OC-IT

Tablets running Google’s operating system – Android – are becoming an integral tool to many business owners and managers. One reason they are so useful is because of the apps one can install on their device. One of the most popular of these apps is Google’s Gmail. This app, which brings the browser version of the email service to your device, has been recently updated with a brand new look.

Here is an overview of the two major changes that have been made to the Gmail mobile app. These changes apply to Android devices running Android 4.0 and newer, as well as the iOS version.

A new layout
When you upgrade to the new version of Gmail on your mobile device, you’ll notice that the layout has changed drastically. Sure, your emails still take up the majority of the screen space, but the change is in how they are presented. Along the top of the screen you will now see the name of the folder you are looking at, an envelope with a plus symbol, (pressing this will allow you to compose a new email.), and a magnifying glass symbol which allows you to search your email and three vertical squares through which you can access the settings.

If you look at your emails, you will notice that each email now takes up slightly more space and shows a preview of the first few lines. At first glance, you see that the square box you used to use to select multiple emails, which was located beside each email, has been replaced by a bigger picture, (if the sender of the email has a profile picture), or the first initial of the sender. The picture, or letter, now functions as the multiple select box. Tapping on it will allow you to select as many emails as you wish.

When you select more than one email, (by tapping on each picture), you will notice that the menu bar at the top of the screen changes to display five icons:

1. Checkmark - will uncheck (deselect) the emails.
2. Box with an arrow - will archive selected emails.
3. Open or closed envelope - will change all selected emails to either unread or read.
4. File - will allow you to move the selected emails to various files or tabs.
5. Three vertical squares - will bring up the options, which include: Delete, Add star, Change labels, Mute, etc.

These labels also appear when you open a single email. The compose email window has not been changed.

When you are on the main inbox screen, you will notice three horizontal lines at the very top-left of the screen. Tapping on these will cause the inbox and label menu to slide open, allowing you to select different inbox tabs and labels.

Tabbed inbox
The recently launched tabbed inbox for the browser based version of Gmail has also been introduced to the mobile app. If you activated this, you should see the tabs pop up in the main Gmail screen when you have a new email. You can tap on the tab to be taken to that category and view the emails that Gmail has moved there.

As with the browser version, Gmail will organize your inbox and emails into five different tabs:

1. Primary - emails that are person-to-person and usually important.
2. Social - emails related to the various social networks you subscribe to.
3. Promotions - emails from promotion websites or those offering deals.
4. Updates - emails from auto-senders that are meant to be updates e.g., bank statements, bill payments.
5. Forums - emails from various forums you may subscribe to.

You can view emails in these tabs at any time by tapping on the three horizontal lines in the top-left of the screen and selecting the name of the tab from the menu that slides in.

If you would like to change the settings and layout of the new app, you can do so by:

1. Pressing the three vertical squares and selecting Settings.
2. Tapping on your account.
3. Changing desired settings. e.g., which tabs are shown can be changed by selecting Inbox Categories.
4. Pressing the back button on your phone until you are on the main Gmail screen. Your changes should be automatically applied.

The new version of the Gmail mobile app brings about some interesting changes that will definitely take some time to get used to. If you would like to learn more about this app, or how any Android tablet or device can help with your business, please contact us today.

There are many tools that business owners and managers have at their disposal that enable them to do their jobs more effectively. One of the most important is the word processor, with the most popular being Microsoft Word. Word is favored because of the multitude of features available for users. There are many features that often go unused however, one being the ability to protect documents and set who can access and edit your documents.

Here’s how you can protect your Word documents.

You will see a new window pane open with three options:

1. Formatting restrictions - Allows you to set restrictions based on styles used in your document. Hitting the radio beside this option will enable this. You can click on Settings to select which styles can be edited. Pressing OK will input the changes.

