TechPros, the best Nashville computer professionals, help you navigate your way around the new Windows 8!

Microsoft has come a long way with its new Windows 8 OS platform. In fact the nature of the new interface is so far removed from the former Microsoft interfaces that it has at least initially managed to stump even the most experienced PC users. Many seasoned PC users have been frustrated to find that once routine tasks are no longer so intuitive. However, though the new functionality might be a bit disorienting at first does not mean that the new Windows 8 features and behaviors are bad. Just like with any new product, there’s a learning curve. So before you completely dismiss Windows 8, let your trusted Nashville computer professionals help you climb that curve by laying out the basics and equipping you with some essential tips and tricks. Hang in there with us and you’ll have Windows 8 OS working for you at an efficiently productive rate in due time!

Welcome to Windows 8!
Upon your first encounter with Windows 8 you will be prompted to log-in with a Microsoft account. If you’ve used any Windows Live services in the past you likely already have one of these. By using a Microsoft account you not only get access to Microsoft’s SkyDrive cloud storage but you can link other cloud services to your account as well as synchronize your preferences and bookmarks across multiple Windows 8 devices. Not a bad deal! If you don’t already have an account the great thing is that you can fairly easily configure one with any e-mail address you currently use. Not quite sure how to do that? Call your Nashville computer professionals for assistance. We’re always ready to help!

Once you’re done with setup you’ll arrive at the new tiled Start screen. This is where things are going to seem a little foreign.

The Start Screen and Desktop
As Nashville computer professionals we’re forewarning you not to bother prowling around the desktop for the Start button. There isn’t one. Everything is accessed through the Start screen. This is your home base from which to launch applications. The tiles you see are Window’s 8 equivalent of Start menu shortcuts. Simply click or touch one of the tiles and your application will promptly launch. To scroll the start screen right and left use the mouse scroll wheel or drag your finger back and forth across the center of the screen. If you wish to toggle between tiles, use the arrow keys and then hit enter to launch the highlighted application. You also have the option of typing the name of the application and the Start Screen’s search tool will present you with the desired application. But what about the Control Panel? How do you get to it? One of two ways. To access the Control Panel you either need to go to the Settings Charms from the desktop or search for the desired setting within the Control Panel from the Start screen.

Applications
The new Windows 8 built-in applications as well as any new applications you download from the Windows Store run full-screen on the “Metro” interface. However, older applications run in Desktop (where things look and act more like they did in Windows 7). So how do you navigate between applications running in two different user interfaces? While it sounds really challenging, Windows 8 provides three easy routes to get from one place to another.

One method is by using the Start Charm to bounce back to the Start screen and launch another application. Another method is switching back and forth through the apps. If you’re using a touch device you can simply switch back to the most recently used app by swiping your finger from the left edge of the screen toward the center. Repeat this motion and you can go back through all the currently active applications on your device. If you’re using a keyboard you can achieve the same thing by holding down the Windows + Tab keys. The last method is known as “snapping” an app which comes in handy when you have multiple apps running at once. To navigate to a specific app, hover over the left upper corner of the screen with your mouse until the thumbnail of the last application viewed appears. Then direct the mouse pointer down the left side of the screen (or pull in from the left edge if using touch), “snapping” the app to the side of the screen. When you’re done with an application and wish to close it you have a few options. You can hover the mouse over the top of the screen (or simply touch the top of the screen) until a hand appears, click and drag downward to make the app shrink to a smaller view or drag the app completely off the screen to the bottom or to the side.

