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Last month I wrote about the top # of things to do. So, it’s no surprise that I found a Top # article to inspire this month’s blog: 5 Essential Tips to Keep Your PC Safe.
Viruses can certainly affect computer speed and processing. Is your computer safe from viruses and other dangers lurking on the Internet? Unless you have an IT department to maintain your computer, the responsibility of security protection is yours. So what do you do? Where do you start?
First, let’s start with a definition of terms:
- Virus – a program that can integrate into the files of a computer and compromise the computer’s operation. Some viruses spread via the web, email or over a shared network.
- Spam – an unsolicited message sent to a large group of people. Spam can be a symptom of a virus and is also known as “electronic junk mail.”
- Malware – is malicious software used affect computer operation, gather sensitive information, or gain access to private information. Viruses and spyware are malware.
Now that you know the basic terminology, here are a few tips:
- Virus protection – Make sure you have great virus protection. I use McAfee; AVG is good as well (and it’s free!).
- Strong passwords – All passwords should be comprised of a combination of letters and numbers and should vary between upper and lower case. This makes it difficult for spyware to invade your computer and secure your password. Remember, this is a computer program that can process far more quickly than we can. Keep computer programs guessing!
- Think before you click – You can’t get a virus/malware/spyware by opening or reading an email. The triggers for virus/malware/spyware are replying to the email, clicking on links and opening attachments. If you don’t know where the email came from, then delete it. If you know the person and the links look weird, delete the email. These types of triggers can be tricky. The intent is to get you to execute a program. Don’t fall for it!
- Backup – Viruses are sneaky, even people who are extremely careful may end up with one. A good backup gives you the opportunity to start fresh and not stress! Windows has a built in backup utility to help you create points in time at which you can restore your computer. Get to know how to use this feature.
Read through the article that inspired this blog in order to locate links to other articles relating to firewall and backups as well.
What is your favorite Top # article?
Author: Lisa Ryan lryan@microknowledge.com
Remember, if you are a MicroKnowledge customer and have a software question to ask, feel free to contact us at any time by using our Support link at the top of the site. Your question might be featured in our next blog entry!
Category: What's new in Technology
The Internet is a wealth of information, too much sometimes, so I am grateful when I see articles that say “Top (insert number here) reasons to do (insert task here).” These articles are often easy to read and incredibly useful in helping me understand where I need to focus my research. So with that in mind, I thought I would share a few that I have found helpful.
Is your computer a bit sluggish? Read PC Magazine’s article on 12 easy PC tasks you should be doing (but aren’t). There are some really good tips here to assist you with your quest for speed. As a side, I received this article via email with a “Thought of you, no offense” as the opening statement. I didn’t take offense because when I read it, I was certainly on the right track. With one quick read, you could be as well.
Does networking scare you to death? Forbes posted an article on 5 New Ways to Network (That You Won’t Dread). Networking can be daunting, so with only 5 easy steps you can become a pro. Now networking seems easy, right?
Want to visit technology inventions from the past? If so, peruse the article on The 50 Best Tech Products of All Time. Technology changes so often these days that it might be good for you to see where we came from and where we are now. If nothing else, I had a bit of a giggle in some cases. Tetris anyone?
Looking for the perfect cloud-based email solution? Read About.com’s article on Top 15 Free Email Services. I have used Gmail and Outlook.com with great success.
What’s your favorite Top of article?
Author: Lisa Ryan lryan@microknowledge.com
Remember, if you are a MicroKnowledge customer and have a software question to ask, feel free to contact us at any time by using our Support link at the top of the site. Your question might be featured in our next blog entry!
Category: What's new in Technology
Don’t you wish you had a crystal ball and real insight into the future? Or could predict what the future will hold, where you will be using technology and what that technology look like? Will we really have cool slap-on watches that can double as our phone based on the rumored iWatch? Or will we all be wearing glasses that are really augmented-reality glasses such as the anticipated Google Glass? Possibly. Google is slated to release its Star Trek like goggles later this year and the iWatch is coming, if not this year then certainly next year. Only time will tell. We can’t look into the future, but we can prepare for it. Knowledge can help you prepare.
This year will bring more of the same: Now it really is true and you can’t avoid it. What do I mean? Let’s take a look at technologies that will change your future.
Social Media. Social Media is here. What are you doing to leverage your organization using any number of the social media tools at your disposal? If you deal with the public, learn to use social media the right way and it can be your best marketing tool. Ignore it, and you may lose your social media savvy customers.
The Cloud. I know. The term is still daunting and makes you feel as though there is some big, weird, scary thing out there in space, but face it, you can save a lot of money hosting email, websites, collaboration tools, etc. in a web-based tool. For a small organization, that savings can be invaluable. You have the best of the best taking care of your technology. Not a bad deal for hosting services that cost as little as dollars a month. Security may still be a factor, but explore your options. There is probably something out there for you.