2. Editing restrictions - Allows you to select how users will be able to edit the document. If you press the radio button beside this option, you will be able to select from four options:

   1. Tracked Changes - Users can make changes which are automatically tracked.

   2. Comments - Users can only comment, not make changes.

   3. Filling in forms - Only forms may be filled in.

   4. No changes - No alteration can be made to the document.

3. Start Enforcing - Clicking Yes, Start Enforcing Protection will implement the protection you have picked in one of the options above.

You should see a new option in the window pane: Exceptions. This is where you can make exceptions to the level of document protection you have established. If you have set up User Groups in your network, you will see them in this option. Clicking the button beside a specific group will give them full permission to edit documents. You can also click More users… and add users by their name or email address who will become an exception to these rules.

When you have the settings established, click the Yes, Start Enforcing Protection button. If you need to make changes, or remove protection, open up the Protect Document window pane again and untick the box beside the protection option you choose. This will remove document protection.

Protecting your documents is a good idea, especially if you are going to send these out to clients or a third party who you don’t want to be able to make changes, or edit. Some practical examples of this in action include a contract you send out to potential clients or employees, or sending out marketing materials with price lists.

If you would like to learn more about how you can leverage Word’s vast features to improve documents, please contact us today to see how we can help.

When it comes to efficient Disaster Recovery or Business Continuity Plans, backing up your data is vital. One potential area that many business owners forget is email. If you use Microsoft Office 365′s email program – Outlook – there is a way you can collect emails into one folder for easy backup: Archive.

Below are steps on how you can archive your emails in Outlook, and how you can retrieve archived items.

How to archive emails
When it comes to archiving emails, you have two options:

AutoArchive

1. Open Outlook and click on File.
2. Select Options followed by Advanced.
3. Click on AutoArchive Settings which is located in the third box down.
4. Tick the box beside Run AutoArchive every XX Days. This will turn on AutoArchive. Be sure to set how often you would like it to run.
5. Set where archived emails will be stored on your computer by clicking Browse. Be sure to also set the age limit when old emails will be moved by selecting the options beside Clean out items older than…
6. Press Apply these settings to all folders now to apply the settings to all folders and then press OK when you have set up the options to your preferences.

Manual archive
Before you manually archive your emails, we recommend creating a new folder in Outlook by clicking on Inbox followed by New Folder from the ribbon above the email screen. Select the name and location for the folder and press OK. You can then move emails you want to manually archive into this folder. From there:

1. Press File followed by Info.
2. Press the Cleanup Tools button and select Archive…
3. Tick Archive this folder and all subfolders: and select the folder you recently created from the menu below. Note: If you set up AutoArchive, you can press Archive all folders according to their AutoArchive settings to force an AutoArchive.
4. Set the age limit in the box that says Archive items older than: emails older than the date you choose will be archived while newer ones will remain.
5. Select the location for the archive by clicking Browse and picking where on your computer you would like the backup to be saved.
6. Press OK and your files will be archived.

A few things to be aware of
We strongly recommend that when selecting a file to store your archived emails that you select the default location suggested by Outlook. We also recommend that you archive emails you don’t need regular access to, because when you archive them, they are taken out of your Inbox.

Retrieve your archived emails
If you navigate to the folder you set for your backup, you will see the archived emails labeled as archive.pst. If you back up your system regularly, we strongly recommend you ensure that this file is also backed up, as if your system crashes and you haven’t backed up this file, you will lose all of your archived emails.

For users of Outlook 2013, you can easily access your archived emails by:

1. Opening Outlook.
2. Selecting Archives and pressing the black arrow.
3. Clicking on the file you have selected to archive.
4. The emails should pop right up.

If you have an older version of Outlook, you can access your archived emails by:

1. Pressing File followed by Open.
2. Selecting Open Outlook Data File.
3. Clicking on the archived file and pressing OK.

Note: This will move ALL archived emails back into your Inbox and other folders, so you will need to re-archive them.

If you would like to learn more about Outlook and other programs included in Office 365, please contact us today.

There are many integral programs that businesses use on a daily basis. One of the most important is email, with Google’s Gmail being one of the most popular platforms. There are many things that make Gmail popular, mainly it’s the fact that Gmail is so easy to use and has many features that attract users. Gmail has recently been updated with a new feature that changes the layout of your inbox.