Navigating Without Touch
The problem with using a mouse to emulate the Windows 8 touch commands is that a mouse isn’t very suited to “flicking”, the method used to activate the Charms bar and to switch back and forth between apps. For this reason, Windows 8 offers new keyboard shortcuts. For instance pressing Win-C will without fail always open the charms bar no matter what system context you’re in. As your Nashville computer professionals we want to equip you to be as fast and efficient as possible by providing you with the time-saving keyboard shortcuts below:

1. Windows Key + C: Displays Charms menu.
2. Windows Key + X: Brings up a menu of advanced system options, including Windows Control Panel, Command Prompt, Task Manager and File Explorer.
3. Windows Key + I: Displays the Settings menu for the current app. For example, if you’re in Internet Explorer 10, this key shows Internet options. If you’re on the Start menu, it shows general OS settings.
4. Windows Key + Q: Brings up the apps search menu that allows you to search your list of installed programs.
5. Windows Key + D: Activates desktop mode.
6. Windows Key + Tab: Brings up the Task Switcher and toggles between Windows 8-style apps.
7. Windows Key + H: Brings up Share menu for the current app. For example, hitting Windows Key + H in Bing Maps, lets you email or share map information on social networks.
8. Windows Key + M: Opens desktop mode and minimizes all windows.
9. Windows Key + W: Opens universal search menu and sets it to search settings.
10. Windows Key + F: Opens universal search menu and sets it to search files.
11. Windows Key + R: Opens Run menu where you can launch programs by typing in their executable file names.
12. Windows Key + E: Opens File Explorer to the “My Computer” view which shows all your drives.
13. Windows Key +Number Key (1-9): Switch to desktop mode and make the Nth application on the task bar active where N is the number key you hit and 1 is the furthest taskbar icon to the left.
14. Windows Key + . (period key): Docks the current Windows 8-style application to the right or left, depending on how many times you hit it.
15. Windows Key + Z: Brings up app menu, which shows contextual options for the active app.

Turning off your machine
Finally, a version of Windows that doesn’t have the “shut down” and “sleep” buttons under the “Start” menu! So when using Windows 8 how do you turn off the computer or put it into sleep mode without hitting the power button? To turn off your PC you simply go to Charms sidebar, tap on the “Settings” Charm and click or touch the “Power” icon and voila! The method isn’t all that more intuitive but with the expert help and advice of Nashville computer professionals nearby you’ll get used to it!

Head Straight for the Desktop
Do you prefer working in Desktop? Lucky for you there’s a way to configure the system to use the Start page and the Charms less. One way of going about this is by pinning your frequently used applications to the Desktop bar so that they are more accessible and therefore easier to launch when needed. Another option you have is to rearrange and hide things in the Start menu to make it more like the older Windows Start menu. To do this click down and drag the tiles until they are in your preferred order. If you right click on the tiles you have the option to remove the applications you don’t want from the Start screen, pin them to the Desktop taskbar so that they can be launched from there, turn off the built-in apps’ “live” features, or opt to completely uninstall them.

We know this is a lot of new information to take in but hopefully after reading these tips you now have a better grasp of Microsoft’s new OS and are feeling more confident about making the switch. If a question or problem pops up along the way don’t forget the best of Nashville computer professionals are here to lend their support! Just give us a call (615) 595-6399 or fill out our contact page and we’ll be happy to see what we can do to alleviate the issue!

Be on the lookout for emails that look like bills for domain name renewal and read them carefully as chances are they are part of a fraudulent scam.

Do you or does your company own more than one domain name? If you’re like us and are big into SEO you probably own quite a few, maybe even a whole bundle. Scammers have caught onto this domain buying trend and are banking on the probability that many people don’t keep track of where and when they’ve registered these domains. Well, scammers we hate to break it to you but as experienced Nashville  IT consultants we’ve caught onto your scheming tactics.

So how exactly are these scammers doing it? Basically they are targeting domain owners by sending them a very official looking email claiming that the receiver of the email owes money. The email is made to look like a legitimate invoice with your name and/or address listed sent from a seemingly official business such as “DNS Services” (see picture to the right). The “invoice” directs you to click on a link to pay $50 or more or else your domain name will expire.

Do not fall for this trap! This is merely a sales pitch in disguise. While typically these types of spam offers are sent via mail clearly stamped with a notice that reads “Not a Bill”, it is much harder to detect the authenticity of the email versions. If you should happen across such an email use your utmost scrutiny as the name of the business on the email will likely change as the scam evolves.

