable intelligence deficit by using robots and UAVs full environmental perception. By using AI to collect intelligence they eliminate the need for human interaction and hopes to eradicate American and civilian casualties by 2030.
  5. Apolitical. This company is kind of like Thumbtack for government agencies but it goes much further than that. Apolitical is a global network for government that connects public servants with the people and innovations to help them solve societal challenges. Apolitical bills itself as a global impact network, Apolitical hopes to help governments improve by solving common challenges and helping them find solutions that already exist.

We need to be concerned with disruptive technology because many of these “disruptive” companies are creating technologies that will nullify existing tech. This means that we should be watching these companies because they may be smart investments in the very near future.  While they may not always prove practical or may not succeed, there are still some companies that we are watching as they may change the face of technology forever.

London Tech Week Highlights: Weekly Tech Blog, Week of June 19-23

London Tech Week was last week, and the City’s weeklong series of events showcased some of the newest, hippest technology available. The show kicked off with a dramatic, Ironman-style entrance in a flight suit by inventor Richard Browning and only got more exciting from there. The festival even offered a concert for attendees from German composer Hans Zimmer.

With a main focus on Tech XLR8,AR and VR, AI and Machine learning, 5G, autonomous and connected cars, and the IoT, the weeklong event featured the best of new technology and gave startups the chance to feature their wares.

Below we have compiled some of the highlights of this groundbreaking event.

  • Sophia the Robot. First unveiled in 2016, Hanson Robotics’ lifelike robot Sophia has become a media darling since then, appearing on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, gracing the pages of magazines, and garnering over 1 million views on YouTube. She gave a brief speech at London Tech week and was immediately deluged with admirers and requests for pictures.
  • The official opening of PlexalCity.  Located in Here East at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Plexal City promises to be  a multidisciplinary hub of innovation for the arts, tech, and any pioneering business. Initially the focus will be on technology innovation applied to a variety of fields, including sports, health, and fashion. Plexal City will have room for 800 trailblazing corporations and startups.
  • Opening of Google’s London Digital Academy.  The Academy has been hailed as a symbol of the continued growth of London’s burgeoning technology sector. The 40,000 square foot space, peopled with industry experts from both Google and around the technology industry, is aimed to help marketers, children, and business people become more digitally savvy.
  • The TechOff. In a chance to let the event’s hardworking tech gurus to let their hair down, Tech Off is an amalgamation of music and technology. The site calls the event “The love child of TED Talks and WWE”. Eight musicians, entrepreneurs and other tech innovators go head-to head in a “battle of ideas”. The speakers get 5 minutes to give their pitch, after which time the audience votes to choose a champion.

It sounds like an amazing week!  Hopefully, Commercient will get the chance to attend this phenomenal event in 2018.

Weekly Tech Blog, Week of June 12-16, 2017

E3 is actually open to the public this year. For those of you unfamiliar with the E3 moniker, the name stands for Electronic Entertainment Expo, and it is arguably the best–or at least the biggest–gaming event to occur every year.  The show, based out of Los Angeles, attracts about 65,000 people, but this year, they are allowing another 15,000 people to attend.  Normally the show is only open to industry insiders, so this is a big deal in the gaming world.  E3 features everything that is new in the world of video games.  The event will showcase over 85,000 square feet of exhibits.  In an effort to keep the gamers attending content, the show has added vendor booths and is concentrating more on gamer culture.  This year’s show will give attendees a first look at XBox’s Project Scorpio console.  You can also expect a slew of new VR games from Sony, the return of the venerable Assassin’s Creed, and a revamped Super Mario Odyssey game from Nintendo. For those of you that can’t make it or for whom the $250 price tag is a bit steep, you can watch the majority of it online on Twitch or YouTube.  You can watch a teaser video of the new Assassin’s Creed below.

Summer is coming.  Even if you didn’t get that reference, it still applies. The official start of summer for most of the Northern Hemisphere is on June 21, 2017. If you hate the heat and humidity and hate fighting with your coworkers about the office temperature, the folks at EvaPolar have the answer for you.  They have created the EvaPolar 2, a desktop personal air conditioner. It creates your own microclimate and also helps with air purification. It cools an area about 3 meters (about 9 feet) square and promises to cool the outgoing air about 30 degrees F. The mini system works using the process of evaporative cooling and works for about 6 hours on one container of water.  There is one catch though–the makers do state that the system does not work well if humidity is over 70%, so people in Florida and Louisiana may not want to invest in the system just yet. Stil, at $180 for an EvaPolar system, it’s a reasonable–and safe–alternative to the old-school “swamp cooler”.

How to score tech at a bargain. New smartphones and tablets are great but for those of us on a budget, the prices on new devices can get silly. Enter eBay. Their refurbished tech site offers great, inexpensive devices at nominal prices. If you are an early adopter, or if you are label-conscious, this site is not for you.  Before you balk at the idea of buying refurbished technology, there are some great benefits besides the prices. The company offers a year warranty on all of its devices, and many of them are either like new or are new.  The site guarantees a high standard of quality control–indeed, they guarantee that the devices will meet manufacturer standards. It is also an environmentally-friendly option as the upcycled devices will not end up in a landfill. This is a great idea for college students, big families, or anyone that wants good-quality technology without the hefty price tag.

 

If you need a reasonably-priced option to integrate your ERP and CRM systems, you can’t afford NOT to look at Commercient’s SYNC.