Here is an overview of the changes recently introduced to Gmail.

Gmail gets tabs
Tabs have been a part of most Internet browsers for a few years now, and response to this has generally been positive. The latest update to Gmail introduces tabs to the interface. When this feature is activated, you will see up to five new tabs just above your emails. The idea behind these tabs is that they separate your inbox and keep certain types of less important emails together. This simultaneously cleans up your inbox while potentially ensuring important emails aren’t missed.

Note: Google also refers to these tabs as ‘categories’.

The five tabs (categories) you could see are:

1. Primary - Your main inbox, where all important emails will go. This is also where person-to-person emails will be sent.
2. Social - Emails and notifications from your various social networks including updates, posts, etc. will now show here.
3. Promotions - Emails from the various promotion sites you follow including newsletters, ads, deals, bills, etc. will now be located in this tab.
4. Updates - Update emails including airline tickets, hotel reservations, shipping notifications, support tickets, etc. will now show under this tab.
5. Forums - Email notifications from the various forums you belong to will be stored here.

This update could be great for business users who have a tough time managing their inbox because of bacn (email you want, just not right now).

How to enable the new feature
If you would like to try this new feature out, you can enable it by:

1. Logging in to your Gmail account on any Internet browser.
2. Clicking the cog in the top-right of the screen (just below your profile picture and name).
3. Selecting Configure inbox.

Your inbox will reload and you will see a window asking you to select what tabs to show. We recommend selecting tabs that are relevant. If you don’t use your email address for social media, you don’t need to select the Social tab. After you press ok, you will notice that your email has been sorted into the different tabs.

If you want to quickly go back to your old inbox layout, click on Categories on the left-hand vertical bar from the main Gmail window.

How to manage your new inbox
New emails will be automatically sent to what Gmail deems to be the correct categories. We suggest that you look through these categories (tabs) for any email that doesn’t belong and move it. You can move emails from one tab to another by simply right-clicking on it, hovering over Move to tab and selecting the tab to move it to. You can also drag emails from one tab to another by selecting it and dragging it over the tab you would like the email moved to.

When you move an individual email, you will notice a yellow bar across the top of the screen. This bar has two options: You can press Undo to undo the move and Yes to send future emails from the sender to the same tab. If you select multiple emails and move them by dragging and dropping, you won’t get this option.

Where the new feature gets confusing
While this new feature is great for sorting out emails currently in your inbox, it isn’t so great for emails with labels or those that are archived. These new tabs only include emails from your inbox. Emails that you have archived are not included. If you have set up filters for certain types of emails to skip the inbox (be archived immediately), they will not show up in the tabs, you will have to look at the labels or in your archived emails to see them.

If you have been using Smart Labels, you likely already have similar labels for social media and update related emails. You should be aware that these are different, and emails that get labeled may not show up in the relevant tab. If you plan to use this feature, it would be a good idea to turn off or delete the Smart Label.

The biggest thing you should know about this new feature is that your inbox count will only reflect emails in the Primary tab. Any new emails in the other tabs will not increase your inbox total. The reason for this is that Gmail views other categories/tabs as less important. So, if you are expecting an important email, be sure to check all your tabs.

If you have moved over to the new layout and would like to learn more about how Gmail can help make your business more efficient, please contact us today to see how we can help.

A common misconception among many business owners and managers is that managing the security of their systems and computers is a time-consuming and costly endeavor. While it certainly can be expensive, how much you spend really depends on the type of security you want and need. In fact, there are security steps you can take that won’t cost you much in the way of time or money.

Here are five low-cost things you can do to ensure that your business is secure.

1. Communication is key
Many companies take adequate steps to ensure that their systems are adequately protected. The thing is, many security breaches come from within the company. If your employees keep passwords written on pieces of paper that they leave lying around their desks, this is a security issue. It is a good idea to agree with employees where to keep important information and ensure they follow these rules.

