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5 Time-Saving Tech Tips

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When it comes to saving time at work, we all want the best tech tips so we can be more productive. Better tech is not always the answer to your everyday productivity problems. Sometimes it can seem like we are spending more time on devices, even though we have the best. While technology is continuously evolving with faster devices to help us do more with the time we have, we can do better with managing what we have.

At Boost IT, we have 5 time-saving tech tips to help you improve productivity.

Manage email

Email is one of the biggest time wasters in most people’s day. You’ve probably heard that it is better to schedule times to look at emails instead of reading every one as it lands in your inbox. The problem is you might feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of emails when you get to your inbox. There are dozens of apps out there to help – Microsoft Office 365’s Clutter, Google G Suite’s Priority Inbox, EasilyDo, Spark, Dispatch. Whether you use an app or not, keep it simple. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the mass amount of emails you get daily, be diligent in managing them. Use your filters, organize into folders and subfolders, and color code by using categories.

Make data accessible from all devices

With the cloud, you can access all your data from any device at any time. If you’re not doing this already, this will be a game changer. A helpful article to understand how you can save time is How to Increase Productivity with Cloud Computing. Additionally, Boost IT offers Rocketsync that makes it very easy to share and synchronize all your company files in the cloud with everyone in your company. Rocketsync can cloud-enable your existing file server, like we explain in the Case Study: Griffith Engineering, Inc. or allow you to eliminate an in-house server altogether, explained in the Case Study: Dexter Companies, LLC. With Rocketsync, we have already helped small to medium companies save a huge amount of time when their employees are on the go, in and out of meetings, at job sites without internet connections, and needing quick access to their data when talking to a client. We use it on our phones, tablets, PCs and Macs, and so do our clients.

Use a Password Management App

Just when you thought you had all your software synced on your devices, you change a password on one device only to be scrambling around trying to find the new password when you go on another device. It’s a huge time waster. You might even try to guess a variation of passwords until you finally get access. Yet, don’t you know that you should use a different password for every website, and that each one should be strong and not guessable? Finding a good password management app is essential in today’s world of technology, and there are a number to choose from, like Keepass, Last Pass, Dashlane, and Roboform. There are some features in Safari and Chrome internet browsers if you like to use the same browsers across all your devices.

Find Your Best Task App

Having an online tracking system is essential for staying on top of projects. There are many project management or time management apps to help set priorities and track projects. Apps like Trello and Quip provide quick checklists of tasks that you can set due dates and then easily check off when completed. In addition, they all store your tasks in the cloud, which eases collaboration so you can share and assign tasks to others while letting you access your lists from any device, at any time.

Maintain Your Devices

Downtime due to computer glitches or a slow computer are the worst productivity killers. Whether you are trying to complete a project and have a deadline, or you are giving a presentation and switching from slide to slide, you want your technology to perform at its best. Most glitches can be avoided with proper maintenance of your system and regular software updates. Boost IT can help with Managed IT Services like performance monitoring that help to keep your system running at peak performance. You can also read our article about How to Maintain Your Server.

Technology can be a help or hindrance when it comes to productivity. Having the right tools can help keep you on task and on schedule so you are organized and working effectively. But all your tools are only as good as your devices. To keep your devices working at peak performance, get a great team to back you up, contact Boost IT at 404-865-1289.

How Technology is Changing the Real Estate Industry

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Technology has completely changed how real estate transactions are handled by an agent, how agents list and research properties, and how buyers and sellers complete property transactions. It has completely transformed the industry. With mobile technology and cloud computing, today’s brokers and agents are more connected than ever before, being able to operate anywhere, and it has made the industry much more competitive.

Transitioning to Mobile Technology

Mobile technology has significantly improved the productivity and customer service of the real estate professional. First came the convenience of getting paged when someone was trying to reach you, then the cell phone provided instant access to calls while on the go.

As phones got smarter, you could access emails and download documents. You no longer had to adapt to running around town and swinging by the office to check your email or pick up a fax.

Realtors must constantly stay in touch with their prospects and clients. With mobile technology, there is no longer the need to wait for the face-to-face meeting. You can preview a property online. You can use Skype for a meeting. You can make calls, and send texts and emails directly from your device. You can schedule appointments without having to pick up the phone or send a text. You can send personal or closing documents from your tablet or phone to provide an update on a closing.