As your favorite Nashville IT consultants here are some helpful tips for distinguishing whether a domain name expiration notice is real or fake:

Carefully check the website address. If the domain name listed on the invoice is similar to your actual domain name but is off by a few letters or has a different ending such as .net instead of .com it’s likely an indication that it’s fake.

Check the names of your providers. Figure out whether the name on the bill actually matches the business that originally sold you your domain name.

Look for other suspicious signs. Domain registration fees are generally in the $10 to $15 ballpark so if the invoice is asking for $50 plus or is requesting you make payment to a personal email address or third party provider such as PayPal, it’s without a doubt a hoax.

If you are having trouble detecting the legitimacy of the email, contact your local Nashville IT consultants for a professional assessment. To avoid the hassle of trying to identify fraudulent emails like these in the future, register all your domain names under one single business such as GoDaddy.com. That way you’ll be able to tell right of the bat just by looking at the name on the invoice.

We were a little hesitant to make predictions since, well, forecasting the future is a rather risky endeavor but it seems to be the thing to do before the new year. So as the leading Franklin IT company, we thought we’d stick our necks out and share our opinions as to what 2013 holds for the IT industry. Here goes:

Tablets and Smartphones will become our go-to computing devices.
Tablets and smartphones are on the rise big time and will continue to skyrocket into 2013 and beyond. The quantitative predictions for tablets are: 13 million devices to be purchased by enterprises before the new year, and by 2016 the number will more than triple. As to smartphones, about two-thirds of the mobile workforce will own one in 2016. I think we can all say we’ve gone to a store, swiped our card, signed our name and received our receipt all with the use of a tablet or smartphone. It’s an easy and efficient alternative to the hefty cash register. These two devices are popping up all over. However, with that being said, most businesses won’t completely ditch PCs for smartphones and tablets, but their ubiquity and increasing popularity are vastly changing the way consumers embrace the technology, business strategies and media associated with particular devices.

Tech products to be built more and more in US.
With Chinese wage and transport costs increasing, overseas production no longer has such an advantage. In reaction to this, companies are getting smart and planning for production a little closer to home. Not only did Apple announce its decision to bring back some of its production of Mac computers to the United States, in a recent NBC interview Chief Executive Tim Cook divulged that one of the existing Mac lines will be manufactured exclusively here in the states. Even some foreign companies are following Apple’s footsteps. At the start of the year Lenovo will be building a massive computer production facility in Whitsett, N.C., while other companies like LG Chem gear up to create hybrid and electric car batteries in Michigan. This huge transition is projected to produce 2 to 3 million new jobs by the end of the decade so it’s a big win for the U.S. economy at large!

Desktop pricing to go up compared to tablet/smartphone pricing.
With 2013 said to be the year tablets will outsell desktops, one would suspect to see a decline in PC sales. After all, according to some experts, aren’t we supposed to be living in a “post-PC” era? Au contraire. Because so many people, especially information workers and designers, still need the large display and significant processing power of a desktop to produce their detailed creative work, and with tablets taking the place of laptops, desktop PC sales will actually increase significantly. They will return to their original function as work-related machines but with new high-end features such as retina displays and touch-screen functionality. Desktops will become smarter and more powerful, consequently pushing the price curve higher and higher.

NFC (Near Field Communications) to become more adopted.
As many Android and Windows smartphone makers have already jumped on board with NFC, leading manufacturers including LG, Nokia and Samsung are following suit, beginning to incorporate NFC into their product designs. As many as 300 million NFC-enabled devices are predicted to be sold in 2013, a significant increase from 2010’s sale of 2 million. With its widely talked-about mobile wallet application, it seems like a given to us. What business wouldn’t want to get their hands on technology that allows for more universal, easy, simple methods of payment? NFC functionality goes much beyond the mobile wallet. It is being used in Bluetooth pairing and applications in various transportation terminals, interactive displays, identification and peer-to-peer communication. NFC is expected to improve with a wider array of applications and service features as consumer adoption increases.

