Category: Blog

Apple has come a long way as far as the MacOS is concerned. The evolution of MacOS has been a remarkable journey, especially since the introduction of MacOS X that featured the Aqua interface for the very first time. At the start of the 2000s, Apple brought in a major overhaul of the OS – like the Unix-based underlying architecture that offered more stability and greater security.

In addition to adding upgrades to existing features, Apple kept improving their OS by bringing in new features like the Catalyst architecture, screen time, voice control, sidecar, and control center.

Different Mac Systems & Models Available (and their specifications)

If you’re wondering which Mac system and model would suit your requirements the most, you must first acquaint yourself with the different versions available. Apple makes six different types of Macs: MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, Mac studio, and Mac Pro. All of these categories have additional features and vary in size and specifications.

MacBook Air M2 and M1

This is probably Apple’s most cost-effective laptop, designed with portability in mind. MacBook Air is perfect for budget-conscious people and is your best bet if you are always on the go, is almost always bogged down with a regular-sized laptop, and needs a computer that is more versatile. It has an inbuilt Wi-Fi for connecting to a network and provides inbuilt Bluetooth for wirelessly connecting a mouse or other peripherals.

13-inch MacBook Pro

For those who prefer a heightened experience while working on their devices, this impressive machine is the best bet. Introduced last year, in 2022, this laptop features an M2 chip along with an A10 core CPU. It’s uniquely designed touch bar interface enhances the experience of using the machine, offering a sense of inspired innovation. It is compatible with the QSC device and comes with 2 Thunderbolt USB 4 ports.

14-inch MacBook Pro M2 pro and M2 Mac

Designed to handle highly-demanding tasks and processing speeds, this mammoth of a machine is one of the top-line laptops by Apple. Introduced in January 2023, it is built to enable users with powerful processing capabilities at their fingertips, optimized for high-end performance. For the high-performance people and teams, this is the perfect compliment to their abilities.

Benefits of using Mac at work

Earlier, it was said that Mac was used just for creatives, but all thanks to the Mac OS’s easy-to-use interface and the lightweight footprint of Apple Macs are just here for everyone. Executives are starting to use them more often as they do not have to think about how their computer works. If you are looking forward to using a Mac at work, the benefits will convince you more.

Minimum turnover and cheaper in the long run

Mac tends to have a long life cycle on average as compared to window machines. A Mac can easily run for three years. Still, if you talk to any IT team that has been supporting Mac, you will quickly see that you can potentially get around six years out of one, and not saying six years should be the benchmark, but that’s a possibility.

Better security

Not saying that Mac OS is infallible, but it offers better protection than Windows. There is minimum malware out there. Additionally, it is less prone to security and data breaches. It does not mean that it would never happen, but it is least likely to occur on an apple device. A strong operating system also features the advantage of needing to spend less on security software besides management.

Continued performance

As Apple switched to their own processors, the M1 chips, businesses found great value in them as they proved to be quite powerful and efficient for their business needs. They no longer need to max out their RAM and processor speeds to ensure the pace of information stays intact. It has provided a huge advantage over other personal computers with Intel processors.

Conclusion:

When you’re thinking of making the switch to Mac for your business requirements, Apple is always a great choice. From its top-notch security to user-friendliness, it has everything you need to make your workforce more productive, more efficient, and more nuanced at their work, enabling them to be creative, competitive, and innovative. Transform your workplace ecosystem with Mac!

Businesses have always evolved with technology. In recent years, this phenomenon is becoming more evident than ever with the rapid growth in the world of business solutions. Business leaders no longer sit around a table with a set of pens and a whiteboard. The abundance of technology available today has significantly altered the way businesses arrive at decisions. Let’s explore the impact of new-age boardroom solutions on business decision making.

Why we need new-age technology in boardrooms:

Keeping up with the ever-increasing pace of the industry requires quick, informed decisions. These decisions are heavily reliant on communication, information, and synergy. With working professionals opting to work remotely, it’s becoming more and more crucial to adopt efficient ways to access, share, and process information. Moreover, with businesses becoming global, it has become impossible to involve everybody in real-time. Modern day technological solutions allow seamless collaboration across different geographies and time-zones.

