RedRover I.T.

04/19/2024

If your business backups aren’t stored securely off site, give us a call. We can help!

01/21/2024

Have you found yourself in the middle of something important on your Mac and your iPhone starts ringing across the room? Wouldn't it be great if you could answer that call right from your Mac? Thanks to Apple's interconnected ecosystem, you can.

First things first, you need an iPhone with iOS 8.1 or later and a Mac with OS X Yosemite or later. Check your devices; chances are they're already compatible.

Before you start dialing, there’s a bit of setup to do.

Both devices need to be on the same network and use the same Apple ID.

On your iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular or Phone > Calls on Other Devices.

Turn on 'Allow Calls on Other Devices' and select your Mac.

On your Mac, open the FaceTime app, click on FaceTime in the dropdown menu and click on Settings. Check 'Calls From iPhone'.

Now, you're all set! You can make a call through the FaceTime app or Contacts. Just select a contact or enter a number, and hit call. It's as simple as that.

Need more time saving advice? We can help with that, get in touch.

Make and receive phone calls on your iPad and Mac by relaying calls through your iPhone.

01/20/2024

Ever wished for a helping hand while navigating your desktop folders? Microsoft is on it.

Imagine you're looking at your files in the File Explorer and you right-click on one. Suddenly, there's a new option - 'Send to Copilot'.

You click it and like magic, the AI assistant pops up offering further options such as summarizing the document for you. How cool is that?

This isn't some far-fetched dream. It's a possibility hinted at by a line of code found by a leaker on X (aka Twitter). The code, 'CopilotFEContextMenu', suggests a context menu option related to Copilot in your folders. Though it doesn't do anything yet, it could be a sign of things to come.

Microsoft has been very focused on pushing AI across all its products. They even introduced a dedicated key for Copilot on the keyboard, just like the Windows key itself.

It's still speculation right now, but wouldn't it be amazing to have AI assistance right where you need it, when you need it? And for those not too keen on AI, hopefully, there should be an easy way to turn off Copilot if needed.

What do you think? A helpful move or AI overload?

Might Copilot be infiltrating every corner of your desktop eventually?

01/19/2024

Today’s a big day for tech history. On January 19, 1999, Research In Motion (RIM) introduced the BlackBerry, a game-changer for business communication.

Did you own one?

Back then, the original BlackBerries looked more like oversized pagers than the sleek devices we’re familiar with today.

Fun fact: Did you know that the name 'BlackBerry' was inspired by the buttons on the device resembling blackberry fruit? Those Canadians sure had a creative touch.

In 2001, the BlackBerry production facility in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, was a lot smaller than you might think. Yet, it played a pivotal role in revolutionizing mobile communication.

Join us in celebrating this milestone and give a nod to the BlackBerry for paving the way for real-time email on the go.

January 19, 1999 RIM introduces the BlackBerry. The original BlackBerry devices were not phones, but instead were the first mobile devices that could do real-time e-mail. They looked like big pagers. I should know. I had one on my hip for two years while working at Anheuser-Busch in the early 2000.....

01/18/2024

Know a gaming fanatic? Maybe you are one? This news might interest you… The Xbox Series S toaster is here and it's not just a meme anymore.

Remember those images that started circulating nearly a year ago? Well, Walmart has made dreams come true and is now selling this quirky toaster for just $39.99!

And let me tell you, this isn't your average toaster. It looks like an Xbox Series S, complete with the iconic black air vent, and it's packed with features that make toasting a breeze. Six levels of browning, a removable crumb tray, an LED countdown, and a defrost button.

But the pièce de résistance? It toasts the Xbox logo right onto your bread. Now that's what I call a breakfast of champions!

This isn't the first time gaming and toast have collided. Razer made an April Fool's Day joke toaster that never came to fruition. Microsoft has actually delivered with this one.

The Xbox Series S toaster joins the Xbox Series X mini fridge, born from memes mocking the console's fridge-like appearance. Imagine a full range of Xbox home appliances. An Xbox microwave, kettle, or even a washing machine? Who wouldn't want their food imprinted with the Xbox logo and their clothes dyed Xbox green? Talk about brand loyalty.

Is this one you’d have in your kitchen?

The toaster joins the Xbox Series X mini fridge.

01/18/2024

Big changes are coming to Microsoft Windows. Gone are the days of multiple small updates throughout the year. The Windows team is going back to the good old annual release cycle. Just one major update a year - simple, right?

But what's on the horizon for 2024?

Well, they're working on a major new release, code-named Hudson Valley, based on the Germanium platform. This isn't just any update. We're talking about an AI-powered Windows Shell, advanced Copilot that works tirelessly in the background, and groundbreaking search features. Can't remember where that document is? Just ask in natural language and Windows will do the rest.