Google will continue to own the world!
2012 has been a big year for Google and with the search giant continually rolling out newer, smarter products and technology solutions, it should come as no surprise that it will continue to lead the tech revolution in 2013. As other companies try to keep up, Google will continue to face fierce competition on all sides. However Google really plans to flex its muscle in 2013 in just about every facet imaginable with the much anticipated Google Glass, a refreshed version of Nexus, and the genius mind of Ray Kurzweil all expected to come to the forefront. And that’s just to name a few!

Cloud or SAAS based softwares to take the stage. 
The flexibility and dependability of Cloud/SaaS based softwares, makes them the no-brainer choice for managing large databases in 2013. There are more ways than one in which Cloud/SaaS applications offer higher levels of simplicity and value to organizations. First and foremost because both softwares are monthly/yearly recurring revenue models, allowing you access to all of the up-to-date features without having to upgrade the software yourself and yielding the most profit for the provider–a win, win for everyone. In addition, because the software is hosted by a major company, they have measures in place that take over in the case that something goes wrong. Not only that but in using Cloud/SaaS based software, you are housing your data in more than one data center, giving you a plan B for saving and accessing your data.

Apple to combine one platform for tablet/smartphone and OS to one universal system.
Essentially we’re speculating that in the new year Apple will continue to make their products more exclusive by completely replacing MacOS with iOS7, similar to the way Windows 8 integrated the phone and tablet functionality with the actual operating system. What this would mean is that the App Store would be further integrated into the operating system, forcing users to purchase any and all applications and programs THROUGH the app store instead of a third party software distributor. iTunes “Live” would also go into effect meaning that instead of residing on your computer any and all music purchased would be streamed.

Maybe these predictions were helpful, maybe they were a little over your head, maybe you just downright disagree with them or maybe they are not pertinent whatsoever to your life. Whatever the case, we want to stress the importance of keeping a watchful eye on trends, because as quickly as technology is evolving (and it will only speed up in the years ahead), it’s easy to get left behind if you’re not constantly adapting. You do always have your favorite Franklin IT company to fall back on. If your computer is on the brink or you’re looking for a more efficient backup system and workflow, start the new year off right with a call to the best Franklin IT company 615.595.6399! We’ll be happy to serve you 🙂

As people are finally starting to come to terms with the importance of data backup and cloud based programs, we felt it’d be a good idea to dive into the topic and compare two of the industry’s biggest featured cloud based e-mail and collaboration products–Office 365 and Google Apps for Business.

As businesses slowly launch into the cloud they are faced with choosing between these two  well-qualified giants…whether to jump ship to the new Google Apps or remain in their Microsoft basecamp. The question is a tough one indeed. So let’s compare suite to suite so you can choose the chair in the cloud you find most comfortable.

Let’s begin with Google Apps. Easy to understand and simple to purchase, Google Apps is a purely web-based suite meaning that all functionality occurs within the browser and most users store their files in the cloud. Equipped with word processing, spreadsheets, storage, slideshows and presentations, this simplistic suite comes at a price of $5 a month or $50 a year and no commitment is required. Built to allow for easy remote access from multiple devices, Google Apps works well with any web-ready device and operating system. This ability to access the platform from any device is something that definitely gives Google Apps the upper hand over Microsoft Office 365 which is obviously designed to cater to the PC.

