Watch out for Cryptoware Malware
Once again malware, Trojans, web browser redirections and unwanted pop ups are the flavour of the month. We have been removing a steady stream of Trojans and cryptoware from clients PCS. A somewhat common source seems to be gumtree. Many of our customers who have been infected use gumtree regularly and we all know they have had many issues in the past. While not pointing the finger at them directly it seems likely that these or other similar sites loaded with sidebar ads have been infected with malware.
If you see pops up your screen asking you to call a number for immediate removal, then contact us – DO NOT CALL the number! We can usually remove viruses and malware for a flat $99 fee.
Skype for Business Web Experience in Office 365
You can now launch and perform some basic Skype for Business tasks right from your navigation bar in Outlook on the web for business (Outlook Web App) in Office 365.
New features include:
- Launch Skype for Business from the navigation bar
- Search for people in your organization
- View your contacts list
- Start a conversation
- View your active conversations
- Leave a conversation
We can help you understand and use these new features, and take advantage of the benefits of accessing your office online wherever you are.
Get more detailed information about the new Skype for Business Web Experience.
Talk to us about the Office 365 Features you are not currently using and How you Can Benefit from Them
Moving from Evernote to OneNote
We use both Evernote and OneNote extensively and have a lot of experience with using both for individuals and teams.
If you are using Evernote then you may well have come across some of its limitations, including cost for premium product, no free form drawing, backups and other things where OneNote excels.
OneNote and Evernote are similar in many ways, but we think you’ll appreciate the advantages OneNote has to offer, including a free-form canvas where you can mix text, images, documents, handwriting, audio, video and more; free offline access; and unlimited monthly uploads.
Microsoft has now released an import tool to help you migrate. The OneNote Importer tool (for Windows initially) migrates all of your Evernote content into OneNote, giving you the opportunity to switch to OneNote and have all your notes in one place, on all your devices. They will deliver the Importer tool for Mac in the coming months.
More information and download the Evernote to OneNote importer.
If you want any more information on any of these features, how to use them or how they might affect you please contact us
Modern PCs
What is a modern PC? While not necessarily relating to form factors, there are plenty of new form factors around including 2-in-ones, tablets such as Surface and smaller tablet devices. Microsoft not Apple is redefining the modern PC.
Let’s start with what is not a modern PC.
In the last 3-4 years a pc you bought would likely have been a tower PC desktop box, a thick and chunky laptop with not a lot of battery life – or you had to spend a lot of money to get a sexy thin one.
Now however we have available to us thin light tablets and laptops, incredibly long battery life and small form factor desktops.
A modern PC has these general characteristics:
- Thin, light and sexy designs
- Carbon, aluminium and shiny surfaces
- Massive screen resolutions – all the way up to 4K screens
- Touch screens, touchpads and keyboards with multiple functions and capability for swiping and gestures etc.
- Hardware capability security features like facial recognition, voice recognition and so on (biometrics).
- Great battery life. Full stop. A modern device should get 6 hours or more – no more playing 2/3rds of a DVD before your battery runs out on the plane!
Most of these things are built around the new Intel 5th and 6th generation chips along with UEFI hardware security features. These new chips support the great innovations being delivered by Microsoft through Windows 10 – now being delivered as soon as they are designed through the new operating system update features. These include the enhancements to battery life and performance that give us these amazing results.
So if you are not getting these things then you don’t have a modern PC.
BUT – BEWARE. Most of the PC retailers are not telling you these things. They are shifting units in volume, and they have lots of stock left of old PCS. They are shifting them out for cheap prices and many people are being sucked into buying them thinking they are getting a good deal. Many of these units currently on sale are effectively sporting hardware that is 2-3 years old inside. It is already one cycle out of date.
If you are getting near to an update or refresh of your hardware, or frustrated with the speed, battery life, low screen resolution of your current unit, then please talk to us first. We can easily and quickly let you know if the devices you are looking at are a good idea or not. Make sure you future proof your purchase to give you at least a 3 year life.
If you want any more information on how to identify whether the PC you are looking at is old or modern or just advice on what to buy please contact us
Note: We are also a Flexirent dealer and able to assist you to lease a new machine, or purchase it outright
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