Once you feel comfortable with the security of the cloud, what about using the cloud for your disaster recovery? Space is so inexpensive that paying for a physical piece of hardware seems pointless when you can “rent” space for only dollars a month and have daily backup and virus protection.
Mobility. More mobile devices than PCs have been purchased for businesses in the past two years. What do you rely on more? Your phone or your computer? The trend is here. We want our information now, in a small, fast device so we can continue to work while waiting in the doctor’s office or supermarket. In addition to mobility, we want to use the items we purchase at work so we only have to carry one or two devices around. More companies are allowing for the adoption of BYOD (bring your own device) into the workplace.
Does all of this sound familiar? All of these items were topics of past blogs. All of them are real and getting better each and every time we talk about them. They are here folks! What are you waiting for?
Consider rereading the past blogs I’ve written on these business changing technology trends.
Still want more? Read articles from:
Author: Lisa Ryan lryan@microknowledge.com
Remember, if you are a MicroKnowledge customer and have a software question to ask, feel free to contact us at any time by using our Support link at the top of the site. Your question might be featured in our next blog entry!
Category: What's new in Technology
Ok, I admit it’s a hokey title, but I didn’t want you to look at the title and consider this post to be an automatic snooze fest. Had I thrown out terms such as Metrics, BI or KPI you would have moved on. Now that I have your attention, there is something to look at when it comes to understanding quickly and clearly what is going on with an organization. The answer is a company dashboard.
What is a dashboard?
A dashboard is a visual presentation of various company metrics that enables you to get the whole picture in a single glance. If necessary, the ability to then drill down to more detailed data is usually available. Imagine the look on the face of _____ (fill in the blank with board, management, boss, supervisors, etc.) when you give your metric summary and they actually get it, without having to review later, study, call with questions, etc.
Dashboard image from Microsoft.com
What should you put on a dashboard?
Just like with any other tool, determining what is on a dashboard is essential to success in understanding it. Narrow down the items to be represented:
- What critical elements are measured in your organization?
- What is the value of the information on the dashboard?
- Is there a theme to the information?
- Who will be reviewing the dashboard?
- Should your dashboard be a high level overview or display something more detailed?
What tool should you use to create your dashboard?
Interested in creating dashboards for your business? You may already be working with a tool that is dashboard capable such as Excel, PowerPoint and Access, as well as Crystal Reports, Report Builder and a variety of others. Try to start with something you own; that way your initial investment is only time.
Is there more?
Of course there is! Look for MicroKnowledge’s upcoming class on Dashboarding with Excel, coming soon! Also, here are some great sites to get you started:
A Guide to Creating Dashboards People Love to Use, Juiceanalytics.com
Excel Dashboards, Chandoo.org
Interactive Dashboards using PowerPoint and Excel, Glenna Shaw, PowerPoint MVP
Author: Lisa Ryan lryan@microknowledge.com
Remember, if you are a MicroKnowledge customer and have a software question to ask, feel free to contact us at any time by using our Support link at the top of the site. Your question might be featured in our next blog entry!
Do you have a related tip to share? Leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you!
Category: What's new in Technology
Welcome to 2013! What a great time to talk about a new outlook. No, I don’t mean on life (although that may not be a bad idea); I mean a new outlook (really!) on Hotmail that is. Microsoft unveiled Outlook.com as a beta in July 2012. Meant as a Hotmail replacement over time, Outlook.com is now official and I have just started using the free, web-based app.
Outlook.com’s new Windows 8 look and feel gives you a cleaner, less cluttered look to email. Dare I say the environment makes you feel as though your email is more manageable? Similar to Hotmail, Outlook.com has folders on the left, messages in the center and an advertisement pane on the right. What makes this email environment so special? It certainly has a few features worth mentioning.
The good news is that Outlook.com, as with other web email services, is supported on the latest versions of Explorer, Chrome, Firefox and Safari. However, with Outlook.com’s Active View users can interact with the content of the email messages. Have you received an email with a link to a video? Click on the link. You can watch videos from YouTube and Flickr directly from the email.
In addition to Active View, Outlook.com has some other features that make this web-based email special:
- Conversation Threading – Track sent and received messages on a particular subject in one area.
- Sweep – Delete or move large amounts of email in folders based on sender information. Outlook.com also gives the user the ability to “remember” this sweep for future emails or customize message rules.
- Quick Views – Quickly locate a picture, document or flagged message without finding the email.
- Aliases – Create up to 5 aliases a year, up to 15 total, that will send emails to a specific folder.
- Categories – Group emails or people within categories and easily locate under Quick Views.
- Instant Actions – Delete, move, sweep or flag a message as you hover over it.
- Single-use Code – Request a code when accessing an email account on a public computer to keep account information secure.