Learn more about the digital tools realtors are using to stay ahead in this fast-changing industry in the article, 5 Ways Technology Is Changing Real Estate.

 

There are many pain points that agents and brokers must overcome. Besides improved communication, technology has helped them provide a great customer experience. The article, 14 ways technology will change the future of real estate, looks at some of the problems and how technology helps overcome them. For example, mobile versions of websites, mobile apps, advanced search features, and online resources help you tailor services specifically for a buyer or seller. Use your smartphone to go online or use iPhone or Android apps to search for better options of properties available on the market, view online listings, and get quick information about the area.

Moving to the Cloud

In addition to mobile technology, companies are making the shift to the cloud and realizing the benefits. With less need for infrastructure, real estate companies can downsize their office space and reimagine how that space is used. They have defined, predictable costs for cloud services that help them cut costs, streamline processes, and better manage their budgets.

Often the company or broker passes their costs on to the agents. As companies cut their costs, the fees are more affordable. The cloud also allows them to stay secure with updated software, get the latest forms via apps, and tap online resources with real-time property information. Backups can be stored in the cloud as well and restored quickly. For small real estate agencies, this is great news because they can be more competitive.

You’ve been working in the cloud for some time and might not realize it. Read this article, Strategic Efficiency: It’s Waiting in the Cloud, to learn more about some of the cloud services you might be using.

Cloud security continues to be a big issue in real estate and other industries. While the cloud has made it easier to obtain an e-signature for a contract or allowed agents to collaborate through shared files, software needs to be regularly updated and cybersecurity measures put in place.

Boost IT has experience working with professional services firms in the real estate industry and understands the IT issues for the industry. We know you need to stay in touch with your clients and your technology needs to be working securely all the time, no matter where you are. We can help you chose better technologies than you are using now, manage cloud storage, provide reliable sync and file sharing, assess your cybersecurity, and provide strategic guidance that will eliminate frustration across your entire organization. Read about how we helped a local, Atlanta based commercial real estate brokerage company with migrating to the cloud in this Real Estate Services Case Study. They have cut their costs, even including our fees, and are now more profitable and more competitive. For more information, contact us at 404-865-1289.

Why You Should Switch to Windows 10

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Have you held off on upgrading to Windows 10? You might have heard about the tradeoffs and shortcomings. You may have heard many complaints. Since its launch in 2015, many of the glitches are fixed. There are real benefits to upgrading.

5 Reasons to Switch to Windows 10

Updated Software

Many individual users are disappointed that the upgrade isn’t compatible with older programs. The truth is that their programs are ancient so this should be a moot point for most businesses. Hackers target users with programs that are out-of-date because they are no longer supported with updates for security risks. And most professionals must stay abreast of updates in software to stay competitive in their industry.

Security

Microsoft made it clear that they stopped supporting Windows XP and earlier OS versions. If you don’t update, you won’t have the latest version of OS software with all the protection that goes with it. That’s bad for business. Your clients expect you to maintain the highest level of security when handling their sensitive information. You can’t risk compromising their information by using outdated software. And with Windows 10 your employees can’t easily bypass updates in security. With the frequency of updates to combat malicious malware and out of date codes, you need the frequency of patching that Windows 10 provides. Plus, you get the added security features of Device Guard, Microsoft Passport and Windows Hello.

Speed

As a business, you know that faster speeds improve performance. The speed of Windows 10 is impressive. With the new operating system, you have faster startup and more. This is one area that was improved with Windows 8 and now has improved even more. Think about how much more productive you and your team can be with the speed to move through applications, download files and complete actions.

Touch

With new features always being added on devices, the need to keep up is essential. And the ability for touchscreen is a feature that many professionals are finding advantageous. Windows 10 provides touchscreen abilities right on your desktop. It’s a convenience that helps with productivity and performance in ways you can only imagine when you start using it.

Voice

Cortana is an integration that offers the convenience of hands-free interaction. Whether it is taking a note, setting a reminder or doing simple research, Cortana can improve your performance. It is more than just a digital assistant. There are vast improvements with better speech recognition, faster results and more intuitive searches. Cortana offers ease of use for basic tasks that can be done in seconds so you can move on with your workload.

