Accounting
Hard Times for the GPS Market
These are not easy times for the commercial GPS marketplace. That may seem peculiar to those who have grown up with these devices.
Dave McClure
Contributing Writer/Columnist
dave.mcclure@cpapracticeadvisor.comDave McClure is a U.S. Air Force veteran who flew a B-52 bomber during the Cold War, then became an Air Force Information Officer to hone his skills as a writer, editor and communications manager. He has since been a consultant in business and technology for more than three decades, with degrees in applied science and Organizational Development, with an MBA in Executive Management. He has consulted with companies ranging from Microsoft to General Electric, and has held positions as an accounting software marketing director, media editor, network engineer and professional beta tester for computer hardware and software . His career includes eight years with the NASA Space Shuttle program for BFGoodrich, more than 20 years writing for business and accounting publications, and his tenure as founder and president of the US Internet Industry Association. He is a global expert on IT, Internet and management issues, and currently serves as the co-chair of the International Internet Industry Alliance.
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Small Business
Hard Times For The GPS Market
These are not easy times for the commercial GPS marketplace. That may seem peculiar to those who have grown up with these devices.
Firm Management
When Good Applications Go Bad
The fascinating thing about an economic downturn is that it often gives computer users a glimpse into the souls of the vendors they rely on for their software and information.
Accounting
The High Price of "Free"
In the very early days of the PC revolution, untold thousands of hobbyists and programmers spread their fledgling programs across the seven major online services (The Source, The Well, CompuServe, AOL, ZDNet, Prodigy and MSN) and thousands of Bulletin Board Systems.
Accounting
IRS Admits Targeting Conservative Groups Before 2012 Election
In an awkward and unprecedented announcement this week, the Internal Revenue Service admitted that it targeted non-profits with “Tea Party” and “Patriot” in their names during the 2012 election year. The agency admitted they held up non-profit status for these groups, demanded lists of contributors to those organizations, and sought additional information about the groups.
Firm Management
The Client Is [NOT] Always Right
I’ll be the first to admit I have had a checkered career. From 18 years running the national trade association for the Internet in Washington…to eight years with the space shuttle program for BFGoodrich…to my years as a business consultant working with a range of problems common to small businesses.
Firm Management
Strategies For Social Media
Here’s your next best strategy for social media: Go home, go to bed, and try to forget you ever got suckered into spending untold thousands of dollars to some nitwit marketing firm to develop your “Social Media Strategy.”
Payroll
The Sad State of CyberSecurity
Small and mid-sized businesses are failing at security. This puts them in peril and, if they're your clients, you could suffer, too.
Firm Management
Windows 8.1 is a Yawn
Seeing Apple and Google rake in oodles of cash with crippled cell phone apps and ringtone downloads, Microsoft decided to go them one better and convert their entire Windows operating system to something that looks and works like a cell phone screen.
Firm Management
Licensing Tax Preparers: It's necessary, and it's going to happen soon
More than half of all tax returns filed with the Internal Revenue Service are prepared by professionals. That’s a substantial number of returns, so it is sad to see the number of preparers who make significant errors.
Firm Management
Licensing Tax Preparers: It's necessary, and it's going to happen soon
More than half of all tax returns filed with the Internal Revenue Service are prepared by professionals. That’s a substantial number of returns, so it is sad to see the number of preparers who make significant errors.
Technology
Reviewing PC-Matic
You’ve seen the ads. The ineffective husband trying to clean viruses off of his machine. The college student who wants a new laptop because hers is running “too slowly.” The flower shop girl whose PC is so slow she can’t complete a transaction. Yes, the ads are like fingers on the chalkboard of PC utilities. But the real question is…does PC Matic actually work?