How to Work Seamlessly Across Multiple Devices

CIO - Working late into the night in your cubicle to meet a deadline is an uncommon scenario these days. Most employees can use a business-issued laptop or a home PC to complete work assignments from the comfort of home.

Using multiple devices for genuine, productive work is harder than it sounds, though. Some form of planning and preparation is needed to ensure that you're not stranded with the wrong or outdated work files, or you're not wasting time learning a different set of applications.

To help you along, here are some simple steps to help busy executives and small business owners alike get a head start on working seamlessly on multiple devices.

Today's World Calls for a Multiplatform Strategy

Despite weak sales of PCs and Macs, especially desktops, these devices continue to form the backbone of the computing environment in businesses of all sizes. It helps that PC makers have adapted by emphasizing battery life over raw performance and producing lightweight portable devices available in various form factors.

Of course, the billions of tablets and smartphones that have shipped mean that employees are highly comfortable with these devices and just as likely to have them on hand. Moreover, many mainstream smartphones now sport displays exceeding five inches. A smartphone is probably better for reviewing data than writing a long report, but there's no denying that the gaps between smartphones, tablets and laptops is narrowing.

[ Analysis: How BYOD Became the 'New Normal' in 2013 ]

It's apparent, then, that a meaningful multiplatform strategy must consider the realities of the BYOD phenomenon. As such, you need to look not just at desktop and laptop platforms running Windows and Mac OS X but also tablets and smartphones running on popular platforms such as Android and iOS. (If you're pursuing a tablet-only strategy, our previous article on using your Android tablet at work is worth a look.)

Identify the Apps You Need to Be Productive

The first steps toward an effective multiplatform, multi-device strategy involve identifying the apps that you actually use for your work and then whittling the list down to four or five of the most commonly used apps. This task isn't as difficult as most may initially envision, since most of our work activities typically revolve around just a handful of applications in the first place.

You can identify these apps by observing your activities at a PC on a typical work day. If you have problems remembering the last time you used a particular app, then it may be a good idea to drop it from the list. The end result is a list of apps whose availability on each of your device is necessary to help you stay productive.

[ Feature: 10 Tech Tools to Get Things Done Faster ][ Also: Best iPhone, iPad Business Apps for 2014 ]

An increasing number of developers recognize that users no longer stick to a single platform or device. Some of your must-have apps may already be available on both PC and Mac, and they may feature inherent cloud support to help keep files synchronized between devices. If that's the case, then all you need to do is download or purchase and then install the app. You're good to go.

Though it isn't necessary to run the same app on every platform, it does offer convenience and means having to learn far fewer apps. Common apps available on more than one platforms include Microsoft Office (Windows, OS X), the Chrome Web browser (Windows, OS X, Android and iOS) and FileZilla (Windows, OS X, Linux).

You will need to replace the productivity apps that inevitably aren't offered on multiple platforms. One way to make things easier: Categorize the shortlisted apps by functionality and then search for the best-of-breed apps that provide these features on another platform.

Acquiring these apps through an official app store will get them set up on your new device with minimal fuss. Even if apps are installed separately from the app store, the current pace of product revisions and security updates means there's really no point in keeping a copy of an app's installation package handy. When necessary, simply download the latest version and install it.

Synchronize Your Data Through the Cloud

To cover all the bases when using multiple devices, consider cloud storage for keeping files in sync. This ensures that files can be accessed anywhere - even on public access terminals or a colleague's machine - and will work with legacy apps that may not come with cloud-sync capabilities. Because all changes to files are synchronized automatically, this could also serve as a backup repository should devices be lost or stolen (though an offline backup is always preferable).

[ Feature: 5 Enterprise Alternatives to Dropbox ][ Careful! 6 Ways Employees Put Company Data at Risk ]

There are many cloud storage services out there. Many now offer business-centric versions that can come with larger storage capacities, more robust backup options, detailed audit logs with file download and file access time stamps, and a centralized administrative console with details about individual accounts and access rights.

