Issue 7

POST

Welcome to POST by ResTech Solutions

Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Every week we will bring you new content covering recent events and news related to technology, Microsoft, Apple, Google, tips & tricks, useful information, and more! To read the full articles in our newsletters you can either click on the image or article headline. We had a great response each week to our newsletter and we've been hard at work to bring you even more great information this week. Please let us know what you've enjoyed thus far about our newsletter.

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Why the name POST? In the world of computers POST stands for Power On Self Test. This is the action computers take when they are first powered on to check their basic functionality prior to loading the operating system. We decided to take this same concept and to provide you with useful technology information at the beginning of your week to help get you started. POST is also a term associated with news as well and we felt this was an appropriate and fitting name.

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News

Microsoft drops fresh details about upcoming Windows 10 PC-as-a-Service

Image from TechRadar

View the linked article for the new information Microsoft released about their Windows 10 PC-as-a-Service.

What is PC-as-a-Service? This is where you will lease or rent a virtual PC in the cloud and will access it from any system that can run Microsoft's remote desktop client.

Why is this important and should you care? If you don't want to always buy the latest and newest computer or laptop and continually upgrade your system then this may be an option worth considering. You will still need a device that can access the internet to get to your virtual PC but the virtual PC will run independently of the device you use to connect from.

While we still may not have a lot of details there are some items to consider:

You will need an internet connection to access the virtual PC.
The virtual PC may not be suited for more intensive tasks.
You are relying on Microsoft for nearly all of your daily computing needs.
You may not have many options or control over the hardware specs used.

Depending on your needs this may not necessarily be the most viable option. This will be a new offering from Microsoft and we will certainly see continued development and changes to this services as it rolls out.

Are you wondering what the best computer options may be for you or your business? Reach out and we would be happy to help you find the best option.

Microsoft sparks anger by charging Hotmail and Outlook users to keep their old emails

Free is not always free. Many of us use free online services and do not usually think about any limitations that may be imposed on a free account or service. This is the case for long time users of Microsoft's consumer email service Outlook.com, formally Hotmail. Regardless of the situation and pointing fingers lets use this as a wakeup call. We all need to be more aware of the limitations or restrictions for any service we use, free or otherwise. Don't be caught off guard, be prepared and in the know.

Cyber Security

Hacker Group Reportedly Leaks Sensitive Data of 2.28 Million People Registered on Dating Site MeetMindful

Image from Gizmodo

Do you know when your personal data may have been compromised because a company was hacked or had a data breach? Many times you may not know until after the fact, which could be months later. This could be because the company was not aware or wanted to wait to disclose the breach. How do you protect yourself and your personal data?

You have a couple of options. The first is to sign up for a dark web monitoring service which will scan the dark web for any information that is typically linked to your email or domain. The second is to sign up for ID protection. ID protection can also provide some dark web monitoring but, depending on the service, may not provide as deep a level of dark web monitoring as a dedicated service. ID protection can monitor more than just the dark web as it will check on all your sensitive personal information. Items such as your phone number, bank accounts, credit cards, etc. ID protection can also help to restore/recover your identity if you become a victim of any sort of ID theft.

What is the Dark Web? Here is a definition from Wikipedia.

Don't wait until it is too late. Let us help you protect your personal information. Reach out to use for Dark Web monitoring and ID protection.

Microsoft

Your Microsoft Account: 5 Things Every Windows User Should Know

Image from MUO

More and more Microsoft is requiring users to have a Microsoft Account to use many of Microsoft's software and services. While it may be frustrating to go through additional steps to setup a new account there are several benefits to having a Microsoft Account.

It will reduce the number of logins you need to remember/use with Microsoft.
You will be able to manage all of your Microsoft services from one place.
Can use the account to sign into Windows 10.
Using the same account to sign into multiple Windows 10 systems will sync your settings across the systems (when the feature is enabled).
Makes it easy to download software purchased from Microsoft.

As you use your Microsoft Account you will invariably find other useful features. Check out the linked article for useful information on managing your Microsoft Account.

Please note that this is different from a Work or School account you may have. The referenced Microsoft Account is a personal account.

Windows

100% Disk Usage in Windows 10 Fixed With 15 Tricks

Image from MUO

One of the most common issues with system performance is the system disk usage. What is the system disk? The system disk is the main storage medium in the computer where the operating system, applications, and your data is stored. This can either be a hard drive or solid state drive. For decades the main option has been the hard drive or hard disk drive.

The hard drive consists of one or more disks that spin with a read/write head that floats over the disk and magnetically reads and writes data to the disk. If your computer came with a hard drive and the system is experiencing performance issues, and it has been in use for a few years, the likely cause is the hard drive. Hard drives have mechanical parts that are constantly moving and over time will wear out. When this happens the best option is to clone the drive to a solid state drive and replace the hard drive with the solid state drive. How do you know if this is the case? With a hard drive you will hear the drive struggling to operate. You may hear some clicking sounds or a whirling/whining sound.

This is not the only cause of system disk usage issues. You could be running a solid state drive or your hard drive is newer and generally running fine. Check out the linked article for other possible causes and how to fix them.

Here is an article from PCMag that explains more about hard drives and solid state drive.

If you need help to address issues with your system performance or disk usage issues please reach out and we will be happy to help.

How to View Files in Windows 10 Without Opening Them

Image from PCMag

Over time we build up a lot of files on our system. Then we need to find a specific file. You could start opening each file to look at time but that can take a bit of time. Even if a file only takes a few seconds to load you could be spending several minutes just looking through a small subset of files. Save yourself time by using the build in file preview feature. Check out the linked article for more information and for alternatives.

Apple

There are a bunch of hidden menus on your iPhone: Here’s how to use them

Image from CNBC.com

If you don't spend a lot of time digging around iOS you may not be aware of all the "hidden" features and functions that are available. Many of these items are short cuts or hidden menus to some very useful features. Perhaps you already know of some of these but could use a refresher. Check out the linked article for full details.

Tips & Tricks

How to use the iPhone’s most useful, most overlooked feature

Image from Mashable

How often to you need to undo an action on your iPhone? Regardless of how often you need to there is a quick way to do so. All you need to do is to shake your phone! Such a great stress reliever, just don't let go. ;)

10 Tips and Tricks to Make the Most of Your Amazon Echo

Image from Gizmodo

The Amazon Echo is a great smart speaker. There are many things you can do with them as there is a great ecosystem of third party skills you can enable. I personally have them all over my house as I use them to control my smart lights and to listen to music. They are even useful in the kitchen as I can easily set a timer while cooking.

Check out the linked article for some useful tips. There is even a tip for those who are more privacy focused.

FAQ of the Week

How to Stay Safe on Public Wi-Fi | WIRED

Image from Wired

Each week we will address a frequently asked question. This week we are looking at the topic of using public Wi-Fi.

From time to time I get asked about using public Wi-Fi. It will do in a pinch if you don't have other options available but with some advanced planning it can be used safely. At a minimum make sure you are not accessing any sensitive info over an unsecured public connection. You never know who else is on the network with you or what may be monitored over the network. It is best to use a VPN when using public Wi-Fi. It is all about having good judgement and knowing how to protect yourself. Check out the linked article for some great tips. There is also a link in the article to more information on how to chose a VPN.

What is a VPN? Here is a description from TechTerms.