Looking at the big picture here, Microsoft Office 365 is essentially Microsoft’s attempt at taking Exchange and putting a different backbone on it. Though Office 365 can be used solely in the cloud, its basecamp is a hybrid installation where on-premises server software and locally installed instances of Office interact with Office apps in the cloud. With Microsoft Office 365 you can also opt to run productivity apps in hybrid fashion and have Microsoft completely manage Exchange, Lync and SharePoint which can help reduce the administrative burdens of security, backup and other such maintenance issues. The good thing about the new Office 365 suite is that because Microsoft has been offering a suite for some 20 plus years, there is a bit more consistency in how all the apps work. Google Apps for Business on the other hand differs significantly in the way they look, feel, operate and even how they are set up and managed. With that being said, people are enamored with Google Docs whose easy editing features blow Office Web Apps right out of the water. With Google Docs, users have the option to utilize Drive or Office Cloud Connect if they prefer to use a hybrid cloud approach to document management, or stick to merely creating and editing docs through the online interface for a full-on cloud experience. Office 365 Web Apps are a bit more complicated as they have to go through a quite frustrating three step approach before any changes can be made to them via the web. To manage documents more virtually in Office 365 the user has to initially create them from their desktop or laptop in Office 2010 before they can upload them through the Office 365 Sharepoint Online interface. If you ask us, Office 365 relies upon the desktop a little too much, totally defeating the purpose of the cloud. Other finnicky aspects of Office 365 are the support plans. Not only are there 8 different price plans but they are a bit out of whack with the cheap $4 monthly Email Only plan including support and the $6 monthly P1 Small Business plan that comes with no support at all. For a suite that Microsoft developed to cater toward small businesses who lack a formal IT department, this just doesn’t even make sense. Google’s support policy is simple. You pay, you get full support. You opt for the free version of Google Apps, you’re on your own. Another thing to be aware of with Office 365 is that if at some point along the road you need to move between plan levels you have to go through yet another monotonous process of completely canceling your old account and creating a fresh one under the new plan.

Though Microsoft Office 365 hasn’t quite nailed the cloud experience and has a lot to iron out in its functionality, it does pick up Google’s slack in a few areas. Google’s Shared Contacts, for example, proves to be a bit of an after-thought as there is no clean user interface for managing these shared contacts, particularly external global contacts. Google does have a Shared Contacts API that can be scripted to work but getting this feature to do so in the way that most businesses are accustomed to takes some serious time and effort.

So which cloud platform is superior? Really that’s up to you to decide. We just hope this helped to break down the differences between the two so that you have an easier time coming to a decision. If you have any further questions give us a call (615) 595-6399  or drop by to see one of our computer technology professionals. We’ll be happy to help you find a solution to your needs!

 Is Windows 8 OS worth the upgrade?

In the tech world, tables are turning towards tablets and smartphones and software is adapting accordingly.  With the launch of the new Windows 8 Operating System it appears as though Microsoft is following right in line, taking a more mobile approach to its interface design.

Designed to run on both PCs and tablet computers, the new Windows 8 touch-enabled interface is Microsoft’s attempt to bridge the gap between the full-on laptop/desktop experience and the mobility of the tablet. From a visual perspective, the new interface is mouth-watering and some reports have found that Windows 8 does speed up the performance of your system. However, the big drawback is that in order for the operating system to reach its full potential it actually requires a touch screen device.

As it is, the whole notion of operating using touch over keyboard takes a good deal of time to get used to and without a touch display can be downright frustrating–something you should definitely take into account before upgrading. In fact, it takes a touch-based gesture and 3 additional clicks in order to simply shut the operating system down. With that being said, unless you already have a touch display or are in the market to splurge on a whole new system, upgrading to Windows 8 Operating System is probably not worth your time because it will likely hinder rather than enhance your productivity.

Have further questions regarding the new Windows 8 Operating System or are interested in increasing productivity with more effective upgrade options?  TechPros experienced computer techs are here to help you with all of your IT consulting needs! Contact us today at 615.595.6399 or shoot us an email to support@tech-pros.com

Today we’re going to talk about Apple–the innovator of seemingly cutting edge cool technology worldwide. Let’s face it, consumers are and have been for quite some time buzzing about all things Apple (well with the exception of the new iOS and its less than desirable Map feature). For the most part, Apple has been on point in delivering products right in line with consumer demand.  We ask for thinner and lighter devices and Apple presents us with new sexy designs as fast as they can make them. So we get to look cool carrying around this trendy, cutting edge hardware but we’re often so disillusioned by the cool factor (and who can blame us?!) that we don’t take the time to look under the hood of these sleek new design patterns until it’s too late. Specifically with the new Macbook Pro Retina Display and Macbook Air, what lies beneath is a reality that is sheer proof of why Apple Care is worth buying alongside your Apple computer.

