August 2011
1 post
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It's never too late to make a difference
“600,000 kids on the brink of starvation. That should be a headline around the world” Anderson Cooper posted on twitter regarding the recent news coverage in Somalia.
Did you know that 1 in 4 kids struggle with hunger in America?
It’s a shocking and heartbreaking reality even here at home.
Share Our Strength is an organization working hard to change that.
Starvation is a...
July 2011
1 post
What will it cost?
I know there may be some confusion based on some reviews we’ve received on the Chrome Web store and couple others, so just want to set some things straight.
SlateCRM will have a free plan, but will also offer premium features for a monthly fee of *$14.99. Of course we’ll notify all of our customers in advance when we will start offering the premium features. We don’t...
June 2011
5 posts
Cool website! Love the scrolling effect →
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Click it
If you’re like me, you find it easier to click on a link than having to cut and paste. In SlateCRM you can do just that when you add a link on a task, status, or a note. You can add the URL or link, then save it. Then simply click it next time you have to go back to it.
I’ve created a short video for you to see how easy it really is.
-Maria
5 tags
Tag you're it!
Well…we’re not really playing a game of tag, but we did just add the “tag” feature in SlateCRM.
One feature often found is the idea of folders, or groups. While this works fine at times we wanted to take a different approach. Mainly, because we felt that things are often not “black or white”, but rather can be multiple things, and having a rigid...
7 tags
A friendly face will make you happier
(Above picture from the Gravatars home page)
There is something psychological about about seeing the person’s face. Emotions are triggered, memories are recalled, you might even get a sense for the person even if you have never met. Many of us use or have used avatar’s in software applications for some time. However, being able to actually see what they look like, even when...
6 tags
Groups: For their eyes only
Sharing information with certain groups or individuals is an important part of a collaborative environment. With SlateCRM you can create “groups” to scope which colleagues to share certain sensitive or otherwise pertinent information.
I could tell you all about how this feature works, but I’d rather show you. So be sure to check out the new video on “how to create groups” and start making...
May 2011
5 posts
ONETUG Presentation →
Pictures, slides and downloads from our recent presentation at a local user group (ONETUG).
1 tag
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nGenSoft on YouTube
Tune in to our channel! We just created the nGenSoft channel on YouTube.
The opportunities of interacting and sharing with you, our customers and supporters are endless. We hope you’ll find the videos instructional and helpful, especially if you are using SlateCRM. We are currently aiming to keep the videos short, under 3 minutes, but we also know there will be some that expand further...
5 tags
Bring your Gmail contacts with you
So you don’t want to have to enter all those Gmail contacts you already have, right?? Well you don’t have to! We just added the import feature to SlateCRM. We created a video to show you how.
Check it out!
Enjoy!
-Maria
6 tags
Secured!
We have been working hard to get SlateCRM secured with a SSL. As of the latest update to SlateCRM performed this weekend, all accounts will be automatically redirected to use https, ensuring your data is encrypted.
Privacy is our highest level of priority. You are entrusting us with your data and we take this trust very seriously.
We had been taking measures to increase our security even...
March 2011
1 post
5 tags
SlateCRM on Ziipa
I recently came across Ziipa. A site that rates applications and startups. It’s a great service with a beautiful and easy to use interface and lots of app reviews.
Oh and you can now find SlateCRM listed on Ziipa. Feel free to review, comment, or rate us.
Thanks Ziipa!
-Maria
February 2011
4 posts
10 tags
Get SlateCRM Installed!
We have been ferociously updating SlateCRM. In fact, we are now on the Google Chrome Web Store.
The Chrome Store let’s you search, discover and install web applications much the same way mobile phones have app stores. You can find out more about the Chrome Web store here http://www.google.com/chrome/intl/en/more/webstore.html.
And don’t forget to install SlateCRM while...
7 tags
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Open for business
Yesterday marked the first day SlateCRM was open to the public. We fixed many bugs during the Beta and now look forward to serving you and helping you grow your business. We use the service ourselves to run NGenSoft and we hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we do.
We’re offering a special launch promotion. It’s for a limited time only, so hurry and go sign up.