The world of technology will never stop evolving. Neither will the way businesses operate. Finding the perfect harmony between the two can open up a plethora of possibilities that can benefit both worlds.

The kinds of boardroom technology we can use:

Video conferencing systems, document management systems, interactive whiteboards, and broadcast solutions have all but eliminated the gaps in information sharing. These gaps in information can result in anything from a team member feeling left out of the loop, to the undoing of all the progress made by the rest of the team. Remote teams can now participate in brainstorming sessions and boardroom meetings as if they were in the same room. Cloud-based document-sharing technology enables remote collaboration, while sports broadcast solutions provide a way for businesses to broadcast live events and footage. Adopting these solutions can help reduce redundancies, increase productivity, strengthen team camaraderie and efficiently track progress.

New innovation is taking place every single day within every single industry. The sooner that companies adapt to these changes, the more equipped they’ll be to face the future.

How these solutions can help improve collaboration and decision making:

Remote collaboration tools allow team members to work together in real-time, making it easier to arrive at decisions without the risk of leaving anybody out of the loop. Video conferencing is becoming an increasingly crucial tool in the business world. It enables virtual meetings and remote collaboration while cutting down the cost of travel. These platforms have vastly improved their security features, ensuring the protection of sensitive and confidential information. Of all the tools and boardroom solutions that support efficient collaboration and decisions making, video conferencing is up there at the very top. The technology will only grow stronger and address more of its drawbacks as time goes on. Interactive whiteboards provide a visual platform for team members to share ideas, making it easier to make informed decisions.

What can we expect from the future of boardroom solutions:

The future of boardroom decision making is rapidly evolving with advancements in technology. Augmented and virtual reality technologies can help create interactive and immersive presentations that can bring data to life and allow teams to visualize solutions in a more effective way. Artificial intelligence and machine learning is another way to process data efficiently, while minimizing human error. AI tools can also help thoroughly research topics before arriving at crucial decisions.

Conclusion

The importance of boardroom solutions on business decision-making cannot be overstated. The impact of these solutions and technologies will only grow in significance. Whether it is video conferencing systems, interactive whiteboards, document management systems, or sports broadcast solutions, businesses need to incorporate these solutions in order to stay competitive. Boardroom decisions can make or break a company. These decisions cannot be made while living in the past.

Over the last few years, more and more companies have been choosing to work remotely. In the world of video production, technological advancements have made this method of working a real possibility. Let’s dive into how video post-production has evolved in this age of remote working, the technology that enables it, the different tools available, and the challenges that arise from this model.

Video post-production has come a long way in the last 4 to 5 years. We’ve progressed from basic Cloud file-sharing sites to full-blown remote production suites. A major trend that has enabled remote video post-production is the move to Cloud-based platforms and broadcast streaming solutions. This has allowed seamless file sharing and collaboration from anywhere in the world. And with improved video compression technology, even slow and unreliable internet connections are no longer major obstacles.

Aside from the shift in the attitude towards remote working, the rapid growth of remote video post-production owes a lot of its credit to recent technological advancements, such as:

High-speed internet connections

Reliable internet connections are available almost anywhere in the world. This has massively improved the potential for remote working.

Cloud-based tools and platforms

Cloud-based solutions make it easy to collaborate on projects in real-time, while effectively eliminating any gaps in communication.

Improved video compression

Advances in video compression and codecs allow us to transfer videos and files without compromising their quality.

Another major game changer has been the availability of video production tools with ever-increasing features and capabilities. Some popular examples include Adobe Creative Cloud, Final Cut Pro X, CuttingRoom, and more. These tools, along with other broadcast streaming platforms have evolved the way we create, share, and consume video content forever.

Of course, this model of working comes with its own set of challenges. Let’s look at some of the drawbacks of remote video post-production:

Data security

Despite the enormous strides made in the field of data security, there will always be a considerable risk associated with sharing and storing sensitive files online. This risk is greatly reduced when using an old-fashioned hard drive.