Beyond that, if you implement security changes or new systems e.g., new virus scanning software, it is important that you talk to your staff to ensure they know how the system works and how they can use it. You would be surprised at how much effective communication can help to minimize security issues, and best of all? It’s free!

2. Educate your staff
One of the more common security issues comes from spam and malware found in emails. It is a good idea to educate your staff on how to spot these different types of emails and other malicious websites, as well as how to avoid them.

It is worthwhile ensuring that your employees know their roles when it comes to security too. If you have a secretary who you believe is responsible for ensuring the office is locked at the end of the night, take steps to ensure that this person understands their responsibilities. The same goes for computers your staff use: If they are responsible for conducting security scans let them know this. While this may take some time, the cost is low to free.

3. Keep track of your keys
To ensure the security of your IT systems and your physical office, you should keep control of your keys. That is, both the physical keys and those associated with your software (the codes you enter to verify software and unlock full versions).

Keep track of which staff members have a key to the office and if possible number them. The goal here is to know where your keys are at any given time, and if a staff member changes employers make sure you ask for them back.

Many software keys or licenses are single use only. If you invest in software and an employees steals this along with the key, you will likely have to purchase the software again. A good tip is to keep software keys secure and separate from the software itself. The best part about this step is that the cost of doing this is minimal.

4. Keep your software updated
Hackers can be a lazy bunch. They will often target those with out of date software, because it’s usually easier to hack. To reduce the chance of being hacked, you should take steps to ensure that your software is up-to-date. This includes your virus and malware scanners, as well as browsers and even software you don’t use.

Get your staff to perform a ‘software audit’ on their computers on a regular basis. This means going through their computer and properly uninstalling software that they don’t use, while also taking time to ensure their system is completely updated. This step is easy to implement and will cost you next to nothing.

5. Keep important systems off site
Many small to medium businesses keep their servers on site. While this is convenient as your systems are right there and easily accessible, this could also create a security issue. One way to minimize this is to work with an IT partner who can host your systems or servers off site or in the cloud. While this involves some cost, working with an IT partner could save you profits and productivity in the long run, as good providers will ensure that your systems are secure and working properly.

If you are looking to make your systems more secure, please contact us today. We may have a solution that will work for your business.

A common misconception among many business owners and managers is that managing the security of their systems and computers is a time-consuming and costly endeavor. While it certainly can be expensive, how much you spend really depends on the type of security you want and need. In fact, there are security steps you can take that won’t cost you much in the way of time or money.

Here are five low-cost things you can do to ensure that your business is secure.

1. Communication is key
Many companies take adequate steps to ensure that their systems are adequately protected. The thing is, many security breaches come from within the company. If your employees keep passwords written on pieces of paper that they leave lying around their desks, this is a security issue. It is a good idea to agree with employees where to keep important information and ensure they follow these rules.

Beyond that, if you implement security changes or new systems e.g., new virus scanning software, it is important that you talk to your staff to ensure they know how the system works and how they can use it. You would be surprised at how much effective communication can help to minimize security issues, and best of all? It’s free!

2. Educate your staff
One of the more common security issues comes from spam and malware found in emails. It is a good idea to educate your staff on how to spot these different types of emails and other malicious websites, as well as how to avoid them.

It is worthwhile ensuring that your employees know their roles when it comes to security too. If you have a secretary who you believe is responsible for ensuring the office is locked at the end of the night, take steps to ensure that this person understands their responsibilities. The same goes for computers your staff use: If they are responsible for conducting security scans let them know this. While this may take some time, the cost is low to free.

3. Keep track of your keys
To ensure the security of your IT systems and your physical office, you should keep control of your keys. That is, both the physical keys and those associated with your software (the codes you enter to verify software and unlock full versions).

Keep track of which staff members have a key to the office and if possible number them. The goal here is to know where your keys are at any given time, and if a staff member changes employers make sure you ask for them back.