Still here? What...
January 2011
1 post
Happy new year!
The new year has come and gone. We hope you enjoyed spending time with family and friends.
At NGenSoft we’re really excited about 2011 and all the great things we have in store.
Happy new year everyone!
December 2010
8 posts
3 tags
Seeing the words clearly with World Lens
I was impressed by the Word Lens app. In their demo they show “on-the-fly video translations.” with an iPhone. The amazing part is you don’t even need internet or a phone connection.
Killer app to try out on your next vacation or business travel.
Check out their demo video.
-Maria
5 tags
Make friends with Google Docs
In the last few months, I’ve found out how amazing using Google Docs can be. It’s more than a word processor/spreadsheet, it’s also a great tool for file sharing. Eliminating the need to email back and forth every time something changes.
Don’t have a Gmail account? No problem. You can use any email account, even those not hosted by Google.
Still feeling unsure on how to get...
Amazing creative art prints →
7 tags
Happy feet (Interview with Tony Hsieh)
I’m really digging This week in Startups. I’ve subscribed to their weekly podcast on iTunes, but also viewable from the web. Oh and did I mention it’s FREE. The interviews are insightful and a must for businesses and entrepreneurs.
Last month, I started listening to first few minutes of episode 93, the interview with Tony Hsieh from Zappos, I’ve fallen a few episodes...
Interest and commitment
There’s a difference between interest and commitment. When you’re interested in doing something, you do it only when it’s convenient. When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses; only results.
3 tags
A splash of color
I love color. Anything that allows me to add or change color makes it much more functional. Perhaps not surprisingly it can really add more enjoyment, as I recently found out.
Before switching to SlateCRM, I was using iCal to keep track of tasks and events. I used different colors to distinguish different type of events.
Recently we added the ability to add and change colors to tasks...
November 2010
2 posts
A man is but the product of his thoughts what he thinks, he becomes.
- Mohandas Gandhi
My voice
Who likes their voice? I don’t know anyone personally that has ever heard themselves on a voicemail and said, “Wow, I like my voice!” and I am no different. What I think I sound like and what I actually sound like are completely different.
Recently, I’ve been recording video tutorials for our product’s FAQ page and I have to overcome my voice phobia. How am I doing this? Practice,...
October 2010
9 posts
“Things always seem easy after you accomplish them and have time to reflect.”
How we make our own luck
Everyone has heard some variation of this proverb. Football coaches infamously use “when preparation meets opportunity…good things happen”.
Recently, I was feeling lucky with how the application we’ve been working on (http://slatecrm.com) has been coming along. And it made me consider how this luck came about.
It occurred to me that certain standard...
X marks the spot
Tabs have been around for a long time in user interfaces, and now would seem to dominate as a means of navigation.
I have recently noticed that few web applications let you close these tabs, a pattern more commonly found in desktop applications. It would be interesting to see if there are usability studies backing this new behavior or simply that the web still lags a bit from their desktop...
“In the future, everyone will have their own tv show.”
– unknown
“Arguments are not won based on logic, but on whom can make the better debate.”
Hacker definition
“Hackers take existing things and makes them better” - unknown
Also, a good definition for entrepreneurs.
The Enterprise Value of Social Software →
Reading: The Secret of Successful Entrepreneur →
September 2010
7 posts
sign up to be a beta user
I’m happy to announce that we’ve been onboarding some beta users. We’re excited to finally share the fruits of our labor and looking forward to helping businesses.
If you’re interested in trying out the beta, simply go to our product website http://slatecrm.com/ and enter your email address.
;) Maria
Humble Beginnings - An idea turns into a product
Having lived in the corporate world for much my career, I have in recent times come to appreciate the unique perspective it has given me. Like many colleagues I have witness many inefficiencies experienced in much of corporate America.
Enter Social Media
Also, like many others, I too have adopted many of the tools and sites that help us keep in touch with friends, family and co-workers. It has...
Reloaded
As you can see we recently moved to a new blogging platform. We think this one is more in line with our needs.
Stay tuned for some updates of what are building.