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Greetings. Welcome to our Newsletter! We wanted to share the many photos we have taken of places, people and things throughout the country and beyond. Each month our headline photo will be something new and different. The caption will present a small explanation. We hope you enjoy. Keep in mind, we don't want to waste your time. Articles will contain generally less than 250 words. Please have a look and give us your feedback. By all means, forward to a friend using the link at the bottom of the Newsletter. Thanks. Questions? Send me an email!

The Cloud Is In The Spotlight? 

For some time, cloud companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, Facebook, Dropbox and others have been pressuring the government in lawsuits to allow them to release data to their customers pertaining to government requests for data and content.  All resulting from the Edward Snowden revelations.

In January, the Obama administration loosened the restrictions. As a result, cloud service providers are beginning to release data to the public detailing the number of requests they have processed from government agencies and how they have been handled. Dropbox which holds nearly 20% of the market share for cloud backup services released 2013 figures in a transparency report https://www.dropbox.com/transparency. Dropbox reported it had received 118 warrants and 159 subpoenas. Content was provided for 104 accounts as a result.

Facebook received just under 12,000 requests for information from the United States alone and almost 80% resulted in some data provided.

You can find similar reports for other cloud companies: Microsoft - Google - Apple - Yahoo - Facebook

An interesting note to all of this is that China is not requesting anyinformation from tech companies. It begs the question, why not?

Windows Apps for Outlook 2013

One of the benefits in subscribing to Office365 is the availablility of the latest software release and products that integrate into Office products. I have written about Windows Apps available for Windows 8, but I have not written much about Apps available for Office 2013 and specifically Outlook. Microsoft has made way for 3rd party developers to write applications or plugins the features of which will embed into Outlook. TRI can write custom applications for very specific purposes, but there are many applications that already exist. Here are some examples available today.

Package Tracker: After receiving an email message with a FedEx tracking number, you might go to the FedEx official website to track your packages. Now our Package Tracker app for Office offers you the option to track your packages inside your Outlook mailbox.

Linkedin For Outlook: Integrate the key information available from LinkedIn with Outlook software. Messages from Outlook contact lists can be displayed with information from your contact’s LinkedIn profile, and you can add new contacts at a click. You’ll see other contacts that you have in common and get information about where they work and what they do. The app makes it easy to quickly build your LinkedIn network while you learn more about the people you do business with everyday. And because it’s seamlessly integrated, you don’t have to leave Outlook and open a browser window to go search for contacts. It’s a good example of an app that can take outside data and integrate it with software you use everyday to make it even more useful to you.

Agito Outlook Meeting Organizer (OMO): OMO supports whole Lifecycle of Meetings and Tasks, connects the whole process in such a way that no task is overlooked. All meetings have agendas, appropriate materials ready to be addressed and meeting action items already assigned at the end of meeting.

This is just a heads up to be on the lookout for new opportunities and let us know if you have a special need.

Target Providing Free Credit Monitoring

As a result of the security breach at Target, Target is offering to customers who shopped in US Stores free credit monitoring and identity theft protection for 1 year.  This is a significant offer and consumers have until April 23rd to request an activation code.  The service will be provided by Experian offshoot ProtectMyId.  You won’t receive credit scores or reports from Equifax or Transunion.

You can read more information here.

Sign up for the service here: https://creditmonitoring.target.com/

Signing up is simple requiring your name and email address. Within 72 hours (typically within 1 hour) an activation code will be provided in an email coming from Target. The email contains an activation code which expires on April 30, 2014. It instructs you to go to protectmyid.com/target at which point you will be asked to enter the code. You will need to complete a simple identification form. No credit card or payment information is required. Once submitted, you will have the opportunity to print your complete credit report.

You are also covered by an insurance policy of up to 1,000,000 in the event of identity theft. This policy is over and above all other insurances you might have and has a number of additional requirements and limitations. The benefits include lost wages, legal defense fees and unauthorized electronic fund transfers.