The design of the long awaited MacBook Pro Retina Display presents serious consequences not only for consumers and the environment, but also for the tech industry as a whole. Many IT experts have claimed them to be the least repairable laptops because everything is fused together. Genius? More like a recipe for disaster, hence why Apple Care is worth it.

Instead of using good old platter drives, the MacBook Pro Retina Display has these new fancy soldered-to-the-motherboard SSD’s which make data recovery impossible without completely demolishing your MacBook’s motherboard. Not only that, but screen replacement for the Retina Display is a no-go. The display is fused right onto the glass, so crack it and you’re faced with the unfortunate consequence of buying a brand new system. To really send it to the deep end, there’s no way to upgrade the RAM for a memory boost. So after two years, you’ll most likely find yourself shelling out money to replace the whole computer.

Much like the Macbook Pro Retina Display, only designed with thin in mind, the new MacBook Air’s performance is greatly sacrificed and its upgradeability completely thrown out the window. Light as a feather–nearly, but easy to fix–not so much. With its RAM soldered to the expensive logic board, upgrading is hopeless. Unless of course you can throw your wallet into replacing the entire logic board. On top of that, Macbook Air batteries are rated at only 300 cycles–that’s one full drain and one full charge per cycle. And surprise, surprise, once your battery tuckers out you’re looking at spending yet another $200 to mail the laptop to Apple for a replacement.

Though every Mac and Apple display comes with a one-year limited warranty and up to 90 days of complimentary telephone technical support, with these faulty new system designs we highly recommend opting for the additional AppleCare Protection Plan. With full coverage of up to 3 years on your computer, display, RAM, USB SuperDrive, accessories including the power adapter and any AirPort Base Station or Time Capsule, it’s seriously worth it. Have any other questions? We might not work behind the genius bar but we sure are TechPros! Contact our on-site service technicians today 615.595.6399 for solutions to your computer troubles!

Nowadays the majority of people in the market for a computer are springing for a laptop or tablet. As part of their decision, they are faced with choosing between a Solid State Drive (SSD) or Hard Disk Drive (HDD) as a storage component. Many prospective computer buyers have no idea that different computers have different storage components yet alone know the significant differences between the two components, so when it comes to making a decision it’s pretty much six of one, half a dozen the other. Though we are not certain as to what percentage of computer users are using SSDs versus HDDs, as computer professionals we can tell you that both breeds of devices show up in our data recovery laboratory on a pretty regular basis. Like everything in life, there are good and bad characteristics of both.

Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) have been around for decades; in fact they have served as the standard storage device for over 50 years. The great thing about this technology is that it is capable of storing lots of data cheaply, but its traditional electromagnetic components are a bit behind the times. The fact of the matter is there are a lot of intricate elements that must come into play for a hard drive to work successfully.

Solid State Drives (SSDs), unlike HDDs, use integrated circuit assemblies as memory to store data. Think of them as oversized, more sophisticated USB memory sticks. Typical SSDs use NAND-based flash memory which allows one the ability to turn the disk off at any time without it forgetting any of the important data stored. With data storage integrity that can be maintained for 200 plus years, you can read and write a vast amount to an SSD. Their biggest advantage is that they have no moving parts. Crack one of these babies open and you won’t find the fine intricate machining of various metal parts that you find in HDDs, but rather a few chips soldered to a circuit board. This means there are no mechanics to break. You can shake it, drop it, or drag it across the table without risk of failure (within reason that is). However, the durability comes with a much heftier price tag.

Where solid state drives outrival hard disk drives in speed, they fall short in value. Flash memory file systems are more likely to become corrupted and recovery is often both very time consuming and costly. The average cost is about $3000 for advanced SSD recovery–no small dent to the pocketbook. That’s not a price you want to risk paying and because some laptops such as ultrabooks have only SSDs, it’s really important to be aware of exactly what type of internal storage system a computer comes with. To avoid running into a ditch later, keep the following adage in mind “If your data doesn’t exist in two places it doesn’t exist” and  do not rely exclusively on an SSD for storage of important computer data!