Many software keys or licenses are single use only. If you invest in software and an employees steals this along with the key, you will likely have to purchase the software again. A good tip is to keep software keys secure and separate from the software itself. The best part about this step is that the cost of doing this is minimal.

4. Keep your software updated
Hackers can be a lazy bunch. They will often target those with out of date software, because it’s usually easier to hack. To reduce the chance of being hacked, you should take steps to ensure that your software is up-to-date. This includes your virus and malware scanners, as well as browsers and even software you don’t use.

Get your staff to perform a ‘software audit’ on their computers on a regular basis. This means going through their computer and properly uninstalling software that they don’t use, while also taking time to ensure their system is completely updated. This step is easy to implement and will cost you next to nothing.

5. Keep important systems off site
Many small to medium businesses keep their servers on site. While this is convenient as your systems are right there and easily accessible, this could also create a security issue. One way to minimize this is to work with an IT partner who can host your systems or servers off site or in the cloud. While this involves some cost, working with an IT partner could save you profits and productivity in the long run, as good providers will ensure that your systems are secure and working properly.

If you are looking to make your systems more secure, please contact us today. We may have a solution that will work for your business.

Do you know what type of processor your computer has? Most people will answer ‘Intel’, because it’s the most popular processor maker there is. If you were to follow processor news, you would know that Intel has recently introduced a new version or ‘generation’ of their popular Core processors that could prove very useful for your business.

While the new processors are not out just yet, many business owners and managers are wondering what exactly this new version will bring and whether upgrading is worth it when it’s released?

Overview of Intel’s processors
If you have looked at buying a computer in the past three years you have likely heard or seen computers being advertised as having an Intel Core i3, i5 or i7. These processors are Intel’s current line or models, used in laptops and desktops.

• Core i3 processors offer the lowest amount of processing power and are generally found in low-end laptops or desktops. These are best for users who only need computers to check email or browse the Internet.
• Core i5 processors are the mid-range and can usually be found in mid-range laptops and desktops. These are best suited to most personal users and can handle most computing needs.
• Core i7 processors are top of the line and are the most powerful processors Intel makes. These are really suited to businesses and high-end consumers who need powerful processors.

Introduced in 2010, these processors have seen updated versions released almost every year. Intel calls each update a ‘generation’ and the latest, introduced in May 2013, is the 4th generation. You can tell which generation of processor your computer has by looking at the model number e.g., Intel Core i7 3xxx is a third generation processor.

This year’s generation is called Haswell by Intel, but many computer manufacturers will not use this name when presenting technical specifications to users. They will instead use the model name e.g., Intel Core i7 4xxx.

Changes made with Haswell
There are numerous changes that Haswell processors bring and here are three that businesses will benefit from:

• Faster performance - Because the new processor uses a slightly different layout, more processing power has been added. This means computers using this processor will be faster. This chip is also smaller than the previous versions, so you should see smaller laptops introduced with more computing power.
• Power savings - Intel has said that when they develop new generations of chips, they aim to always reduce the power consumption. This leads to longer battery life in laptops, without having to sacrifice computing power. How much power saving this new generation of processors will bring remains to be seen, but you can be sure that newer laptops will have a longer battery life.
• Enhanced graphics - With the introduction of the first Core i3, i5 and i7′s, Intel included an integrated video card. Graphics performance is important to a number of different types of users, including gamers, graphics designers and to some extent, businesses. If you use graphics-heavy programs, like Photoshop, on a daily basis, you need a powerful graphics processor. The new update brings an increase to the integrated card performance which should be more than powerful enough for most users’ needs.

A question being asked by many is whether the new processors will bring a price increase. At this time, prices have not been released,but there is rumor that they are going to be higher. Past releases have not generally affected the overall price of laptops and desktops though and if anything has made them less expensive.

Should I upgrade my systems?
From what we can see about Haswell it will be worth the upgrade for businesses with aging systems, or users needing a boost to the processing power of their systems. If you updated last year, or even the year before that, you will likely be better off waiting a while yet.