And for all creatives, Microsoft is adding a dedicated 'creator' area, making it easier than ever to access your projects. Plus, expect major power-saving improvements – we're talking up to 50% longer battery life.

All that’s left to be revealed is whether this new update will be Windows 12, or a new version of Windows 11.

Are you excited for the future of Windows?

Microsoft is wary of fragmenting the Windows user base too much, apparently

01/16/2024

Have you heard of Gemini? It’s Google's latest generative AI platform.

What makes Gemini special is that it's ‘natively multimodal’. Here’s what that means… it doesn't just deal with text; it can handle audio, images, videos, code, and different languages. That's a big deal, setting it apart from other models that only understand and generate text.

There’s been a little confusion: Gemini is not Bard. Bard is like an app for certain Gemini models. Gemini, on the other hand, is the family of models powering it. To put it in OpenAI terms, Bard is like ChatGPT, and Gemini is like the powerhouse language model (GPT-3.5 or 4).

Gemini has loads of uses, from transcribing speech to captioning images and videos, and even generating artwork. But not all these features are fully baked yet. Google's promising a lot, but it's still a work in progress.

Google claims that Gemini outshines the competition in benchmarks, beating GPT-4 in 30 out of 32 widely used academic benchmarks. However, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Early impressions suggest Gemini Pro struggles with some tasks and makes factual errors. So, we'll have to wait and see.

For now, Gemini Pro is free in Bard, AI Studio, and Vertex AI (during the preview phase). But once it exits preview in Vertex AI, it'll cost $0.0025 per character for input and $0.0005 per character for output. That means a 500-word article might cost you around $5 to summarize and just $0.1 to generate.

It's only answering text-based queries in English in the U.S. right now but stay tuned for more updates. Are you keen to try it out?

Wondering what all the fuss is about Gemini, Google's next-gen generative AI model family? Here's a handy roundup to get you up to speed.

01/16/2024

There’s some scary new malware targeting Windows devices.

It’s a fresh variant of a remote access trojan called Bandook which first made its debut back in 2007. It was basically the ‘Swiss Army Knife’ of malware, with a ton of features to wreak havoc. Its main goal? Giving the bad guys remote access to your devices.

This new version targets Windows devices, making its way into systems via phishing emails carrying malicious PDF files.

Once you fall for it and click on the PDF, it extracts the malware and injects its payload into a seemingly innocent program called msinfo32.exe. This is supposed to diagnose your computer issues, but Bandook turns it into a cyber criminal’s playground.

The nasty part doesn't stop there. Bandook goes on to connect to a command-and-control server to receive further sinister instructions. These instructions can include all sorts of actions like stealing info, manipulating files, and even gaining full control over your computer.

Terrifying.

What can you do to protect your business from this?

- Keep an eye out for the latest cyber security threats. Knowledge is your best defense.

- Train your team how to spot phishing emails. Always assume the worst with unexpected attachments or suspicious links.

- Ensure your Windows devices are running the latest updates and security patches.

- Invest in reliable antivirus software to detect and neutralize threats like Bandook.

- Educate your employees about cyber security best practices and the dangers of opening unknown files or links.

- And, implement strong network security measures and firewall configurations to stop any suspicious activity.

If you need a hand with any of this, get in touch.

Bandook is back with a vengance, so be on the lookout

01/14/2024

We've all been there, juggling between a laptop and a desktop PC, waving our mouse around in confusion. But guess what? There's a solution – Mouse Without Borders.

This fantastic PowerToys utility is your ticket to the magical world of controlling two or more computers with a single mouse. If you've ever dabbled in the world of multi-monitor setups, you're in for a treat.

First things first, make sure you've got PowerToys installed. You can get it from the Microsoft Store – it's free. Once it's all set up, head over to the main PowerToys app, go to the Dashboard section, and toggle on the Mouse Without Borders option.

Alternatively, skip the dashboard and dive straight into the Mouse Without Borders section, flipping the Enable Keyboard Manager toggle to the 'On' position. Just remember, you'll need to do this on both computers you want to boss around with one mouse.

On the first computer, go to the Mouse Without Borders section in PowerToys. Look for the Encryption key section, and hit that New key button. It'll generate a security key, which you'll want to write down along with the name under the Host name of this device.

Now to the second computer. Navigate to the same Encryption key spot in the Mouse Without Borders section of PowerToys. Click the Connect button (or the down arrow next to it), type in the security key from your first computer, and don't forget to add the host name in the Device name field. Double-check everything's spelt right, and hit Connect.

Your computers are now pals, and you can move your cursor from one screen to the other like magic.

Have you tried this before? Did you know it was possible?

The Mouse Without Borders PowerToys modules makes it easy to work with multiple devices

01/14/2024

Google might be cooking up something seriously mind-blowing: An AI assistant that can answer those 'impossible' questions about your life.