- Office Web Apps and SkyDrive – Integrate for viewing and editing abilities in Word, Excel or PowerPoint.
- Advertisement Pane – View latest social media shout outs and pictures, which you can reply to or “Like.” Additionally, the advertisement pane can be replaced with an instant message pane so you can chat with Windows Messenger or Facebook contacts. Oh yeah! You will see advertisements here as well.
Are you intrigued yet? I am. Although Outlook.com is a successor to Hotmail, I can actually get my MicroKnowledge email through this interface. Fascinating! I’m still exploring but I am finding Outlook.com to be an interesting tool to add to my cloud-based toolkit.
Try it! Visit www.Outlook.com. Setup an email account and play. I hope you find the tool as easy and fun as I have. Microsoft has provided some great information on this new tool. Check it out!
Author: Lisa Ryan lryan@microknowledge.com
Remember, if you are a MicroKnowledge customer and have a software question to ask, feel free to contact us at any time by using our Support link at the top of the site. Your question might be featured in our next blog entry!
Do you have a related tip to share? Leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you!
Category: What's new in Technology
…to be budgeting and looking for some technology upgrades before the end of the year, of course! This is the time of year when we reflect on our business, determine what we can do differently, what processes can be more efficient, and how we can grow our business in the new year. You may find that you have enough in your budget to upgrade your current technology or you might be in the midst of planning for your future growth.
Looking to purchase or budget? Here are a few items to consider:
Cell phone plans
Plans change regularly. One day data is included; the next day it isn’t. It is good idea to look at your cell phone plan to determine the best way to handle client demands and business operations. What you find may surprise you, now that mobile is the preferred method of communication. Providers are looking for ways to attract a business, not just the individuals who work there. You could be savings some funds in your budget that could be put toward a new area of business. Read more about choosing a cell phone plan.
Projectors
Projectors have come a long way since they were first introduced. If you are still carrying around a 25-pound projector, you might enjoy a new projector that is lightweight, with increased functionality, and is comparatively less expensive. Read PC Magazine’s picks for top 10 projectors.
Cloud computing solutions
Cloud computing has come a long way. Cloud computing companies are now addressing the ever changing needs for increased storage, security, local backups and cost.
If you are a small business or non-profit and need to invest in a new server, perhaps looking at a cloud-based solution might be the answer. Although the price of servers has come down, the complexity of servers has gone up. If your full-time job is not as a network administrator, then you may have some difficulties keeping server maintenance costs down when something goes wrong. Keep an open mind about the cloud. It could save you a ton of money and time. Here are a few sites to help you with your research:
Looking for something smaller? If you have staff members who are out of the office and out in the cold, why not buy them touchscreen gloves? Unlike standard winter gloves, touchscreen gloves are made with conductive material and can be worn while using your smartphone or tablet. If you have staff in the Northeast during the winter months, they would likely appreciate a pair of touchscreen gloves. Read Mashable’s list of 6 touchscreen gloves.
Whatever your budgeting or purchasing needs are in this season at the end of the fiscal year, I hope you find the technology that will fit your organization well. Happy budgeting!
Author: Lisa Ryan
lryan@microknowledge.com
Remember, if you are a MicroKnowledge customer and have a software question to ask, feel free to contact us at any time by using our Support link at the top of the site. Your question might be featured in our next blog entry!
Do you have a related tip to share? Leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you!
Category: What's new in Technology
With the release of Windows 8 last week, there is a lot of controversy surrounding the best computer or tablet to do the job. All week long I have read articles talking about the next best thing. The problem these days is that it seems the next best thing seems to be coming every other week. And in the past two months that statement isn’t even an exaggeration. How can I get my technology goals off my to-do list when there are so many options?
I’ve decided, when it comes to purchasing smartphones, that decision is fairly simple for me and comes down to asking if I want an android or Apple iOS. It’s like Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts; you like one or the other, rarely both. Check!
On the other hand, selecting computers seems to be a more daunting task. For those of you who have read my blog before you know that I have been trying to use my iPad as a business tool for a year (using free apps). My ultimate goal is to replace my bulky computer. Quite frankly, although I am discovering new apps and tips every week, they are not enough to make me give up my computer.
Perhaps Microsoft has come up with an answer to my challenge. Late last week, with the release of Windows 8, Microsoft released the Surface tablet. The Surface runs Windows (be it Windows 8, there is a learning curve but I’m a trainer; I like to play. I got this). Check! The Surface runs Microsoft applications. Check! The Surface is capable of running all my legacy applications (for a price). Check! Sounds like the perfect solution, right?
But will something better come along next month? What about the Windows 8 (or RT ) operating system. There are bound to be bugs. In a recent article from InformationWeek, they highlight eight new tablets that are either already out or soon to be released. They all look promising and if I had all the money in the world, would they help me reach my ultimate goal?
