User Support Editorial Report – March 2013

Latest Technology

Rubbery Battery:

In the future, stretchy batteries such as these could help power solar-energy generating clothes, tattoos that monitor your vital signs, robot skin that’s sensitive to touch and other futuristic, flexible devices. Read on…

                                  

Tips & Tricks

The Best Adventure Games on Android
Which Outlook Add-ins Do I Really Need?
Let Outlook Read Email to You in Windows 7
Should You Use More Than One Antivirus Program?
Before You Give Away Your Kindle Fire – Factory Data Reset

Computer Safety

Everyday JAVA and FLASH Updates:

You say to yourself, “I just updated JAVA and/or ADOBE FLASH yesterday when it popped up…didn’t I? They couldn’t possibly want me to update it again this week”?

Yes, yes they do want you to keep updating it. Those updates are a necessary process to keep your computing safe.

You can disable JAVA and get rid of that annoyance; however, one day you may actually need it for a specific website.

Adobe Flash Player is the most common software program for viewing animations and movies within a web browser. It is installed as an add-on or extension into the web browser and is one of the core Windows programs that you should keep updated.

Here is the links to update your computer’s JAVA and ADOBE FLASH  today.

Bonus Video of the Month

MYO – Armband Gesture Control:

The MYO armband lets you use the electrical activity in your muscles to wirelessly control your computer, phone, and other favorite digital technologies.

Using groundbreaking technology, MYO is able to measure electrical activity in your muscles instantly. The result is a seamless way to interact with computers, and a truly magical sense of control. Pre-order for $149.

User Support Editorial Report – January 2012

Windows 8 with IE 10 – Compatibility Mode

Windows 8 only runs Internet Explorer 10 and you will find that some sites don’t work. There are a few ways of fixing this – if you’re using the new full-screen App version and get any issues, the fix is basically to try opening the site in the desktop version. (Does not apply to Surface RT) Click or touch the spanner icon, then click on 
View on the desktop option to flick over to the regular Windows desktop and view the site in desktop IE. (Introducing IE  10 Video)

You may not see the compatibility icon in all sites: If you see the icon, click on it (the compatibility icon looks like a broken page) to set the browser to a mode which is more amenable to sites that haven’t yet adopted HTML5 or are not expecting to see IE10.

 If there isn’t a compatibility icon, press ALT to show the menu bar, offering the ability to add your current site to the list (via the Compatibility View or Compatibility View Settings options) Add your sites there. 

Once there, if you’re still seeing issues:

· If browsing a site is still incompatible, in the desktop IE10, press F12· Click on the “Browser Mode” menu, then Select the IE10 Compatibility View, and close the debug view by clicking the X in the corner. 

· If the IE10 view doesn’t work out, then try setting to a previous mode by repeating the F12 trick and choosing an older version of the browser from the menu.

This tip has been known to work on troublesome websites.

Office 2013 Upgrade Now Available

The next version of Office is now available for those of you who bought Office 2010 and are looking for your Upgrade Guarantee.

Click on Redeem now and fill out Country, Product Key, Accept and Verify:

You are ready to download?? And therein lies the rub… there is a catch, sure there is. You need to sign up for Office 365 for 3 months, whether you want that or not. So no, you don’t just get the stand-alone application.

You have to Sign In to a Microsoft account to continue, so I used an old hotmail account and clicked on Select.

I selected my Country and Language and had no choice but to agree to additional marketing from Microsoft: Microsoft Office will be contacting you with surveys, promotions, tips and advice for using our products and services. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information on our communications options, please see our Privacy and Cookies Notice.

And finally, the INSTALL.

It dropped a 585kb “Click To Run” exe and that’s all you get. I’m sure once you click on the Setup.exe, it will install Office 2013, but I am waiting to implement Office 2013 with Windows 8.

UPDATE! I found where you can download the software. It is under your account settings under frequently asked questions.

That appears to be a continuous loop and you can only order a disc for $15.11. Ok, that’s enough nonsense for me this morning.

UPDATE: I have gone back to the account and am now able to download the *.img file.

User Support Editorial Report – January 2013

Latest Technology

Injectable Sponges:

Bioengineers at Harvard have developed a gel-based sponge that can be molded to any shape, loaded with drugs or stem cells, compressed to a fraction of its size, and delivered via injection. Once inside the body, it pops back to its original shape and gradually releases its cargo, before safely degrading. Read on…

                                  

Tips & Tricks

What is Google Takeout?
Learn Common PC Hardware Terms
Clean Up Your Web Mail Address Book
Create Your Own Google Chrome Theme
Best Products of 2012: Home Technology
Use Snipping Tool to Capture Screen Shots

Computer Safety

How To Prevent Infections on Your Computer:

While there is no method that can 100% guarantee that your computer will be not be infected with malware, there are a number of steps that you can take to lessen the probability of this happening.