You’ve probably forgotten to save an important file before but imagine if your website vanished overnight or you lost your entire database due to a failed computer server? It can take years for small businesses to get back on their feet after data disasters such as these. For people housing crucial data such as intellectual property, financial data such as accounts payable and receivable, customer databases, and supplier contracts on their computers, our IT experts recommend investing in a comprehensive backup plan.

Though technology is becoming more and more innovative and seamless, nothing is perfect. Not only is it important to backup your digital information but it’s important that you backup it up in the right way. No backup system is completely foolproof, which is why you need both cloud data backup and onsite data backup.

Cloud Data Backup (Offsite Data Backup) VS. Onsite Data Backup (Backup to Local Hard Drive / External HardDrive / Network Attached Storage)

Onsite data backup refers to any type of tangible storage device that is designed to remain on a computer or at the location that the data is created or accessed. Local hard drives, external hard drives and attached online network storage servers are all devices used for onsite data backup.

Local data backup will be restored much more quickly [and/or] is immediately available. Onsite data backup is great because you have immediate access to your files and in the event that your computer crashes your operating system can quickly be restored and all of your files can be easily retrieved from your storage devices.

Though backing your data to a physical device is very effective, there are drawbacks to onsite data backup. Backup hard drives don’t have legs to run away from fires, floods, the frequent tornadoes of the south, and other natural disasters. In the event of such a catastrophe, the hard drives will likely get destroyed along with the computer system and your data will be a goner. Physical hard drives and onsite computer servers are also more susceptible to viruses and other equipment failure.

Another reason why it’s not a good idea to solely depend on on-site data backup to preserve your important files is that your work is not automatically saved as you go. Therefore, it’s really important to be sure to schedule backups at regular intervals throughout the day or week so that the information saved is always up to date. Otherwise, if anything happens to the computer system before you have a chance to click save, your valuable new information will not be there awaiting your return.

With cloud data backup, or offsite data backup, data is stored at a remote location transferred using an online backup service. These offsite data backup systems are tailored around a client software program that collects, compresses, encrypts and transfers the data to a server at regularly scheduled intervals. Cloud data backup solutions allow you to easily have revisions of your files or documents. With this being said, connection speed is extremely important for offsite data backup. If you have dial up IT WILL NOT WORK!

By storing your data remotely with a company that provides cloud data backup services, you don’t have to worry about your information being destroyed in the event of a data disaster because the on-staff professionals will keep regular tabs on the system and your housed data. This way, if anything happens to your computer or the company’s computer system, you can simply go online and fetch your data from the trusted server of an IT services provider.

Though backing your data to the cloud drastically reduces the risk of security breaches and minimizes disruptions to operations due to hardware failures, viruses, unintentional deletion of data, theft or natural disasters, cloud data backup does not replace your local data backup. You need both cloud data backup and on-site data backup so contact TechPros today by calling 615.595.6399 or create a support ticket to connect with a computer technician! Our experienced team of internet technology professionals are happy to help you and your business to stay on your feet by equipping you with the best, most secure data protection backup plan possible.

While the economy is still struggling to bounce back to a healthy state, many companies continue to hold their checkbooks at bay, their IT budget consequently falling by the wayside. As technology professionals, we are well aware of the expenses associated with information security and technology. However, we are also cognizant of the many security threats that exist out there in the vast cyberspace. Every company houses important information–data that if it falls into the wrong hands, gets misplaced, or lost can be detrimental to the success of the organization as a whole.

No matter the size, all companies have intellectual property and there are cybercriminals lurking out there who know exactly how to get any prized data that may lack protection. There are many ways they go about accessing such data–some industries are specifically targeted but most victims of data breach are found by hackers. All it takes is one employee to take their laptop home or to an internet cafe, become infected with a virus, and then infect the entire corporate network upon his or her return to work. Despite the widespread threats across the globe, many companies–especially small non-profits–do not plan for an IT budget. We don’t think that’s a wise idea.