That is where I have to stop. I don’t have all the money in the world. I did purchase an iPad and I have only given my goal a year, with new apps coming out almost daily, so I think I will just wait, look at all my options, let others purchase and review the items for me, and then I can make an informed decision.
Admittedly, I am curious so I will keep reviewing and keep you posted on my findings.
Are you looking or ready to make a purchase?
Read an initial reaction from Jeff Cohn, our friend at Sage Computers. He has been using the Surface for a week now.
Want a look at some other Windows 8 tablets? Read the InformationWeek article.
See what Microsoft has to say.
Author: Lisa Ryan
lryan@microknowledge.com
Remember, if you are a MicroKnowledge customer and have a software question to ask, feel free to contact us at any time by using our Support link at the top of the site. Your question might be featured in our next blog entry!
Do you have a related tip to share? Leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you!
Category: What's new in Technology
Have you heard the phrase, “Our fate is written in the stars?” I’m not sure about my fate, but apparently my name is, and so is yours!
Since July 2007, a group of volunteers for Galaxy Zoo have been classifying billions of galaxies for scientific use. While doing this, the volunteers noticed some of the galaxies resemble the alphabet.
That led to a typestyle created by Steven Bamford, which was released earlier this year and revamped more recently. Try your hand at the galaxy typestyle (or type your name).
Until then, I think I want to see my name written in the stars…
There, done!
Author: Lisa Ryan
lryan@microknowledge.com
Remember, if you are a MicroKnowledge customer and have a software question to ask, feel free to contact us at any time by using our Support link at the top of the site. Your question might be featured in our next blog entry!
Do you have a related tip to share? Leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you!
Category: What's new in Technology
Microsoft has been talking about the release of Windows 8 all year. Since the preview was released in May, bloggers have been busy talking about what’s new and cool. In August, Microsoft released Windows 8 as a 90-day trial with an official release date of October 26 (anyone going to sleep at Best Buy to be the first in line?). Here at MicroKnowledge, we have had the opportunity to use Windows 8 and thought there were a few things you need to know.
Let’s get to some facts about Windows 8:
- It looks different than Windows 7.
- The Start button is gone.
- It looks and feels like your iPad/iPhone or smartphone.
- It has a Metro User Interface.
- To keep things exciting, Windows 8 is the first major release of an operating system designed to work with both tablets and desktops.
- Windows 8 is being touted as even faster than Windows 7 on boot- up and in processing (for those of you worried about system processing and computer speed).
Ok, so now you know, Windows 8 will be different, but how?
Look and Feel
Windows 8 resembles your smartphone more than it does your PC. The Start button has been replaced with a Start screen with app icons. You will be able to view both desktop apps and Metro apps, look forward to a Metro Apps blog in the near future and, yes, you can customize the start screen as well as change it to a more traditional Window’s desktop.
Searching
Microsoft didn’t disappoint with the searching built into Windows 8. To search for apps, just start typing while on the Start screen. To search for files press, Ctrl+F and you can search for files, apps, devices, etc., picking up on the searching capabilities of Windows 7 and giving us an extra wow.
Other areas
Some other areas changed as well. The Control Panel got an overhaul; items are now categorized in what may appear to be more logical order and with a navigation pane/view pane feel. No worries if you prefer the former view; choosing More Settings will give you the options from the Windows 7 Control panel.
If you want to try Windows 8 for yourself, you can install it from the Microsoft website. If you don’t want to commit just yet view the Windows 8 Release Preview with screen shots and even videos for your viewing pleasure.
Author: Lisa Ryan
lryan@microknowledge.com
Remember, if you are a MicroKnowledge customer and have a software question to ask, feel free to contact us at any time by using our Support link at the top of the site. Your question might be featured in our next blog entry!
Do you have a related tip to share? Leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you.
Category: What's new in Technology
On July 16 Microsoft announced its Customer Preview (public beta) release of Office 2013 and it does look exciting. Microsoft has truly taken to the cloud with integration with Office 365 and SkyDrive. Although Office will be available as a stand-alone product, put it together with a 365 subscription and you open up your ability to be a web-enabled, collaborative, multi-device aficionado.
The new office touts the Metro look Microsoft has adapted for Windows 8. A flat look with no window borders, white background behind the ribbon and tab labels in all caps to keep you focused on your content.
Below is a list of the new features and changes you can expect:
| Word |
|
| Excel |
|
| PowerPoint |
|
| Outlook |
|
| Access |
|
An Office 2013 preview is available for those who want to try it. See it and some other Office 2013 articles here:
Author: Lisa Ryan
lryan@microknowledge.com
Remember, if you are a MicroKnowledge customer and have a software question to ask, feel free to contact us at any time by using our Support link at the top of the site. Your question might be featured in our next blog entry!
Do you have a related tip to share? Leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you.
Category: What's new in Technology