Upgrading to Windows 10 will improve most of the things that really matter—compatibility, security, speed and interface. It can make a difference in how you and your employees utilize their time. If you haven’t upgraded, it’s no longer a question of “Why?” but rather a question on “When?”

Don’t wait any longer to make the switch. Boost IT can help you with all your upgrades so you are running your business most efficiently and effectively. Get started by contacting us at 404-865-1289 or info@boostitco.com.

Debunking the Myths About Cloud Computing

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Cloud computing has been gaining in popularity and has definite value. You may have heard a lot of hype about the magical ease of using cloud services. Or you might have heard the concerns about security and privacy. After all, something that good can’t be for real, right? From a consumer perspective there is much confusion and many misconceptions about it. We’ve highlighted some of the most common myths.

5 Myths About Cloud Computing

Myth #1: It’s just one big cloud.

The Cloud in not one thing and there is no one single computer infrastructure that handles everyone’s data. Amazon Web Services continues to lead the public cloud services with 57 percent of respondents using it, according to the fifth annual State of the Cloud Survey conducted by RightScale in January 2016. Although companies like Amazon are constantly expanding their infrastructure to handle data, there are thousands of entities with computing infrastructure to offer cloud services just in the United States alone. Each one offers their own characteristic applications or services. Therefore, when you consider using the Cloud, you want to consider a strategy that aligns your business goals with the right application or service for your needs.

Myth #2: One day all of our data will be in a public cloud.

Cloud computing is not all or nothing. It is a technology and like all technology it is always being adapted. The real beauty of cloud computing is taking a bunch of commodity hardware, virtualizing it and pooling resources to keep costs down for everyone. But there will likely always be organizations that will continue to use alternatives to the Cloud because of privacy and government snooping concerns. There are also other resources for storing data. Drives and servers are adapting to handle larger storage capacities. Many small to medium sized companies recognize the value of using internal servers with remote access for many of their files to offset the pay-per-use cloud services.

Myth #3: The Cloud is less expensive.

While many companies can save on IT expenses for storing, managing and maintaining their IT in the Cloud, it is not the same for everyone. In fact, several companies report that cost management is a growing concern for Cloud services. It fits best where value is placed on flexibility and companies have the ability to consume and pay for only what is needed when it is needed. Remember that these services are based on pay-per-use fees. Some organizations are finding it more cost effective to set up their own infrastructure with remote managed services while others might find it more cost effective to use the Cloud for select applications or services. And it isn’t always about money. Gartner’s 2014 CIO survey shows that cost savings account for only 14% of the reasons for organizations’ use of the public cloud. Some of the other reasons companies migrate to it are due to agility, security and access.

Myth #4: The Cloud is less secure.

The Identity Theft Resource Center defines a data security breach as “an incident in which an individual name plus a Social Security, driver’s license number, medical record or financial record (credit/debit cards included) is potentially put at risk because of exposure.” The truth is the Cloud is attractive and security will continue to be a concern. But historically, there have been very few breaches in public clouds compared to onsite data centers. A main reason is that many onsite systems are managed by in-house IT people who are not necessarily security experts. With the growing concern, Cloud service providers invest huge amounts of money into security to reduce the risk. Many companies also recognize that security is not only about breaches. The Cloud helps in securing data in case of a natural disaster, theft and any number of other reasons. That doesn’t mean you should assume Cloud services are secure. They need to demonstrate their abilities to you.

Myth #5: Someone else has my IT headaches.

The Cloud provides a safe place to secure your data in case of a hardware failure or natural disaster. But there are still potential problems such as human errors that can cause you headaches. You can further reduce your IT headaches by having a company such as Boost IT help manage and monitor your IT with Cloud services. They will take over the responsibility of keeping up with the software and hardware upgrades and more. This can certainly help your day-to-day workload go smoother.

While many of the myths remain, it’s important to realize that the Cloud is not a fix all or an all-or-nothing approach. It can change workflows and in most cases help with productivity. But there is an adjustment period and employees requires training. You want to do your own homework to see if migrating to the Cloud is right for you. Boost IT can help you look at cloud decisions on a workload-by-workload basis. Contact us at 404-865-1289 or info@boostitco.com.

Solid State Drive vs Hard Disk Drive [VIDEO]

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Solid State Drive vs Hard Disk Drive

Watch the video above. The SSD Drive is on the far right.