Collaboration

While cloud-based platforms have made collaboration convenient, they simply cannot replace the energy of a whiteboard meeting. In-person brainstorming and collaboration might never be fully replaced by online meetings and video calls.

Despite the challenges faced by this model, the future looks promising. Let’s look at some of the possibilities we could unlock in the coming years:

We are sure to see continued progress in technologies that enable remote video post-production. Virtual reality and augmented reality could open up a whole new world of possibilities, allowing for a more immersive experience. AI support is rapidly becoming a staple of many industries.

We can certainly expect similar inroads in the video post-production sector. Clerical tasks such as color correction and audio mixing can be automated, enabling creative professionals to dedicate more time and focus toward the artistic aspects of a project.

Another exciting technology to follow is 5G. A stronger and faster internet connection will certainly improve the quality and efficiency of remote video post-production.

Conclusion

Remote video post-production has certainly become a more common practice within the industry. It’s now easier than ever to collaborate on video projects from your home or anywhere else in the world. However, the transition might not be as seamless as you’d think.

The industry is constantly evolving, so it’ll be interesting to see how we evolve beyond these drawbacks in the future.

The phrase “fix it in post” is a staple in the film industry, not because it’s hilarious, but because it correctly depicts the attitude of those who don’t work in post-production. Even with careful planning, production can be the most chaotic and difficult part of any project. Even if you spend a million dollars on a shoot, you can’t stop the weather from ruining your plans. Even while many problems have simple solutions in audio and post-production, it’s necessary to recognise which ones do and do not exist before making the all-important decision to “wrap it up and move on!”

Problems and challenges in the audio and post-production segment

Poor Performance

Although there are always ways to tweak performance for the better, if the skill isn’t there, to begin with, there’s no magic potion your trusted editor can conjure up that will make it into a strong and memorable one. Finding the right people to interview can be challenging because you are usually not working with actors. Still, it is crucial to remember that no amount of post-production magic will transform a monotonous bore into an exciting storyteller. Select your interview with care.

Disturbing Noises or Reverberation

If you are interviewing at the Super Bowl and the audience is going wild, and the artist has to shout for you to hear her voice, no amount of skilled audio production will make it sound like she is inside a closet. The same goes for loud noises such as trains or rockets. Another major offender is the cicada, which is annoying and difficult to eradicate because its screeches vary slightly during the day. They can swing from one end of the spectrum to the other, bringing down morale.

Similarly, adding audio and post-production effects like echo and reverb to a voice is trivial but virtually impossible to remove them. Expecting the sound mixers to perform miracles if you’re filming in a tunnel or cathedral where the talent’s voice would otherwise echo off every surface is unrealistic. It’s something you’ll have to take care of on set.

Blunders Captured on Film

Have you lost data on one of your memory cards because you destroyed it before you could back it up? Sorry. To put it simply, you are “having a bad day.” Exposed so much that it’s unrecognizable? It’s a flaw in the amateur camerawork, and no amount of skill on the part of the colourist will save the day.

How are production companies and engineers mitigating them?

They can Improve Upon a Faulty Performance

Video performances are typically not as fluid as they appear since they are a compilation of numerous separate performances or “takes” that were seamlessly edited together. This is terrific because it allows you to cherry-pick the best parts of the footage and do another reading to capture the piece you may have missed.

Don’t worry if your presenters fail a line here and there.If you’ve got great talent in front of the camera, it won’t be an issue to edit that out afterwards.

Minor Camera Flaws ARE Correctable

You can correct things like camera shake, for instance, when editing. Although it won’t compare to a perfectly smooth take, little hiccups and shakes are easy to fix in post. With the additional high-resolution footage, we can fix problems without sacrificing quality.

