Remember all those commercials for Windows 7? You know, the ones where everyone imagines himself more beautiful than he is in real life and takes credit for the ideas behind Windows 7? Well, Microsoft is fast approaching the day when it officially introduces the Windows 8 operating system to the general public. Let’s hope the commercials for Window 8 are as entertaining as those for Windows 7. More important, let’s hope that Windows 8 is the great improvement that Microsoft promises it will be. While some companies are talking about upgrading to Windows 7, Microsoft has been beta testing Windows 8 with a Developer Preview version since September 2011. The guide for the Developer Preview can be downloaded from Microsoft’s website. Although the developer’s version is incomplete, the one that will be available for the public to test will be almost fully operational. On Microsoft’s Windows 8 page, people can get a glimpse of what to expect once the operating system is ready to use. Apps and content will appear on the start screen. And each user can customize his start screen menu – if you will – so that only the things that are most important to him appear. So, someone could have news updates, the weather, email, even the top movie in his Netflix queue populated on his start screen. Other new features include two touch keyboards. One is a full size keyboard, and the other is a thumb keyboard. Windows 8 allows users to access their Metro style apps wherever they go. “When you sign in with your connected Microsoft account to another PC running Windows 8, your Metro style apps and settings go with you, so it’s just like you’re using your own PC,” the Developer Preview guide explains. “You’ll also be signed in to all of the websites you were signed in to before. Your connected account is like a portable, personal PC that appears on any Windows 8-based PC you’re using. You’re always ready to pick back up where you left off no matter where you are.” With the Windows Store, users can choose from among thousands of apps to purchase and download to their devices. Microsoft promises that the Windows 8 operating system will be more secure than previous operating systems. It will be better able to “resist malware because of a trusted boot-up process that automatically repairs drivers and reinforces policies with no action required from users.” This is an important feature for businesses. More and more employers are equipping their employees with laptops, tablets and smart phones. The promise that a new operating system will help business owners keep their company data safe is a strong selling point. There’s a lot to look forward to with Microsoft’s new Windows 8 operating system. Apps and touch keyboards and personalized start screens are just a few of the things consumers can expect. Anyone who’s interested in giving it try can expect the “customer preview” to be launched in late February 2012. Are you looking for a Microsoft Partner to help with your day-to-day IT support? Look no further. Give us a call and we will help you with all your Microsoft support.
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Coming Soon: Window 8
There they stand, every Feb. 2, those very important men in their top hats and fine coats, waiting for a fat little rodent to emerge from his home and make a prediction. As the legend goes, if the groundhog comes out of his burrow on a sunny day, he’ll see his shadow and run back inside, which means another six weeks of winter lay ahead. If the groundhog comes out on a cloudy day, he won’t see his shadow, which means folks can expect an early spring. Once known as Candlemas, some theorize that Groundhog Day has been around for close to 1,000 years. When people still used the Julian calendar, the spring equinox came exactly six weeks after Feb. 2. The introduction of the Gregorian calendar caused some confusion, so they appointed a rodent as mediator. In Pennsylvania, folks have been gathering by the thousands in Punxsutawney since the 19 th century. Although Groundhog Day celebrations take place throughout the United and States and Canada, the one in Punxsutawney is the most famous, not only because it receives national news coverage, but also because it was immortalized in the movie “Groundhog Day.” Yes, Ontario’s Wiarton Willie has been forever overshadowed (pun intended) by Punxsutawney Phil. Other, less famous groundhogs include Smith Lake Jake in Graysville, Alabama; Staten Island Chuck in Staten Island, New York; Balzac Billy in Balzac, Alberta; and Shubenacadie Sam in Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia. Some say the groundhog has an accuracy rate of 75% to 90%. Others, who have conducted actual studies on the phenomenon, say it’s closer to 40%. Ridiculous or not, the groundhog as prognosticator is a widely accepted norm. Here’s hoping Punxsutawney Phil or Wiarton Willie, or whichever little guy comes out to make a prediction, emerges under cloudy a cloudy sky. 