The Solid State Drive Advantage

SSD vs HDD
solid state drive advantage

There’s been a lot of hype in the tech community about the solid state drive advantage (SSDs) over mechanical hard drives (HDDs). Since SSDs don’t have moving parts, they’re able to access data almost instantly and they offer dramatically improved reliability and durability. Hard disk drives, however, have been around since the 1950’s and remain mostly unchanged. In contrast, SSDs were released in the late 2000’s and offer lightning speed performance comparatively. Here are the advantages of SSDs.

Superior reliability

The continuous motion generated by an older hard drive’s (HDD) moving parts creates heat, which is a leading factor in hard drive failure. Hard drives are one of the notebook components most likely to fail. Since SSDs don’t have moving parts, common problems like heat and noise are not an issue, resulting in night and day reliability compared to a mechanical hard drive. Also, the MTBF (mean time between failure) reliability rating for hard drives is around 600,000 hours, whereas for SSDs it’s usually more than 1,200,000 hours. SSDs also have extreme shock and vibration tolerance. The bottom line: your data – all of your photos, movies, files, and more – is much safer when saved to an SSD than when saved to a hard drive.

Instant-load performance

In geek terms, without the moving mechanical parts that cause latency issues, SSDs are not impeded by spin-up, seek time, or rotational latency. This equates to faster boot times, nearly instant load times, and greater overall responsiveness, which mean you get more work done in less time. Multiple that regained time X the number of employees X your bill rate and you make MORE PROFIT.

Increased battery life in laptops

With no moving parts, SSDs require less power to operate, and they extend battery life in laptops, UPSs and portable electronic devices.

Lightweight

SSDs weigh less than hard drives, so they make your system easier to haul around and can reduce shipping costs if that’s a factor.

No noise

With no spinning parts, SSDs are nearly silent when they operate, similar to that of a standard USB flash drive rather than the constant, noisy humming of a mechanical hard drive.

Get the Most Out of Windows 10 With These 4 New Features

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Windows 10Windows 10

Windows 10 is here and many users are becoming familiar with their new system and finding out what it can do. Like with any good OS, Windows 10 has advantages over its predecessors. Here are four of our favorite features, and here’s a more extensive list of features.

OneDrive Integration

Microsoft’s OneDrive cloud storage solution is a big part of Windows 10, which makes sense with the cloud being so prominent these days. With Microsoft’s upgrade to Windows 10 comes a more integrated OneDrive for your data-sharing needs. For example, OneDrive is no longer exclusive to Microsoft; it now lets you access files using your Android or iOS device. Plus, you can use OneDrive to remotely access any files on your Windows 10 PC–not just the files stored in OneDrive.

Battery Saver

If you’re using Windows 10 on a mobile device or laptop, you don’t have to monitor your battery levels quite as closely as you used to. With the new Battery Saver feature, Windows 10 will automatically detect when your power levels get low and respond by powering down your non-essential background applications. This will perhaps give you a few extra minutes to make it to that wall charger. To enable Battery Saver, go to Start menu > Settings > System > Battery Saver.

Background Scrolling

One common pitfall for Windows users is to be actively working with an app, and then hovering your cursor over another open app that’s on your screen, but not one that’s selected. You then go to scroll up or down, but to no avail because the app isn’t selected as the primary app. Granted, this isn’t a huge problem because all you have to do is click once on the background app to select it and then you can scroll like you need to. Yet, it’s still enough of an inconvenience for Microsoft to address it with Windows 10. To turn on Background Scrolling so that you won’t have to again be bothered by this, go to Settings > Devices > Mouse and Touchpad.

Customize your Start Menu Apps

Windows 10 nearly eliminated the Windows 8 Metro interface. What’s left of it can be found on the new Windows 10 Start Menu. Instead of having a full screen view, you can pin your most important apps to this for quick access. To do this, click the Start Menuand click on All Apps. Scroll to an application you’d like to add, right click it, and select Pin to Start. This will put a shortcut to the application on the right side of the Start Menu. You can edit the apps on the right side of the Start Menu by right clicking them. You can change their size or unpin them if you want to remove them.

Windows 10 is poised to be a major player in both office and personal computing environments for years to come, which means that we’ll have plenty of time to discover even more of its unique and helpful features. When we do, we’ll be sure to post about it here on our blog. In the meantime, check out this TechRadar review of Windows 10.

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