Role of technology

At this late stage in the game, digital media is a clear winner over traditional filmmaking techniques. The possibility of wasting raw film during editing is always a worry. Mistakes in the editing process might cause entire sections to be cut from the film. Editing mistakes in digital formats can be undone at will. Also, the uncut raw footage can have different effects and audiovisual treatments added to it in digital media. This aids in producing a more streamlined film by facilitating the seamless integration of all effects.

Conclusion

Everything being mentioned here falls somewhere on a scale. Inevitably, no two problems are the same, and no two situations are the same. However, this article should have provided insight into the sorts of issues in audio and post-production you may be able to resolve in the future.

About SRSG

Our expertise in information technology (IT), mobile technology (Mobility), media (Media), and broadcasting (Broadcasting) enables us to strengthen multinational corporations, enterprises, and media organizations. We are committed to being at our clients’ sides throughout their journey to success, beginning with the first phone call and continuing through post-sale customer care and beyond.

Irrespective of the industry or sector they are part of, every company today uses a large number of devices that are either for common use or allocated to specific employees. These devices need to be seamlessly connected to each other and to the company’s network with the use of different software, applications, services, and systems to ensure the best output from the setup. The organization also needs to keep track of the location and usage of these devices in real-time so that the inventory can be maintained. The sum total of all these is collectively referred to as enterprise asset management (EAM). In this blog, we will talk about the benefits offered by EAM and then look at some use cases from actual organizations that exemplify the efficiency that EAM brings.

Benefits of Enterprise Asset Management

EAM can be broadly said to contribute to operational excellence. But let us also take a deeper look at how organizations can benefit from Enterprise Asset Management.

1. Every data point regarding the different devices in use is available centrally, for monitoring and for checking the status. This does away with the need for someone to physically check the details of all devices, providing the benefits of virtual collaboration.

2. The EAM system can keep track of the maintenance schedule of all the devices covered, which includes software updates, insurance premiums, and also scheduled hardware updates. This prevents manual errors due to which certain schedules could be missed out.

3. Since all devices are ‘visible’ to a central monitoring team virtually, they can keep tabs on the health of all devices, and take proactive action when a problem seems imminent.

4. The downtime, as well as the utilization for every device, can be seen in real-time as well as over the historical performance of the device. This helps the organization create workflows that can allocate idle resources where needed, making the operations more efficient.

5. A program to run enterprise-wide management of assets can be used across multiple work and client locations, and can also be scaled up easily when the scope of work increases. This prevents the need for a fresh installation of the management system when additional work nodes get added.
6. For some companies, the work done by their devices can impact customers or vendors too. The use of EAM to maintain efficient operations would help in providing faster resolutions to such stakeholders.

How does enterprise asset management help improve efficiency?

There are several ways by which the implementation can make the operations of an organization more efficient:

• The organization can use EAM to get proactive updates about those devices due for scheduled maintenance. This helps prevent sudden breakdowns which can cost a lot of time and money, and also result in a work backlog.

• The automated monitoring of asset health and functions does away with the need for paperwork and keeping a physical inventory. The dashboard for all the devices can be accessed online from multiple locations, and aid in faster decision-making.

• The reporting for executive management can be created and viewed through the EAM, which helps the organization save on travel and meeting time. The concerned teams and their managers can utilize this time on more productive tasks.

Case-to-case examples

The benefits mentioned above are usually applicable to all industries. But the impact of EAM is undoubtedly greater in certain scenarios. Let us look at a few use cases for specific industry types.

• The best use cases of EAM are in industries where the assets are costly and involve heavy engineering, whose downtime can prove to be a crippling blow to operations.

• EAM can be invaluable in that devices or assets are arranged in a linear fashion, which means that a breakdown in one of them can impact the inputs for the subsequent ones, thus putting a stop to operations.

• There are some sectors where compliance and safety are very important, and a missed audit requirement can cause the operations to be stopped. EAM provides centralized control in those organizations which can help prevent audit lapses.

• As explained above, large organizations with an array of a large number of devices spread around multiple locations can function much better with a centralized enterprise asset management program with appropriate standardization.

• Similarly, organizations that use devices with a large number of spare parts can benefit immensely by having EAM handle the warranty and maintenance cycles.

