There are so many Windows apps out there, that picking a list of the very best, most must-install software for your desktop or laptop feels daunting. We've pored over pages of recommendations, countless forum posts, and lots of comments to come up with this year's Lifehacker Pack for Windows, a list of software champions across four categories: productivity, internet/communications, music/photos/video and utilities.

NEC Australia has announced availability of the SL2100 Smart Communications System for Australia. This is a SMB communications platform that offers VoIP, mobility and Unified Communications and Collaboration features.

Skype for Business is getting a few more enterprise features, likely in response to the likes of Amazon and Google who are both ramping up and changing their enterprise comms applications. Among the new Skype for Business features are an app for Mac users and new features including Call Queues and Auto Attendant, as well as a preview of Skype for Business Online Call Analytics

Negotiating your salary is a tough conversation, but over on Harvard Business Review, they suggest coming up with a "what if" plan to help you solidify a strategy.

This is one I often get caught out with. I did a science degree and often find that stuff I say is misinterpreted by non-sciency people.

Although mobile phone coverage hits about 99 per cent of the population, the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy says that satellite phone coverage covers 100 per cent of the population AND of the Australian landmass. Pivotel has launched SPOT Connect -- bringing satellite comms to smartphones.

Loads of people tuned in for our special TechLines discussion on the future of email a fortnight ago, but if you couldn't find the time, here's the edited version of the live broadcast, compressing all the insight from our expert panel into half-an-hour of insights into the future of email and workplace communications. Don't miss it!

Don't fancy taking that work trip next week? Push the benefits of video conferencing by calculating how much you'll save in carbon emissions using Telstra's new telecommunications ready reckoner. The calculator is part of Telstra's Now We Are Talking blog, and thus not entirely neutral, but it's still a useful tool for stimulating workplace discussion. For a more flight-specific carbon calculator, check out previously mentioned Carbon Planet.