Business owners need to give serious consideration to their hardware maintenance and software assurance policies. If you refuse the extended warranty on a new vacuum cleaner, and the vacuum cleaner fails, you can just go buy a new vacuum cleaner. With technology, things are not so simple. The affect that poorly maintained hardware or software can have on your business goes far beyond the mere cost of replacing it. Let’s consider some of the benefits of maintenance: Maintenance is insurance – Most hardware maintenance agreements include a replacement option in case the hardware fails. A next-business-day option guarantees that hardware failure issues will be resolved within 24 hours. Access to support – If you decide to stick with an older software program, it may not be eligible for technical support from the manufacturer. Hanging on to ancient software programs isn’t good for business if it means paying extra for technical support or, worse, having to resolve the issues yourself. Better than a warranty – Maintenance or software assurance agreements usually provide not only the right to remediation or replacement if your hardware or software fails, but also the latest upgrades or newest codes. This improved functionality can have a significant effect on your employees’ productivity and your company’s bottom line. Reduced support costs – Having a current maintenance agreement means spending less time requesting technical support. Your IT staff should have the necessary training to integrate hardware and software into your company’s infrastructure. With a current maintenance agreement, your IT staff can interact directly with the hardware or software manufacturer, which helps them to solve problems faster. Without a current maintenance agreement, chronic problems that fall outside your IT staff’s area of expertise could take hours to resolve, which could have a devastating effect on your ability to do business. When you’re debating whether or not to update your hardware or software agreement, there are a few things you should take into consideration. What’s the cost of a failure? If your hardware or software fails, how much will it affect your business? Which would cost you more in the long run, replacing the hardware or software or lost productivity and business operations? For example, how much money would a store lose if its old cash registers stopped working, and they had no maintenance contract to cover repairs? Processing sales by hand is time consuming, and it’s certain that some customers would not want to wait. Make sure you have current maintenance contracts for anything that’s vital to your company’s operations, such as core switch, primary business application and production servers. What’s the cost of maintenance? Each hardware manufacturer has its own maintenance and support options. For example, if a company has 50 versions of the same firewall deployed, it may be more cost effective to forgo the NBD support option and purchase an extra firewall as a spare. You could also see if it’s possible to get a software assurance or phone support option at a lower cost. How skilled is your IT staff? Determine your IT staff’s weakest areas and backup those areas with increased maintenance support from the manufacturer. How much down time can your business tolerate? Many manufacturers have four-hour responses and 24/7 options for those businesses that have to be up and running as quickly as possible. You can do without the extended warranty that comes with a new microwave. But your business can’t and shouldn’t have to function without current maintenance agreements for your mission-critical hardware and software products. 
Many business owners fail to understand why it is important to manage the life cycles of their IT systems and keep technology up to date. Often, they will postpone hardware refreshes during difficult economic times to save money. This is a mistake. They may save a little money today, but in the long run, the cost of repairs and technical support could end up costing two or even three times what they originally saved. That doesn’t include the losses incurred as a result of decreased employee productivity. Here are seven reasons why keeping your company’s IT infrastructure up to date is so important: Prevents unexpected down time Nothing lasts forever. Hardware is bound break down sooner or later. Hardware that’s used often is at increased risk. Idle employees affect your company’s bottom line. Making sure they have the latest equipment and software will increase productivity as well as your profit margin. Keeps critical systems under warranty IT systems that are critical to business operations should always have a current warranty or maintenance contract, just in case something needs to be repaired or replaced. Old hardware may have expired warranties or maintenance contracts and may not be eligible for current ones. Improves performance Hardware refreshes provide access to improvements including, faster processing, increased memory, more storage and newer technology. These improvements allow systems to operate at peak performance, which saves time and allows you to give your customers to best possible service. New functionality Updated hardware and software generally provide access to innovations and security improvements that, again, help you to give your customers high quality service. Anything that helps you keep up with or even surpass the competition is worth the time and expense to do. Reduces operating expenses Often, the cost of hardware replacements can be offset by reduced operating expenses. For example, if a $1,000 desktop replacement allows an employee who makes $30/hour to increase efficiency by 10 minutes per hour, the cost of that desktop will be recuperated within 5 weeks and provide a savings of $8,600 over the rest of the year. Reduces support costs Older hardware tends to be slower and more prone to failures than newer hardware. So, companies that do not replace older systems will require technical support more often. Even when support is available at a fixed rate, the more time spent on fixing problems translates into less time spent on proactive service that would ultimately ends up costing the company less time and money. Happy employees One of the biggest drawbacks of an IT system failure is simply the affect it has on employees. Also known as the annoyance factor or frustration factor, this is the greatest driver behind system upgrades. Savvy business owners understand the value of keeping employees happy and productive. Given the cost savings generated by regular hardware refreshes, it should be unimaginable for any IT company – even during tough economic times – to consider cutting corners by delaying hardware refreshes or software upgrades. Are you looking for a trustworthy IT support firm to help your business? Contact us today to learn more about how our team of IT Professionals can help ensure the lifecycle of your IT systems are maintained properly. 
