iPad Email – “Cannot get mail. The connection to server has failed.”

The following is a contribution to the knowledge base of my current employer.

 

Issue: 

A user states that when checking email on the iPad, she receives the message: “Cannot get mail.  The connection to server has failed.”

Cause and Prevention: 

This issue is most frequently caused when an iPad’s passcode does not meet Airwatch’s requirements.  Advise users that passcodes must be at least 8 characters long, and cannot have ANY consecutive characters.  This includes numbers that are consecutive backwards.  Examples of bad passcodes: Wilson32, abbafan1, DeltaPhi, July2013.

If a user has recently received a new iPad, or has recently changed passcodes, then passcode complexity is likely the issue.

This issue can also be caused by an incorrect Sanofi Email domain, or other internet connectivity problems.

Resolution:

Ensure that the iPad has a valid internet connection, and that the user’s Sanofi Email Exchange password is correct, per the article [link withheld].  Check the domain below the password field, and if it is “Optional” escalate to 2^nd Tier per the article [link withheld].

To check for and fix an unsecure password, do the following:

• Log into the Airwatch Console.
• Click on Menu, and select Email Management.
• Enter the user’s NM number or GZ ID in the search bar.
• The user’s device should appear.  If its Status is “Blocked” and Reason is “D” click on the device’s name.
• Verify that at least one of the listed passcode requirements is unchecked.  If so, click on Clear Passcode at the top of the window.
• The user should receive a prompt to change the passcode.  Remind the user of Airwatch’s requirements.
• Perform another search in Email Management to verify the passcode is now valid.  Repeat the process if necessary.
• Verify that the user no longer receives “Cannot get mail.  The connection to server has failed” when checking email.

iPad Calendar – Missing Events

The following is a contribution to the knowledge base of my current employer.

 

Issue:

A user states that she is missing events on her iPad’s calendar, or that her coworkers are not receiving invitations sent from her iPad

Resolution:

The iPad uses a user’s Sanofi email account in order to send/receive calendar events.

To verify that the user’s Activesync email exchange is functioning properly:

• Ensure that the user has an internet connection, and is not in airplane mode.
• From the Home screen, tap Settings.
• Tap Mail, Contacts, Calendars.
• Tap Sanofi Email.
• Tap Account or the user’s email address.
• Enter the user’s Windows password into the password field.
• Ensure that the password verifies.  The user should see a series of checkmarks.

The iPad’s Calendar app can view events from multiple calendars.  The user may not have the appropriate calendar selected.  The only calendar that links with the user’s Outlook account is titled “Sanofi Email.”

In order to verify that the correct calendar is showing:

• Open the iPad’s Calendar app.
• Tap the word “Calendars” at the bottom of the screen.
• Ensure that the calendar under the Sanofi Email heading has a checkmark.
• Have the user note the color of the dot associated with the Sanofi Email calendar.  This will allow her to make sure that events are saved to the correct calendar.

When the user creates events, she should be selecting Sanofi Email in the Calendar section of the Add Event screen.  Have the user verify that color of the dot in Add Event matches the Sanofi Email dot in “Calendars.”

If events were created to calendars other than Sanofi Email (such as iCloud), the source can be changed by tapping on the event, tapping Calendar, and selecting Sanofi Email.

Cisco Anyconnect – “Limited or no connectivity” and quickly changing networks

The following is a contribution to the knowledge base of my current employer.

 

Issue:

A user states that after attempting to connect to a wireless network, his connection status is initially “Associating…” and changes to “Limited or no connectivity.”

OR

A user states that her laptop is quickly switching between available wireless networks, but cannot establish an actual connection.

Cause and Prevention:

This issue frequently occurs when users select wireless networks with the basic Windows connection tool instead of Cisco Anyconnect.  Advise users that they should ALWAYS use Cisco Anyconnect to select wireless networks.

Resolution:

Ensure that the user entered the proper wireless security key, and that other devices (iPads or personal computers) can connect to the network.  If the network is valid, do the following:

• In the system tray, right click on the flag icon (“Solve PC issues”) and select “Troubleshoot a problem.”
• Click “Network and Internet.”
• Click “Network Adapter” and select next on the prompt that follows.
• Select “Wireless Network Connection” and click next.  Windows should begin automatic troubleshooting.
• Click close to end troubleshooting and verify that Cisco Anyconnect can connect to a network.

If the issue is not resolved after this, schedule a session with a remote tech to have NIC drivers reinstalled.

Market Research Excerpt

The following is an excerpt from a research assignment on the state of live music as it applied to The National Theater, in Richmond, Virginia.

 

The live music business is healthy.  According to the Chicago Tribune revenues for live venues are up 7.8 percent, despite ticket sales dropping a slight 3 percent.  This is attributable to rising ticket prices; they’ve doubled in the last ten years (currently averaging $67 per ticket).  Considering the current economic climate, the fact that revenues are up is a good sign for the future.

According to Scott Gelman, VP of Live Nation (which is a corporate spinoff of radio giant Clear Channel), the US’s largest concert promoter, “We’re an escape for people in tough economic times.”

Live Nation promotes mostly large scale musicians — arena fillers like Madonna, Phish, Bruce Springsteen, and The Eagles, many of whom can charge upwards of $250 per ticket.  If an item with that kind of price tag is selling well in a depression, it says a lot about how much our audience values their favorite musicians.

It’s a qualified success, however.  According to Billboard, the concert industry really took a hit in 2007, when overall concert attendance dropped about twenty percent.  This caused a drop in the absolute show count.  This year overall attendance is still down 2.1 percent, but on a show by show basis attendance is up 6.3 percent, and box office sales up 18%.  In plain English: there are less shows on the whole, but each show is making more money.