Another option could be to wait until computers with Haswell processors enter the market, which should be by mid summer. You will probably be able to get computers with a third generation processor for a lot less. Meanwhile, a third generation processor should be more than able to meet all of your computing needs, especially if you have or invest in a Core i7.

If you are thinking of upgrading or would like to learn more, please contact us.

Do you know what type of processor your computer has? Most people will answer ‘Intel’, because it’s the most popular processor maker there is. If you were to follow processor news, you would know that Intel has recently introduced a new version or ‘generation’ of their popular Core processors that could prove very useful for your business.

While the new processors are not out just yet, many business owners and managers are wondering what exactly this new version will bring and whether upgrading is worth it when it’s released?

Overview of Intel’s processors
If you have looked at buying a computer in the past three years you have likely heard or seen computers being advertised as having an Intel Core i3, i5 or i7. These processors are Intel’s current line or models, used in laptops and desktops.

• Core i3 processors offer the lowest amount of processing power and are generally found in low-end laptops or desktops. These are best for users who only need computers to check email or browse the Internet.
• Core i5 processors are the mid-range and can usually be found in mid-range laptops and desktops. These are best suited to most personal users and can handle most computing needs.
• Core i7 processors are top of the line and are the most powerful processors Intel makes. These are really suited to businesses and high-end consumers who need powerful processors.

Introduced in 2010, these processors have seen updated versions released almost every year. Intel calls each update a ‘generation’ and the latest, introduced in May 2013, is the 4th generation. You can tell which generation of processor your computer has by looking at the model number e.g., Intel Core i7 3xxx is a third generation processor.

This year’s generation is called Haswell by Intel, but many computer manufacturers will not use this name when presenting technical specifications to users. They will instead use the model name e.g., Intel Core i7 4xxx.

Changes made with Haswell
There are numerous changes that Haswell processors bring and here are three that businesses will benefit from:

• Faster performance - Because the new processor uses a slightly different layout, more processing power has been added. This means computers using this processor will be faster. This chip is also smaller than the previous versions, so you should see smaller laptops introduced with more computing power.
• Power savings - Intel has said that when they develop new generations of chips, they aim to always reduce the power consumption. This leads to longer battery life in laptops, without having to sacrifice computing power. How much power saving this new generation of processors will bring remains to be seen, but you can be sure that newer laptops will have a longer battery life.
• Enhanced graphics - With the introduction of the first Core i3, i5 and i7′s, Intel included an integrated video card. Graphics performance is important to a number of different types of users, including gamers, graphics designers and to some extent, businesses. If you use graphics-heavy programs, like Photoshop, on a daily basis, you need a powerful graphics processor. The new update brings an increase to the integrated card performance which should be more than powerful enough for most users’ needs.

A question being asked by many is whether the new processors will bring a price increase. At this time, prices have not been released,but there is rumor that they are going to be higher. Past releases have not generally affected the overall price of laptops and desktops though and if anything has made them less expensive.

Should I upgrade my systems?
From what we can see about Haswell it will be worth the upgrade for businesses with aging systems, or users needing a boost to the processing power of their systems. If you updated last year, or even the year before that, you will likely be better off waiting a while yet.

Another option could be to wait until computers with Haswell processors enter the market, which should be by mid summer. You will probably be able to get computers with a third generation processor for a lot less. Meanwhile, a third generation processor should be more than able to meet all of your computing needs, especially if you have or invest in a Core i7.

If you are thinking of upgrading or would like to learn more, please contact us.

Disasters come in all shapes and sizes and for businesses they can range from massive catastrophes to less severe but still damaging ones, such as dropping an external hard drive that contains vital backups. Regardless of the what type of problem you are dealing with, it pays to be prepared beforehand. One way to do this is to have a backup solution in place. Many experts recommend you use an offsite backup strategy, but the question we often get is, “why”?

Here are five benefits and a definition of offsite backup.