The big difference between Android and the iOS is the fact that, on an Android device, you can play Flash videos. There are times however when this seeming advantage can be a disadvantage as Flash (such as Flash ads) can slow down your browsing experience or even crash your browser. There is a solution.
There are times when you may want to capture what is currently being shown on your iPad's screen. That’s easy to do on an iPad.
The story of the lost or stolen laptop with ultra-sensitive information on it is all too common. A research study conducted in 2008 by the Ponemon Institute and sponsored by Dell, estimated that business travelers lost more than 12,000 laptops per week in US airports. Those numbers have surely increased in the four years since. If you haven’t already, now is a good time to start taking steps to minimize incidences of human error. The first step is probably the most obvious. Password protect all laptops, tablet PCs and smart devices. And don’t use easy to guess passwords. Complicate them by using capital and lower case letters, symbols and numbers. Of course, the more complex the password, the more likely you are to forget it. Keep your passwords written down and locked away in a secure place, preferably away from your desk. Another way to keep sensitive files safe is by encrypting them or password protecting them. But keep in mind that this works best if the password protecting your documents is different from the one you use to launch Windows on your computer. You could even create a different password for each document or file folder. Laptops with biometric security add an extra layer of protection. That doesn’t mean you should stop using passwords. Biometrics serve as supplements to passwords and should never be used as replacements for them. The best way to keep anyone from being able to access important information is by not storing anything of vital importance on a portable device, especially a smart phone. It’s better to store files on a thumb drive. As an extra precaution, keep the thumb drive in your pocket or around your neck, as many are sold with lanyards. That way, if a laptop, tablet or smart device is lost or stolen, the files are still secure. Business travel is a must for some people, so it’s good to know that there are security devices that can help you keep track of your laptop in busy airport terminals, coffee shops or wherever you may be. One is a laptop cable. Laptop cables come in many varieties and can be purchased for as little as $24 in places like Office Depot. With a laptop cable, you can secure your computer to a desk or table or bathroom sink. You can also buy a laptop security alarm that emits a loud noise when the laptop is moved or the alarm is tampered with. Don’t rest on your laurels. New software and devices are being updated and created all the time. Update software programs and upgrade or replace security devices like locks, alarms, etc., so that you always have the latest protection. Finally, educate your employees. Have a set of security guidelines. Post them in the break room, above the fax machine, the water cooler, etc. In addition, go over security the guidelines with your employees at least once a week. Make it fun. Have some sort of contest with a gift card to a local restaurant or coffee shop as the prize. Quiz your employees on the security procedures you’ve established. Whoever answers the most questions correctly wins the gift card. Using it as a way to unwind on Friday afternoon or get going on Monday morning could make it something your employees look forward to with anticipation rather than dread. No matter how many precautions you take to protect your company’s vital information, if you don’t take steps to reduce incidences of human error, then it’s all for naught. 