Recently Neil Young sold only half of his tickets at the Allstate Arena, though Gelman blames this on it being a chair-free, general admission show.  People in their 50’s don’t want to stand through a four hour concert.  This leads me to The National, which courts a similar demographic as artists like Neil Young, but with a much smaller venue, much smaller bands, and about 300 first-come-first-serve general admission seats (out of a full capacity of 1500).

The National is only about a year old, opening roughly 6 months after the similarly sized and now defunct Toad’s Place.  Before Toad’s there was no venue in Richmond to accommodate a mid-level, 1500 person concert. The Richmond Colliseum, which caters to big acts like Springsteen, is frequently skipped on national tours due to the venues poor condition.  You also had much smaller venues like Alley Katz, The Canal Club, and the constantly changing Twisters/929/Nanci Raygun (currently Bagel Czar).  These venues hold smaller acts than the National, usually low level national tours or local bands, and often have a lot of niche acts for a younger crowd (i.e. a lot hardcore).

With The National, Richmond finally has a much needed middle ground.  It opens the city up to critically well regarded bands that aren’t popular enough to be on Clearchannel radio, but are too big to play for only 300 people.

Now that Toad’s is gone, The National has no immediate competition as far as venues go.  The related Innsbrook is closest, but it’s significantly larger, outdoors, and has a distinct musical identity, where The National draws from a larger range of artists.  That’s not to say that there isn’t plenty of other competition for Richmonders’ time and money.

Sample Web Brief

The following is a web brief designed for the Prostate Cancer Foundation’s Movember event.  It is designed to appeal to a young demographic.

 

Fighting Prostate Cancer, Looking Stylish

We know you’ve thought about it.

Sure, some people say it looks ridiculous, but if Tom Selleck and Hulk Hogan can pull it off, why not you?  You just need a reason – any reason at all not to shave it.

Well brother, wrap up your razor for the holidays.  The eleventh month is now officially Movember.  We’re fighting prostate cancer, and you have a mustache to grow.

Movember (originally an Australian event, where a “mo” is a slang term for mustache) is month-long facial hair bonanza where you grow a lip sweater to raise awareness about prostate cancer.

 

Why a mustache?

A big, bushy mustache, much like the prostate, is a uniquely male occurrence.  We find it makes a good symbol.

And because a mustache occupies the center of your face, it’s almost impossible for family and friends to ignore.  They’ll probably ask you about it, and you’ll tell them you’re rocking a ‘stache because:

• It’s for a good cause.
• Prostate cancer and mustaches are more likely to occur in men over 40, though are not impossible in/on younger men.
• You’re urging them to get checked, especially if they are male and over 40.  Otherwise, you’re urging them to urge their middle-aged male loved ones.
• You hope they’ll check out Movember.com, and maybe donate some money to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
• You’re setting a good example for their imminent Movember mustaches.

Saving lives is as easy as not shaving.  This Thanksgiving, we hope to see you all in your full, mustachioed glory.  Happy Movember.

Sample Newsletter Article

The following is an article published in The Mass Communicator, one of VCU’s newsletters.

 

VCU Continues to Accrue Advertising Awards

If the Addys are the Oscars of advertising, The One Show is the industry’s Golden Globes event.  Recently, advertising students in School of Mass Communications have earned red-carpet treatment at both award ceremonies.

VCU has won at least one Addy or One Show award each year since 2006.  In 2008, VCU ad students won both.  The Addy awards are hosted by the American Advertising Association and hold professional as well as collegiate competitions.

In March of 2009, ad students Jenna Weidner and Karen Khouth competed with more than 60,000 students and professionals from across the country and took home a Silver Addy. The campaign – which they designed for the Itty Bitty Booklight – delivered their message wordlessly with images of famous literary characters like Sherlock Holmes and Dracula.

“It’s very difficult to pull off these kinds of ads,” said Bridget Camden, Khouth and Weidner’s professor.  “You have to create three visual executions that function on their own but also engage with the brand.  They did a great job.”

In addition to these kinds of national awards, the undergraduate advertising students have acquired scores of regional and local awards, totaling 110 awards in four years.  The regional awards include a gold medal at The Richmond Show which involves local schools and advertising agencies, and a Best in Show and two gold medals in regional Addy awards.

The Brandcenter – VCU’s advertising graduate school – recently won the American Association of Advertising Agencies’ O’Toole Award for Creative Excellence.  With award winning undergraduate and master’s programs and a deep connection with the venerable Martin Agency, VCU is quickly asserting itself as one of the premier advertising schools in the nation.

 

The Martin Agency Connection

Betsy Guzik and Joshua Carlton, educators  in the strategic advertising track, are account planners for The Martin Agency.  Martin is famous for award winning work like the Geico Cavemen, UPS Whiteboard and Freecreditreport.com jingles.  Other clients include NASCAR, The American Cancer Society, and Walmart, which is arguably the biggest account in the world.

Advertising Age, a leading industry journal, voted Martin the number three agency in the United States in 2008.

“I feel like we’re get a different kind of education here,” said Christina Dick, a senior in the strategic advertising program. “We’re learning from people who are still working in the field, and are really good at what they do.  We’re being taught by professionals, not just professors.”

Britt Sebastian, a student in the creative advertising track, is a big fan of the program. “I love it,” he said.   “All of the advertising teachers have real world experience.  Their knowledge is built less on theory and more on what works.”

That real world experience has translated into real world awards.

Students in Will Sims’ Style classes are currently working towards their next prize, this time international, by participating in D&AD Student Awards Annual 2010 in London.  D&AD is a British educational charity that promotes design and advertising.

“Those bloody Brits are going to regret entering their own contest,” said Allison Jones, a particularly fervent creative advertising student.