• Clean out TEMP files
• Check and stop unnecessary Startup items regularly
• Enable a firewall on your computer.
• Get the latest computer updates for ALL your installed software.
• Use up-to-date antivirus software. Run a manual scan monthly.
• Use caution when opening attachments and accepting file transfers.
• Use caution when clicking on links to webpages.
• Avoid downloading pirated software.
• Protect yourself against social engineering attacks.
• Limit user privileges on the computer.
• Use strong passwords.

For more information: Visit Guidance and Advice Read on…

Bonus Video of the Month

A Day Made of Glass 2:

Corning’s expanded vision for the future of glass technologies. This video continues the story of how highly engineered glass, with companion technologies, will help shape our world.

User Support Editorial Report – November 2012

Upgrade to Windows 7 Now

We recommend that you begin planning to update your outdated and legacy Windows XP/Vista computers, regardless if those computers are still working.

Microsoft announced that 2014 will be the official end-of-life for Windows XP. Windows XP is the most commonly used PC operating system in the world today, and we certainly still have many clients operating on this platform.  Windows XP was first released in 2001 which means this platform is 12 years old – and that is a very long time in the world of technology.

Security Risk

In the first half of 2012, Windows XP SP3 computers were infected at a rate almost three times higher than Windows 7 computers.  Much has changed since its release in 2001 and XP is simply too antiquated to combat modern-day hackers and virus writers.

via Malware Infection Rates by Microsoft Security Blog

 

Technical Support

In April 2009, Microsoft moved Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) from “Mainstream Support” to “Extended Support”.  This means that Microsoft will continue to provide regular security updates, but technical support, warranty claims and design changes are no longer being offered.

Upgrade to Window 7

Many older PCs are simply not powerful enough to run Windows 7, and even if they are, the investment to upgrade may exceed the value of the computer.  Certainly, for computers that are at least four years old, it is more cost-effective to replace them with new computers that have Windows 7 pre-installed.

Start Planning Now

This is not something that needs to happen overnight, but if you start planning now then you could potentially phase this migration over a number of months spreading the cost of your technology spend.

If you would like to start planning for your Windows 7 migration, please give tech3Support a call today!

Note* – Windows 8 is not a recommended upgrade at this time.

User Support Editorial Report – November 2012

Latest Technology

Graphene, The Wonder Material:

Graphene is a “wonder material” 100 times stronger than steel and is so thin that a single ounce of it could cover 28 football fields. Once scientists figure out how to make large batches of graphene economically, it could ”radically advance technologies ranging from transistors to touch screens to solar cells to bionic implants.”. Read on…

                                  

Tips & Tricks

Share a Google Calendar
Scan a QR Code on your PC
Disappear from the Internet Forever
Find the GAMES Folder in Windows 7
Make Your Smartphone Ringtones Useful
See Your Passwords Hidden Under the Asterisks
Replace Outlook’s Boring Emoticons with Fancy New Ones

Computer Safety

What is Ransomware?

Ransomware is a kind of malware (malicious software) that criminals install on your computer without your consent. Ransomware gives criminals the ability to lock your computer from a remote location.

You may get a pop-up window with a warning that says that your computer is locked and claims that you will not be able to access it unless you pay. (Symantec video)

The attack usually occurs through a Web exploit or a so-called drive-by download, where the user is redirected to a Website that attempts to install malware on their system. Most often, the attack happens without any indications to the user that their computer has been compromised.

Keep your PC updated with the latest system and security software. Be sure to update JAVA, FLASH, Acrobat PDF Reader (or use Foxit Reader)

Read on…

Bonus Video of the Month

LEGO – Great Ball Contraption:

A 100-foot long machine made from Legos that moves 500 hundred little balls around through various mechanisms. It’s one of those things that once you see it start, you stick with it just to see what the balls are going to do next. (It’s a geek thing)

User Support Editorial Report – September 2012

HP’s Smartphone

In her interview with FOX Business News last week, HP CEO Meg Whitman said HP needs to “take advantage” of the smartphone form factor since HP is a computing company, and in many countries, smartphones are people’s primary computing device. She did not give any details as to when an HP device would hit the market, but said her mantra for the company is “better right than faster,” focusing on fine-tuning a complete product rather than rushing into the crowded space.

Seriously Meg? Really?! Try on, “always wrong and too late.”

Don’t you remember you sold off your WebOS division a year ago, “in an effort to recoup some of the money the company spent purchasing Palm.”