Finally, if youre leery about storing data in the cloud, you can opt for a secure cloud storage service such as SpiderOak, which lets you keep data entirely encrypted and shared between PC and mobile devices.

Synchronize Your Messaging, Contacts and Calendars, Too

After synchronizing your files and installing the right productivity apps, you should address collaboration. Done correctly, this allows business-centric messaging, contacts and schedules to be easily accessed and updated across all devices.

Things are rather consolidated on this front and just a few offerings stand above the rest, with Microsoft Exchange Server and Google Apps representing the juggernauts. Support for both platforms is prevalent and can be incorporated in all smartphone and tablet devices.

Businesses can deploy Exchange Server on-premises or use the cloud-based Exchange Online. The latter is available as a standalone service from Microsoft, starting at $4 per month, from accredited third-party vendors or as part of Microsoft's Office 365 offering. Be warned: This confusing bundling strategy makes it hard to find the most cost-effective package that meet your needs. Alternatively, the free Outlook.com service also offers the same Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) capability.

[ Commentary: How WhatsApp is Different Than Other Messaging Apps ]

For its part, Gmail also offers contacts and calendaring on top of email messaging. Of course, you don't get your own domain unless you pay for it, though one trick may be to forward emails from your corporate email address to your free Gmail account. Organizations that need more storage and customer support can look to Google Apps for Business, which is available for a monthly price of $5 per user, or $10 per user if you want additional archiving and data retention capabilities.

Using Multiple Devices an Evolving Process

There will always be apps - such as computer-assisted design, media encoding or client-server business apps - that won't run well without the presence of a powerful workstation or specialized hardware. However, you may still track the progress of a particularly large batch render, or even punch out that order on the legacy ERP system, with appropriate remote access software. Indeed, a new generation of apps such as Parallels Access offers the ability to "applify" conventional desktop apps to better suit the touchscreen interface of the iPad.

Ultimately, working on multiple devices is a constantly evolving process. Form factors change, as do important specifications such as battery life and capabilities. With some thought and adaptation, however, you can take your BYOD strategy to the next level whether you're using a PC desktop, Mac laptop, iPad Air or Android tablet.

Paul Mah is a freelance writer and blogger who lives in Singapore. He has worked in various capacities within the IT industry and enjoys tinkering with tech gadgets, smartphones and networking devices. You can reach Paul at paul@mah.sg and follow him on Twitter at @paulmah.

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Read more about time management/productivity in CIO's Time Management/Productivity Drilldown.

This story is reprinted from CIO.com, an online resource for information executives. Story Copyright CXO Media Inc., 2012. All rights reserved.

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Microsoft's DirectX 12 to boost gaming on PCs, mobile devices

IDG News Service - Windows and Xbox games will receive a significant graphics and performance boost with Microsoft's new DirectX 12, a set of application programming interfaces and tools used in PC games.

Users can expect better-quality games with DirectX 12, Microsoft said Thursday. The company announced DirectX 12 at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco.

DirectX tools work in the background to power games on PCs, tablets and smartphones using Windows operating systems. DirectX 12 will also be used to author games for Xbox One. Most games are already based on DirectX 11, but higher-quality games based on DirectX 12 will be out by the end of 2015, Microsoft said.

One of the most important updates in DirectX 12 is Direct3D 12, which "enables richer scenes, more objects, and full utilization of modern GPU hardware," Microsoft said.

DirectX 12 will work across all Microsoft devices and make game programming easier. It will harness the computing power of graphics processors and CPUs to deliver better gaming quality.

The company demonstrated the "Forza Motorsport 5" game at GDC to show the improvements in multicore GPU utilization by DirectX 12.

Microsoft also said it would "abstract" hardware, which would make it easier for programmers to write games. In essence, DirectX 12 will make the CPUs and GPUs transparent and programmers will have to worry less about writing code to specific hardware. However, most graphics rendering is done through GPUs, so Direct3D 12 has new pipeline, execution and rendering features that make processing via GPUs more efficient.

