Tech (332)

The Progressive Accountant is the leading online communit of public tax and accounting professionals focused on using technology to better manage and grow their practice.

Meet Tech Maven Kathy Yakal


Technology.

Whether the word strikes fear in your heart or makes you get down on your knees in thanks, it can be a real boon to your practice. I’ve been writing about how businesspeople use technology since 1983, so I’m used to rolling with the punches.

In my blog posts, I’ll be exploring trends in technology and how they can enhance your firm’s productivity. I’ll cover everything from Web-browsing to documents to Web design, from communications to contact management to mini-money apps to hardware and software and Web-based solutions we haven’t even heard of yet. And I’ll be eager to hear from you.

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Yoggie’s Gatekeeper Pico Miniaturized Computer

I first saw Yoggie Security System at CES 2008 -- and this year they made a second appearance and I took a second look. They make itty-bitty USB computers. Yup, that’s right -- computers.

They actually have an OS (it’s Linux) in a USB device and the little guys provide some pretty amazing security  services. Essentially it replaces your software firewall and protects your computer from malicious attacks -- with a PHYSICAL barrier. The result looks to be a performance boost since all the “thinking” is done by the Yoggie device. Pretty interesting concept for somewhere in the $120 range with the free copy of Kaspersky™ Anti-Virus.

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Logitech is Putting Extra Displays EVERYWHERE

I saw dozens of add-on type mini-displays at CES this year. They are already fairly cheap (many were priced around $129) and most are USB powered. Looks like a pretty convenient way to leave a certain Web site (weather?) open all the time.

It’ll be interesting to see how they get used. Logitech was showing a gamer keyboard with a little 2-inch by 3-inch display -- the color GamePanel LCD shows game stats, system information, communication data, video playback, image slideshows, or other information, without leaving the game. It seemed to be a solution in search of a problem to me, but it sure did draw a crowd. Go here to watch the video.

 

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A Tip - How to Make Some Real GREEN in Your Office This Tax Season

CES offers all sorts of technology -- some is directly related to the practice of public accounting, some has no relationship at all. Some is boring, most is interesting, and a bit is actually fun. This adaptation of technology meets the “fun” test (IMHO) but completely fails the “related to public accounting” one. But -- since it was SO interesting I decided to make a real stretch and tell you about it. Thus the cheesy headline.

The EasyBloom Plant Sensor is an Internet-enabled gardening device that recommends which plants will thrive in a specific location and diagnoses plants. You stick it in soil next to your plant and the device records soil conditions, sunlight, moisture and temperature. After 24 hours you plug it (the other end, silly!) into a USB port and the EasyBloom Web site will analyze your conditions and recommend plants that will thrive or will tell you what is wrong with your (probably dying if it’s tax season!) plant. The online database is very extensive and the technology quite sophisticated.

It’s available now at Amazon.com and other on-line retailers at about $60.

Maybe my anemic-looking ficus tree has hope after all!!

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Lenovo: “You Can Have Your Dual Monitors and Take it With You, Too”

Lots and lots to see here in Las Vegas at 2009 CES. Last night at the press-only opening session (CES Unveiled) I spied several neat things in which I think we as practicing accountants might be interested.

First on the list -- from Lenovo a dual screen laptop! The ThinkPad W700ds sports a second 10.6-inch display that extends from the primary 17-inch lid providing a true multi-monitor experience. It is VERY expensive and VERY heavy, at $5,100 and 11 pounds, but it certainly shows a future for remote workers (read -- your audit staff!) that desperately need dual monitors while working in the field. Perhaps not ready for purchase THIS year -- but soon, very soon.

Visit the Lenovo site for more details.


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For the Client Needing to File a Single (or Two or Three) 1099s

The small practitioners bane starts tomorrow -- the client who needs to file just one or two 1099s. They expect help and they resist fees because “it’s just one single little form.” And you want to make sure they stay compliant. Many of us relegate the duty to an admin, but it still eats time and overhead.

My tip of the  day is to point your clients to www.FileTaxes.com.

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Is Your Inbox Backwards?

Great. The universe is now complete. We have ONE MORE Outlook add-in! That's exactly what ran through my mind last week when I stumbled upon (not literally, but I just LOVE www.StumbleUpon.com) Xobni. (BTW, that's "inbox' spelled backwards and that makes this post title officially clever.)

Xobni is simply the slickest Outlook add-in I have ever seen.

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NAS or Backup / Local AND On-Line

A start-up Connecticut company called Datto has released a hardware/service combo pack that's, to the best on my knowledge, a first. Their NAS boxes come in two flavors -- 100 GB and 500 GB for $400 and $600, respectively -- and, other than being perhaps slightly overpriced, there's nothing particularly special about them.

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CCH Rolls Out TaxScripts - Small & Medium Firms Rejoice!

CCH reps are selling TaxScripts® TaxPro, an electronic process to obtain IRS transcripts. The application  enables tax professionals to quickly create and submit Disclosure Authorizations and IRS transcript requests. Any tax practitioner who has filed at least five electronic tax returns in the past year may use this new service.

TaxScripts TaxPro users input personal profile data just once. Subsequently they simply follow on-screen prompts to create Disclosure Authorizations and transcript requests with details like the types of information sought and target tax years. They then upload the request to the IRS which automatically pushes the requested data back to them.

This is very slick stuff -- I guarantee you’ll be impressed. I was so excited I almost wished I had an current client tax problem for which I needed a transcript! I can’t wait!!!

Here’s a nice demo -- a bit longish, but very informative.

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