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Monday, August 04, 2008 4:59 PM

Codename Midori: Microsoft's ascension from physical to virtual?

It's no secret ... Microsoft software was born in an era where getting connected wasn't much of a concern as few had connections! Microsoft has moved with the times with constantly updated products, but they still largely install on hardware....
Posted by AlanDay
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Sunday, June 15, 2008 9:40 PM

Becta awards Open Source schools project

The Open Source community is apparently ' up in arms' following Becta's decision to award a £270K Open Source project contract to AlphaPlus Consultancy . This follows previous work with Becta on e-learning vocabularies . Mark Taylor of Sirius...
Posted by AlanDay
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Tuesday, May 27, 2008 8:19 PM

Open Source! ... about to be taken seriously by Becta?

Becta are encouraging the use of open source software in its latest framework agreement for software. The four year agreement will start in October and replace the current software licensing framework that has been in place since 2005. Up to 10 suppliers...
Posted by AlanDay
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Wednesday, April 09, 2008 11:34 PM

Deteriorating performance on network computers? Is 1:1 the answer?

There is a well observed phenomena in school networks. Go out and buy nice new computers for your school and their performance rapidly deteriorates with each passing day/week. A computer bought at the same time and placed in the office performs better...
Posted by AlanDay | 2 comment(s)
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Saturday, February 02, 2008 8:13 AM

Microsoft reveals how to avoid forced IE7 upgrade

Microsoft has released instructions for network administrators who want to avoid a forced upgrade to the latest version of Internet Explorer, version 7, due to occur on February 12. How considerate ... for those who know its coming!
Posted by AlanDay | 5 comment(s)
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Wednesday, January 30, 2008 7:52 PM

Shibboleth and Athens - descending into middle earth?

This is a post for the purists! Shibboleth is the open standard for identity and access management. It promioses Single Sign-On to resources, and data security. If you want to know how it works, CLICK HERE . Athens on the other hand is the old system...
Posted by AlanDay
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Wednesday, January 30, 2008 5:48 PM

Comment on 'Innovation Blog' Post on Microsoft Open XML Formats

I have experienced the problem mentioned in Jamies post of receiving an MS Office 2007 document in the new *.docx format. I know about Microsoft's Open XML format , which enables developers to create applications that use the Microsoft file format, but...
Posted by AlanDay
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Friday, November 16, 2007 6:45 PM

'Cracking' computer ...

We have had some 'cracking' related news items this week. I say cracking because it brings together related technology stories spanning 60 years. The Colossus WW2 code cracking computer has been restored to working condition by the National Museum of...
Posted by AlanDay
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Friday, October 26, 2007 11:42 AM

"Piggybacking" school wi-fi theft - pair cautioned in Maidstone!

In this weeks Kent Messenger (Maidstone Edition) there is a story about wi-fi bandwidth theft from a school ... "Piggy Backing", more formally known as 'dishonestly obtaining an electronic communication service" is an increasing problem, especially as...
Posted by AlanDay | 2 comment(s)
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Wednesday, October 24, 2007 3:03 PM

Microsoft referred to Office of Fair Trading

Hot on the heels of the EU fine , It would appear Microsoft are now facing pressure in the UK from Becta. The issues of the EU decision were complex, and arguably the act of forcing Microsoft to hand over its Intellectual property to competitors is highly...
Posted by AlanDay | 2 comment(s)
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Wednesday, October 10, 2007 8:47 AM

Personalised Online Learning Space = Kent Learning Zone!

Schools may have recently received an email from Becta on their Oct 2007 ICT Advice Alert . The states the Government target that all schools should have a 'personalised online learning space' by August 2008. The alert also suggests that schools contact...
Posted by AlanDay
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Saturday, October 06, 2007 10:14 PM

Fingerprints in exchange for food? lighten up!

Morley High School in Leeds have been accused of breaching the Education Act 2002 for their stand on 'fingerprints for food' school meals. The Headteacher told BBC Radio 4's You and Yours programme that "We have given parents an opt out. The opt out is...
Posted by AlanDay | 4 comment(s)
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Saturday, October 06, 2007 9:38 PM

Kent ... to get the fastest broadband in the UK!

Virgin Media cable customers in Folkestone have been trialing 50Mb home broadband ... the fastest in the UK! Ashford have started a trial that will last until the end of December, with Dover dates to be confirmed. The eventual cost of the service will...
Posted by AlanDay
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Sunday, September 30, 2007 8:23 AM

e-Portfolio Research Report

Becta have released their " Impact study of e-portfolio's on learning " conducted by a team of researchers from University of Nottingham led by Helen Barrett . The study provides eight case studies from across education, from primary to adult learning...
Posted by AlanDay
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Sunday, September 02, 2007 9:16 AM

Wi-Fi? Pathology V Psychology

There is an interesting article in the TES this week that explores recent research by University of Essex. The research by Prof. Elaine Fox involved volunteers who are convinced they are sensitive to wi-fi. Interestingly the research concludes that the...
Posted by AlanDay | 1 comment(s)
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Sunday, March 25, 2007 12:06 PM

Systems actually talking to each other? What next!!

I'm sure you all sat awake last night, worried that you might have missed an ICT acronym that you just know is going to trip you and make you look dumb in a meeting! You may or may not have heard about something called ' SOA ' or Service Orientated Architecture...
Posted by AlanDay
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Sunday, March 25, 2007 11:56 AM

Single Sign-On - What is it?

Ever sat thinking to yourself ... what IS single sign-on ? Shibboleth ? Federated Access Management (FAM)? How does it work? Why is it important? Why will schools need it? Don't think you have enough remaining years to find out? Well, here's a short online...
Posted by AlanDay | 2 comment(s)
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Sunday, February 04, 2007 12:28 PM

Compatible File Formats?

Managing home-school working can be tricky, especially where documents created at school need to be opened at home and vice versa. Most teachers use Microsoft Office and often don't consider whether the home computer has a copy of Office when sending...
Posted by AlanDay | 1 comment(s)
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