• Organizations that adhere to standard process management philosophies like Six Sigma would find them easier to implement with the help of good EAM software.

Closing thoughts

Today we are well and truly into the era of IoT (Internet of Things), where we use systems to remotely control a wide variety of moving parts and devices. This can be done much more efficiently by implementing a robust enterprise asset management system, which can aid in improving the productivity and efficiency of such operations.

As the title suggests, this blog will examine the trends that will shape the future of enterprise asset management going forward. Before we do that, it would be instructive to take a step back and understand how the workplace has evolved over the years, which will help us gaze into the future with the correct perspective.

How has EAM changed over time?

The initial decades of industrialization began with large factories and warehouses where most of the employees were engaged in physical labor. There was little or no computerization, which later evolved to a few workstations that were used for overall monitoring or maintenance of the workflows.

This soon changed as the extent of physical work reduced and the white-collar worker emerged to the forefront. With more machines and devices being used than the number of people manning them, it became important to keep track of these assets and maintain them in the correct running condition. Also, everything that was part of the work landscape of an organization, whether it was heavy machinery or a desktop computer came to be referred to as a digitally defined asset.

With the number of such assets increasing and organizations working from multiple locations, enterprise asset management (EAM) came to define the umbrella term that was used to track the inventory of such assets and keep them in the right working condition. The EAM setup also kept track of other operational issues like an inventory of spares, warranty calendars, and also forecasting of purchase requirements based on previous usage.

Trends that would define Enterprise Asset Management

Let us now look at how the world of enterprise asset management is predicted to evolve in the coming years. Some of the trends below would occur together, while some others would be exclusive of each other, we can only make an educated guess.

• The world is changing with the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the internet of things. Another development is the increased use of augmented reality for work and entertainment. These will add an edge to the forecasting abilities of EXAM for hardware updates, new purchases, or even predicted failures.

• EAM has been used more for ensuring the timely maintenance of devices. In the years to come, this is expected to move towards overall monitoring of present and future performance. Some experts have begun to refer to this as Asset Performance Management (APM).

• Apart from contributing to efficiency and productivity only, EAM will be used more and more for cost rationalization by preventing major breakdowns and ensuring timely forecasting of purchases of assets and spares.

• Cloud technology has changed the frequency and needs for on-premise deployment of hardware and even software. EAM will also move to a software-as-a-service model instead of being deployed at the workplaces of the organization.

• In the past, the management of devices was often department-specific, and it gradually moved on to enterprise-wide deployment. In the future, equipment will become increasingly complex, requiring more maintenance to be outsourced (using IIoT) to the OEM or a service organization specializing in that type of device. 

• In most spheres of our life, we have seen how the use of mobile devices has become increasingly pervasive. The deployment and use of enterprise asset management will also do away with physical work orders, enabling seamless work through mobile devices used by an employee.

Why now is the best time for companies to adopt EAM

As the above trends show, the use of newer technology is making EAM cover more depth and breadth in its use and application. This will make TEAM more useful, but will also require more involvement of the organization in its implementation. Going forward, the adoption of EAM across an enterprise will become even more difficult.

Also, if an organization has not adopted EAM yet, it is already missing out on the benefits that accrue from EAM. Organizations that adopt EAM now would become more efficient and save more costs, as explained above.

Third, the two years of the pandemic have demonstrated that hybrid work is something that employees and organizations have both embraced for good. This will need increased maintenance of devices remotely, for which TEAM is a very important tool for organizations.

These are a few reasons why EAM needs to be adopted at the earliest, if not already done.

Closing thoughts

Enterprise asset management has come a long way and developed into a very potent tool for enterprises that need to sharpen their operational excellence. Ideally, every company which deals with a large number of devices, very heavy machinery, and is spread around multiple locations, should already have adopted EAM by now. Even if that has not happened, this is the time when TEAM is undergoing several improvements which will be commonly available in the years to come. Any organization which wishes to make the best use of EAM needs to adopt it as soon as it can.