If there’s one area where people should be willing to splurge, it’s anti-virus software. Most companies, like McAfee, charge for a whole year of protection, which includes updates. Since even anti-virus protection from reputable companies isn’t 100% guaranteed, why would anyone want to stack the deck against himself by skimping on anti-virus protection? Some people can’t afford to pay McAfee or Symantec for anti-virus protection. The free software is the best they can do. But that’s probably not true for most. Most people who use free anti-virus software want to save money. So, they decide to go with free anti-virus software because they believe it will provide them with enough protection. It won’t. Using free anti-virus software is like going out into the rain and using an umbrella with holes in it. Free anti-virus software companies can’t keep up with all the new viruses, malware, etc. that’s coming out. In order to do that, they would have to stop offering the software for free. So, it’s impossible for users to be as well protected as those who buy security software from reputable companies. But there’s another, more serious danger. Sometimes free anti-virus software contains the very viruses it claims to guard against. And make no mistake, malware and viruses can not only wreak havoc on a person’s computer, but they can also end up costing her a lot of money. Malware can lead to corrupted files, crashed hard drives or, worse, identity theft. So, in the long run, it just doesn’t pay to take a chance on free anti-virus software. Some ways to tell if a computer is infected are: If popups suddenly appear on the computer If the system becomes sluggish or often crashes If unfamiliar files show up on the computer If the computer suddenly has little or no hard drive space or memory If the Internet browser goes to certain pages or the home page changes Sadly, if the free anti-virus software is legitimate, it won’t take effect until after a computer has been infected. And how much damage could have been done by that time? Free anti-virus software doesn’t come with any type of firewall protection. That has to be installed separately. This can be a time consuming process, especially for someone who’s not computer savvy. If there’s a compatibility issue with the firewall protection, then the whole process has to begin again. So, although the anti-virus software didn’t cost anything financially, it cost a lot in time and frustration. Sometimes, the offer of free anti-virus software is just a marketing ploy. Once the customer installs the free software, he’s inundated with popups warning him that he’s not fully protected and must buy the “complete” version of the software for full protection. This is not the same as the free scans or free trials offered by companies like McAfee or Symantec. With all the threats on the Internet these days, choosing to save money by using free anti-virus software seems counterintuitive, especially for people who use their computers for business. Looking for a trusted IT support team who can take care of your business needs? Call us today. We are your team of IT Professional who know what it takes to support your business. 
And so it begins. According to a press release issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Jan. 19, 2012, four people have been arrested and charged as participants in an international organized crime ring. On the list of their alleged crimes is copyright infringement; it is one of the biggest criminal copyright cases ever brought by the United States. Kim Schmitz (aka Kim Dotcom and Kim Tim Jim Vestor), 37, the founder of Megaupload.com, and three of his cohorts — chief marketing officer Finn Batato, 38; chief technical officer Mathias Ortmann, 40; and programmer Bram van der Kolk (aka Bramos), 29 — were arrested in Auckland, New Zealand, at the request of the FBI and the United States Department of Justice. Three others, graphic designer, Julius Bencko, 35; software programmer Andrus Nomm, 32; and head of business development Sven Echternach, 39 are still free. In addition to arresting the conspirators, the Auckland police seized more than $12 million in cash and assets. The group is alleged to have not only facilitated online piracy but encouraged it by offering incentives for uploading pirated content, including movies (prior to their theatrical releases), electronic books, music and other popular copyrighted works. Specifically, they allegedly paid people whom they knew uploaded pirated content. When the copyright holders informed them that they had pirated content on their websites, they only went through the motions of removing it. The FBI estimates that the group’s activities cost copyright holders $500 million in potential earnings while generating $175 million in profits for themselves through the sale of advertising and premium memberships. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit copyright infringement is five years in prison. The maximum penalties for the other charges, conspiracy to commit racketeering and conspiracy to commit money laundering, are 20 years each. So, Schmitz et al are looking at a maximum of 45 years in prison if found guilty on all counts. The announcement of these arrests came just one day after Wikipedia, Reddit and other sites “went dark” to protest the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA), which legislators are considering passing into laws. The case is part of the Department of Justices’ IP Task Force, which seeks to “combat the growing number of domestic and international intellectual property crimes, protect the health and safety of American consumers and safeguard the nation’s economic security against those who seek to profit illegally from American creativity, innovation and hard work.” According to Ry Crozier in his article for IT News , the hacker group Anonymous shut down the Department of Justice’s website as well as the websites of the Motion Picture Association of America, Record Industry of America and Universal Music in response to the FBI’s shutting down of Megaupload.com and its affiliate Megavideo.com. The case against Kim Schmitz and alleged his co-conspirators will be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. Anyone who visits either of those sites will see the following: 