Put more focus on the quality of all your products, and give your website a useful makeover that makes finding technical support and parts easier. As if any of that matters to you or the stockholders.

HP will cut 29,000 jobs…. ”simplify business processes, accelerate innovation and deliver better results for customers, employees and stockholders.” HP decline.

via TechNewsWorld

Wikipedia WebOS

UPDATE OCTOBER 3, 2012:

Meg Whitman, Hewlett-Packard’s chief executive, beat up her company on Wednesday.

Ms. Whitman told a meeting of Wall Street analysts that they should expect sharply lower revenue and profits. She also told them not to expect the company to fully right itself before 2016. “We have much more work to do,” she said. Read on…

User Support Editorial Report – September 2012

Latest Technology

A Phone Good to 2027 on One Charge:

SpareOne emergency phone from Xpal Power, which uses a standard AA lithium battery, claims a standby time of up to 15 years. Read on…

                                  

Tips & Tricks

Speed Up Your PC
Difference Between HTTP and HTTPS
Guides for Office 2010 and Windows 7
2 Cool Sites for Gadgets & Electronics Manuals
Setup an iTunes Library on an External Hard Drive
Master EXCEL Skills with This Video Training Series
How-To Cut and Paste without Messing Up Formatting

Computer Safety

How-To Prevent Spyware:

Spyware and other unwanted software can:

• Invade your privacy
• Bombard you with pop-up windows
• Slow down your computer
• Make your computer crash

Here are several ways you can help protect your computer against spyware and other unwanted software.

Read on…

Bonus Video of the Month

Telepresence Robot:

Double Robotics, a Mountain View-based company, has invented a new type of telepresence robot that is half robot, half iPad.

The Double, as the company calls it, looks like an ultra-simple robot that can navigate a far-off place through two iPads. One acts as the robot’s eyes and ears, and the other controls it through an iPad application.

User Support Editorial Report – July 2012

Lync 2010 for Kindle Fire

I have used Google Chat and Windows Live Messenger, but since I am paying monthly for Office 365, why not use Lync 2010.

Microsoft® Lync® is an enterprise-ready unified communications platform. With Lync, users can keep track of their contacts’ availability; send an IM; start or join an audio, video, or web conference; or make a phone call—all through a consistent, familiar interface.  Lync is built to fully integrate with Microsoft Office. The Microsoft Lync 2010 desktop client is available for Windows and for Mac and mobile versions are available for Windows Phone, iPhone/iPad, and Android devices.

Anything enterprise-ready is something I can use!

So how to get it on the Kindle Fire when Microsoft specifically states:

The current release of Lync 2010 for Android smartphones is not supported on Android media tablets or on other non-phone Android form factors (hardware models). For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
2691382 Android smartphone devices that are supported for use with Lync 2010 for Android

First, you need the APK file from XDA Developers, download it to your desktop and then move the file to your Kindle Fire. (See comments for a way to get the APK file from your Android phone)

You have to change the DEVICE setting to Allow Installation of Applications from unknown sources before you click to run and install the APK file.

Almost done! Before you Sign In to Lync 2010, Click the menu button on your Kindle Fire, Click on Options and change the Server settings to:

Internal discovery address: https://webdir.online.lync.com/Autodiscover/autodiscoverservice.svc/Root
External discovery address: https://webdir.online.lync.com/Autodiscover/autodiscoverservice.svc/Root

That’s it. Signed in and worked for me!

User Support Editorial Report – July 2012

Latest Technology

Bio-Retinal Implant:

A new bionic eye implant could allow blind people to recognize faces, watch TV and even read. Nano Retina’s Bio-Retina is one of two recent attempts to help patients with age-related macular degeneration, which affects 1.5 million people in the U.S. Read on…

                                  

Tips & Tricks

Universal Submit Button
Playing Music on a Kindle Reader
“Getting Started Guides” by Microsoft
10 Must-Have Utilities for Small Networks
E-Mail Etiquette: Tips for Home and Work
Make Your Laptop Choose a Wired Connection Instead of Wireless

Computer Safety

Change Your Passwords:

Several high-profile companies recently reported that user passwords had been stolen from their sites. (eHarmony, Last.fm, LinkedIn, Yahoo just to name a few)

If you use these sites you should login and change your password. Even if you don’t use these sites, it’s a good idea to regularly change your passwords. Read on…

Bonus Video of the Month

Welcome to the Rest of Our Lives:

This video shows the extreme weather and climate coverage from the last couple months that provides an ideal overview for anyone who hasn’t been keeping track.

User Support Editorial Report – March 2012