Encryption!  Just writing the word can send a tingle down your spine.  Who knew you could could experiance fear, frustration and expense, all because of that  one little word?

 

On a recent consulting job with a large DC Government firm.  I was tasked with deploying ”Pretty Good Protection” (PGP).  I can tell you that I lost a lot of hair working with this encryption product,  I had users complaining about performance,  I hated the interface.  Very clunky and hard to use.  I would have recovery nightmares when it would come to getting recovery keys.   Does it have to be this hard?

 

Microsoft finally released their version of encryption in Windows Vista a product  known as “Bit locker” ,  Bit locker is a nice product as long as you have the hardware chip required in your PC and Windows Vista as the operating system, Let’s talk about Vista  for a minute ,  even with the recent release of Service Pack 2 this product still is a little buggy and Windows 7 is to be released right on its heels.  It might be me but it seems every third operating system Microsoft releases is a dud, remember “Windows Millennium”.   

You may want to investigate “True Crypt” a new Open Source product that shows promise,  it is free (Open Source) and it seems to work fairly well. 

 

Maybe the encryption world finally has a little competition, it’s about time.

 

Want more on this topic, send me a note Chris@mckayradio.com or call me at 888-641-3931, and I will email you out our free report.   Print this page to start a library of tips and topics you find of interest

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There is a danger in standing on a belief about a particular technology for very long.  I was under the impression that the new LED televisions or “panels” as they are called now (nobody uses a TV as just a TV anymore) are the latest and greatest and we would be wise to “upgrade” to the newest of these thin, sleek devices. 

 

I was bludgeoned in my ego last evening when I stopped by the local Buy More (shout out to the TV series “Chuck” where they spoof  the store “Best Buy” with “Buy More”).  I was given an education by a young twenty something clerk on the value of plasma over LCD or LED.  He informed me that my knowledge on the subject was dated and so he began my education…

 

The problem for the longest time with Plasma TV’s was the “Burn In Factor”  You couldn’t use them effectively as a monitor because if you walked away for any long length of time or left them on overnight you would see a ghost image of your computer screen “burned in” to the screen after you turn of your TV. 

 

Last year the plasma manufacturers got smart and developed a pixel shift technology which effectively eliminates burn in.  This technology changed the game,  now you have a high quality picture with deep blacks and rich color that can be used as a computer monitor or as a TV screen with no burn.  The best part is you can get 67″ plasmas now for the price of a 42″ LED.  The price is right!

 

The drawback to plasma is power consumption and that’s about the only drawback that holds water.  Plasma panels will drain more from your wall socket than an LCD or an LED.  However, if you maintain wise viewing habits and turn off the light and the TV when you leave the room you can go a long way to helping the planet.

 

Want more on this topic, send me a note Chris@mckayradio.com or call me at 888-641-3931, and I will email you out our free report.   Print this page to start a library of tips and topics you find of interest

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Here are some quick tips that will help improve your talk shows.

• The show’s topic and phone number (basics) should be mentioned as many times as possible.  however, it is very important that you mention the basics before and after every commercial break.  For example, “Today we are talking about the best time to buy stocks.  Call right now 888-641-3931 that’s 888-641-3931.”

 

• Prior to going on the air go over the basics with your staff/producer,  and during the program send reminder prompts to keep the host on track. If you want to promote a seminar or upcoming event, agree on the number of times to mention the event during the show.

 

• Radio is a direct response media! therefore, you should avoid using the following phrases, “leave a message” or “go to my website”  these are not effective ways of getting responses from radio content. provide a telephone number where they can call a live person to take their information and answer questions.

 

• The call screener should take the caller’s name, topic, email and contact information.  This will cut down on  prank callers and will build a database for future reference, testimonials and marketing purposes.

 

• To stimulate calls, start a recorded call bank!  In the years I’ve been producing talk shows, I have found that there is such a thing as “radio peer pressure.”  If you start the show and you don’t have calls ready to go on hold.  You can use your Call bank!  Pull a call that covers what you want to talk about and break the call down on the air.

 

Want more on this topic, send me a note Chris@mckayradio.com or call me at 888-641-3931, and I will email you out our free report.   Print this page to start a library of tips and topics you find of interest

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