Though security is a key proponent of IT management services, there are many other advantages to having an IT budget.  

Data Management and Backup
With multiple files to keep track of, it can be very easy to lose your data internally–whether because someone didn’t save a file correctly or in the unfortunate event that your system gets wiped out. That’s why it’s so important to backup all of your files to an external server. IT specialists can create electronic storage systems to help you organize your files and protect your company’s valuable data. Not to mention they’re there to provide full support and take care of trouble-shooting when network issues arise.

It used to be that people who had been at their 9 to 5 desk jobs for years were the ones plagued with eye strain but today even young eyes are turning old. With the advent of technology, it’s very likely that you spend most of the day eye-locked with some type of screen whether it be a laptop, tablet, or smartphone. When we use such devices to play games or intently scan through our emails and work documents, our minds become so intensely focused on the screen that we often forget to blink. It’s so easy to get lost in that crumb-sized text, that before you know it you’ve had a 10-hour-long staring contest with your device. Let it be known, the device always wins (unless it dies, which in case, at least something arises to thankfully snap you out of your trance) at your vision’s disposal. To lessen the long-term damage electronic screens could cause your eyes, here are 7 tricks for reducing computer-related eye strain.

1. Dim Down That Monitor!
With just a few simple tweaks, you can adjust your computer brightness, contrast, and color to keep those eyes from bugging out. Don’t know how? Ask Google. Google always knows 🙂

2. Get Yourself a Sexy Pair of Computer Readers
The hipster look is in so now’s the time to spring for a second set of eyes. Computer screens tend to emit some very harsh whites that can be pretty painful to look at for long periods of time. The protective lenses in these specialized glasses are designed to minimize this effect as well as provide a bit of magnification, thereby making computer readers a great candidate for reducing computer-related eye strain.

3. Increase Your Browser Display Size
When it comes to viewing your computer you don’t have to opt for the standard wide-screen format. In fact, we don’t suggest it as it doesn’t tend to work well with documents and often leaves wide, empty margins on the sides of your website browser. Increase your viewing pleasure by increasing the browser display size. Just hold down Control and scroll up until the page fits your monitor like a picture frame. To adjust the browser display size on a Mac, simply press Command and + until you reach the desired size.

4. Use the Power of Those Magnifiers
When it comes to text, size does matter; it makes all the difference when it comes to legibility. However, computer text is a tad bit different as it can be hard to read no matter what size it is. Instead of opening your eyes so wide that you like a freak with a headache, use your magnifiers to enlarge certain parts of the screen. Note: Magnifiers are included in almost all versions of Windows and a similar software called Zoom is available to Mac users.

5. Settle for a Lower Desktop Resolution
The higher the resolution, the smaller images and text will appear so do your eyes a favor and make an adjustment. At a lower resolution, images and text blocks pop out more on the screen, making the computer work less strenuous on the eyes.

6. Bring that Text Size Up a Notch
They make calculators with huge buttons, books with enormous type set, signs twice the size of a human head, all so that people can see them. It only make sense that Windows 7, tablets, and many other devices, live up to the same standards by giving you the option to change the text and other on-screen aesthetics. Right-click on your desktop and find the Display option under the Personalize menu. Smaller, medium, and larger will be your options as far as manipulating text to reduce computer-related eye strain.

7. Take a Break!
I know, I know, “it’s not a good time”, you’re “in the middle of something important.” What you’re really in the middle of is a trance. Snap out of it! Staring at a screen for too long is not only boring but it’s unhealthy and can cause computer vision syndrome. Direct your attention elsewhere for a few minutes…maybe go look at something live like a face? That’s right, go catch up with a friend or coworker for a few. Focusing your vision elsewhere will keep your eyes from fatiguing fast. Better yet, shed some daylight upon those lids of yours! Being inside all day can mess with your eyes and your sleeping rhythms. Exposing your eyes to different levels of light helps in reducing computer-related eye strain. Besides, like your parents used to say “Honey, get some fresh air. It’s good for you!”