Offsite backup defined
The definition of offsite backup can be a bit difficult to nail down, as when many IT providers talk about this idea they are usually referring to one of a number of different kinds of backup. The key idea revolving around offsite backup is that your company’s data and backups are sent out of your physical location(s). In other words, your backups are not stored in your office or building.

Offsite backup is usually done in one of two ways:

1. Physical transport - This can range from something as simple as copying important files onto a removable hard drive and storing this in another location, to backing up entire systems on tape and storing them off site.
2. Remote backup - This is a more modern approach to data backup, whereby your data and files are stored on servers located off site. This form of backup is commonly referred to as ‘cloud backup’.

For the purpose of this article, we will focus on remote backup as this is the main solution companies are enquiring about.

Benefits of remote backup

1. It’s more reliable
The major benefit of remote backup is that it can be automated. Your files are updated on a daily basis, or you can set the time for the update. Because these solutions work over the Internet, you will be able to recover files quickly. Beyond that, the servers that offer this solution are often located in numerous locations, which ensures that your backups are always available, even if one server crashes.

2. It reduces workload
Traditional backup solutions require a person, whether you or an IT professional, to manually back up or copy files. This can take a long time, and will take you away from your normal job. Many remote backup solutions can be initiated at the click of a mouse after setup, or can be scheduled for when you aren’t in the office.

3. It’s easy to set up
Backup solutions are managed by an IT partner who can work with you to set up which files and data to back up. Other solutions can be set up with a few clicks and even automated, so you can rest assured that your data is backed up and up-to-date.

4. It’s secure
Most backup providers store their servers in secure locations, meaning that your data is physically secure. To ensure that backup data is transmitted securely, most solutions use advanced encryption tools to keep data secure.

5. It will save money
If you have numerous computers with large amounts of data that you back up regularly, you know that physical storage solutions can be costly. The majority of remote backup solutions are billed on a monthly-basis and support a near unlimited amount of backup space. If your company operates in an industry where backups are mandatory, or you have a large amount of files to back up, these options will save you money.

If you are interested in learning more about how offsite, remote backup can help ensure that your business is ready for disaster recovery, please contact us today.

The most popular operating system (OS), especially when it comes to businesses, is without a doubt Windows. Apple’s OS – OS X – has been increasing in popularity and businesses are starting to adopt this system. If you have the latest version of OS X – 10.8 Mountain Lion – an update has been released that you might want to install.

Below is an overview of the recent OS X 10.8 update and how you can install it.

Update features
Here are some of the changes with the update:

• Improved Wi-Fi compatibility with some enterprise level wireless networks.
• Microsoft Exchange compatibility with Calendar (iCal) has been improved to make it integration easier.
• An issue that prevented Facetime calls to non-US numbers has been fixed.
• iMessages has been updated to fix an issue where messages showed out of order.
• Safari has been updated to 6.0.5 which has improved overall stability.
• An issue that prevented some documents from being uploaded to an SMB server has been fixed.

These features are just a few of the updates introduced in 10.8.4 that aim to generally improve the overall functionality of the OS. While it may appear that these updates don’t make massive improvements, it is a good idea to download the update as an up-to-date system can generally improve the security of a system while ensuring that your computer is functioning as it should be.

How to install the update
There are a couple of ways you can get the update:

Through the App Store

1. Open the App Store (it’s the blue circle icon with the brush, pencil and ruler in your dock).
2. Wait for the Store to load and press the Updates icon at the top of the window.
3. Look for the update. It should be located in a tab called Software Update. If you press More it should show you information regarding the update. It should be called: OS X Update Combined 10.8.4.
4. Click Update and it should be downloaded and applied. You will need to restart your computer.

Manually download it

1. Go to Apple’s Support site’s 10.8.4 update page located here.
2. Press Download. When it has finished, the update should be in your Downloads folder.
3. Double click on the file and follow the install instructions.
4. Restart your computer.

If you work with an IT partner we recommend that you contact them before you update your system as there may be other systems you use that won’t support the update. If you are unsure about the update and compatibility with your systems, please contact us today to see how we can help.