Users won't have to wait to buy new hardware to support DirectX 12, Microsoft said. More than 80 percent of gaming PCs being sold now will support DirectX 12.

Nvidia, Intel, Qualcomm and Advanced Micro Devices announced support for DirectX 12 before it was announced.

DirectX 12 will compete with AMD's low-level Mantle API (application programming interface), which is designed to take advantage of specific features in its Radeon GPUs to deliver a better gaming experience. However, AMD has said it will fully support DirectX 12.

Graphics chip maker Nvidia has its own low-level APIs, but said its latest graphics cards will support DX 12.

"Our work with Microsoft on DirectX 12 began more than four years ago with discussions about reducing resource overhead," said Nvidia spokesman Ken Brown in an email.

In addition to working closely with Microsoft, Nvidia has provided drivers and a DirectX 12 development kit to more than 15 game developers.

Developers have been asking for a leaner API that allows them to control hardware resources while extracting more performance from GPUs, Nvidia said Thursday.

"DirectX 12 was designed from scratch to provide the infrastructure for these advanced applications," Nvidia said.

Microsoft will share more details on DirectX 12 at the Build 2014 conference in San Francisco early next month. Meanwhile, game developers can sign up for an early access program to get DirectX 12 tools.

Agam Shah covers PCs, tablets, servers, chips and semiconductors for IDG News Service. Follow Agam on Twitter at @agamsh. Agam's e-mail address is agam_shah@idg.com

Reprinted with permission from IDG.net. Story copyright 2014 International Data Group. All rights reserved.

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LMU Engineers Build Assistive Devices for Disabled Students

Jack is a fifth-grader with dystonia, a neurological movement disorder that limits his motor functions and ability to speak. Like many disabled children who use a wheelchair, Jack is at risk of developing problems with his Achilles tendon, which may shorten from lack of use. Surgery is often required later in life to correct the problem.

Several mechanical engineering students from LMU may have a solution. They’re working on a bicycle attachment for Jack’s gait trainer that would help him move his legs when he gets around, lessening the chance of a shortened Achilles tendon.

The device is part of a yearlong, senior capstone project for students in the Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering. Eight mechanical engineers in two teams are designing and building products to help disabled children function more independently. The project will culminate in submitting the designs to the annual Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology of North America’s student competition.

“Both teams have solid designs and a good understanding of the design process,” said Matt Siniawski, mechanical engineering professor and the students’ faculty adviser. “This project lets the students use their education to help benefit someone else’s life, and it opens their eyes to different parts of engineering.”

Each of the two teams is paired with one student from WISH Charter Elementary School, a member of LMU’s Family of Schools. The teams met with the student, the student’s mother, the principal and caretakers to brainstorm ideas for an apparatus that would best suit the student’s needs.

For the team working with Jack, part of the goal is to provide him with a way to move his legs that is fun as well as therapeutic.

“Jack has never ridden a bike before, this is one more step toward living a more normal life” said Tim Burdiak, senior mechanical engineering student and leader of Team Jack. “The bike would promote muscular development in his arms and legs and help prevent his Achilles heel from shrinking.”

The other team is paired with Abbie, a kindergarten student with cerebral palsy. Since the congenital disorder makes fine motor movement difficult, the team came up with a desk unit with a brace and rail that will help Abbie use her iPad more easily in class. Called the iPad Dexterity Enhancement Apparatus, it connects her wrist and forearm to a brace that restricts the range of motion in her hand.

“I.D.E.A. will improve the accuracy and precision of Abbie’s fine motor skills without inhibiting her comfort,” said Amy Clancy, senior mechanical engineering student and leader of Team Abbie. “We hope it improves her confidence and helps her to perform basic functions more easily.”  

Both teams are in the process of building and testing their prototypes. Later this semester, they will build the device and submit their designs to RESNA’s 2013 annual conference, which takes place in June. If the designs are selected, the team will receive an all-expense paid trip to the conference. The winning team will get a cash prize and an invitation to spend three weeks at a rehabilitation research resource center to further develop their design and possibly move it towards commercialization.

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