The tech giant has been secretly brewing a project they've dubbed Project Ellman. This AI wizard is designed to take a deep dive into your personal photos, files, and even your search history, all in the name of crafting 'your life story.'

Now, here's where it gets intriguing. Ellman aims to provide a 'bird's-eye view' of your life by rummaging through your Google Account. It uses written biographies and adjacent content to understand the context of your digital existence.

Imagine this AI detective deducing the day you were born, identifying your parents, and even spotting those long-lost cousins you forgot to mention. Ellman can also pick out chapters in your life, like your college years or adventures in a different city.

It can even get a taste of your eating habits. Upload a bunch of pizza and pasta pics, and it might just figure out that you're a die-hard fan of Italian cuisine.

Remember Google Photos' 'Memories' feature? Well, Ellman takes that concept to a whole new level. It comes with Ellman Chat, a bit like ChatGPT but with a twist. It can answer those 'impossible' questions you struggle with, like when your brother last visited or where you should move next based on your photos.

Ellman can even make predictions based on your screenshots – what you might buy, your interests, future travel plans, and even your favorite websites.

Now, let's address the privacy question. It does sound kind of creepy, right? An AI rummaging through your digital closet, finding every nugget of data it can get its virtual hands on. Where does all that info go?

Rumor has it that Gemini, Google's new large language model, might be the powerhouse behind Ellman. It's got a taste for all types of inputs, not just text. But is Google going too far to feed its AI appetite?

Google's calling this an 'early internal exploration.' Translation: It's not set in stone. If they do decide to unleash this digital wizardry, they promise to put user privacy front and center.

While Project Ellman sounds fascinating, I’m holding my breath to see if it becomes a reality. What do you think? Creepy or cool?

It may even highlight important chapters in your life

01/13/2024

We're always looking for smoother ways to share stuff. And Microsoft just dropped a cool feature in a recent Insider build of Windows 11.

This feature lets you share content directly to WhatsApp using the share button. Cool, right? It's currently only available in the Beta Channel though (you know, the place where people test new features before they go mainstream).

With this handy feature, you can effortlessly share various types of content, like websites, with your WhatsApp contacts. But here's the catch – it's best for sharing non-sensitive info, like your weekend plans or funny videos.

When it comes to serious business stuff, like collaborating with your team or handling sensitive data, you'll want to stick with dedicated tools like Microsoft Teams. They're designed to offer top-notch capabilities and security features.

Here's a fun fact: Microsoft actually opened the doors for apps to use the share button a while ago. But (and it's a big but) the adoption by other apps has been kind of slow. Some Microsoft favorites, like Skype, Outlook, and LinkedIn, jumped right in, along with Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). But a bunch of other apps, like Telegram and even some features in Microsoft Edge, are still snoozing.

Now, this begs the question: Why should external companies hop on board the share button train when even some Microsoft apps are still figuring it out? It's a puzzle, right?

In a nutshell, the WhatsApp support via the share button in Windows 11 is a cool addition for casual sharing. But when it's time for serious business tasks and super-secure teamwork, Microsoft Teams is your go-to.

We're crossing our fingers for broader support of the share button across various apps. More convenience for all of us, please.

WhatsApp just gained support for the Windows 11 share button, though only for Insiders.

01/12/2024

Microsoft is getting rid of yet another feature. This time, we say goodbye to Windows speech recognition… but it’s not all bad. It's stepping aside to make way for something even better – Voice Access.

Microsoft recently announced the deprecation of Windows speech recognition. That means it won't be actively developed anymore. But Voice Access is available for Windows 11, version 22H2, or later devices.

Windows speech recognition has been around since the days of Windows Vista, and it aimed to improve accessibility. But it was time for an upgrade, and that's where Voice Access comes into play.

Voice Access is a relatively new feature that not only replaces Windows speech recognition but also packs a punch with significantly more capabilities. It started testing with Windows Insiders in late 2021 and became available to everyone in 2022.

Microsoft didn't stop there. They've been continuously improving Voice Access. They've added support for more dialects, plus, they've thrown in several new commands to make your experience even smoother.

Accessibility matters, and Microsoft gets it. Windows 11 is all about making the digital world more inclusive. Features like Voice Access, live captions, eye tracking, and Windows narrator, make tech more accessible for everyone.

Microsoft’s committed to helping people with disabilities and has some incredible initiatives, like the Xbox Adaptive Controller and the Seeing AI app. They're in it for the long haul, with a five-year commitment to making a positive impact.

So, whether you're using Voice Access or exploring other accessibility features in Windows 11, know that Microsoft is making strides to ensure that technology is a bridge, not a barrier.

Do you use any of Microsoft’s accessibility features in your business already?

The Windows Vista-era speech recognition feature has been replaced by voice access.