Would you like the ability to create, access, and store all of your notes, thoughts, reminders, websites, and more from any device you own? We found a genius app that allows you to do just that.

 

For many of us, taking notes is a requirement. We are all thrown a barrage of information every day, much of which we are expected to somehow retain and remember. From taking notes in a business meeting to jotting down the name of that movie your friend told you is a must-see to remembering what you need to pick up at the grocery store on the way home, there’s always something we need to take note of.

Windows XP is scheduled for end of support in t-minus 308 days. If you still have an XP computer on your network, it will become an unlocked door for your data from that day forward.

 

On April 8, 2014, Microsoft will no longer provide support for Windows XP. That means no more patches to keep out the latest threats, no more features to work with new equipment, and no more support if something goes wrong. This is hugely problematic for security reasons, and is a more widespread concern than you would think: Despite being almost 12 years old, nearly 1 out of every 4 PC’s (25%!) are still running Windows XP. If you haven’t migrated to a newer operating system yet, it’s the right time to make a change, and here’s why:

Passwords, as we all know, play a key role in protecting your data. They are the code that allows you to bypass all the security software and hardware you’ve put in place to keep your information safe from the wrong eyes, locking everyone out. Good passwords have three main components:

Microsoft Office is one of the most used suites of computer software in the world, and is generally considered a must-have purchase for anyone owning a computer. If you plan on buying a new personal computer in the next year, or if you’re looking into upgrading your current software, you’re going to want to pay attention to this! Currently, there are two different versions of Microsoft Office on the shelves: Microsoft Office 365 and Microsoft Office 2013. Here’s a look at your options when it comes to Microsoft Office, and what you need to know about their differences:

You know the feeling – that adrenaline rush or the knot in your stomach you experience when you can’t find your phone and you have no idea where it is or how to recover it. The questions that result can be the worst feeling: Where is my phone? Will I find it? Who is going to find it? Will they find the confidential data on my phone? Did I just give away my company secrets? Did I remember to set a password? Is my banking information accessible? How long ago was the last time I backed up my phone? Did I save the pictures of my baby anywhere else?

At Fixed Fee IT, we love staying up to date on the latest trends, products, and ideas. One piece of tech we’ve been reviewing lately is Microsoft’s new Surface Pro device. It presents itself as an answer to a question that we get asked on a regular basis: “will a tablet work in my environment?” Up until now, the answer has been a tentative, “yes, you can, but you may not be happy with the usability.” The new Surface Pro fairly effectively solves that dilemma.

Often, when we talk about office security at Fixed Fee IT we’re referring to how you protect your data from being stolen, hacked, or destroyed. But there’s another type of office security that shouldn’t be overlooked: the physical safety of the building and the employees in it. Few offices have security guards in place, but even if you do, it’s still important to educate yourself and your staff about how to keep your office secure.

Meet our newest employee Michael Novac-Yu. Michael started with Fixed Fee IT in October of 2012 and is an Associate IT Consultant.

"The evil that men do lives after them; their digital data is oft interred with their bones.” This author’s variant of Mark Anthony’s famous line from Act 3, scene ii of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare.

On October 24^th we held our second client Lunch and Learn at the Portland Business Alliance. Neal Otto, with Jumpstart Computer Training, gave us many useful Outlook tips on how to save your company time and money.

If you’re a business that loves to hate technology, we’re talking to you. As you know, many companies are relying more and more on computers and technology for their business operations.

So much of everything we do can now be done on a computer. Paper is being used less and less, even for official documents. With this move to digital data, keeping sensitive files safe and secure now requires different tactics. Here are tips for keeping your sensitive digital documents from falling into the wrong hands.

Studies continue to surface illustrating the counterproductive power of multitasking. Some personalities are more prone to multitasking than others, but we all do it to some degree. In the busy lives we lead with never-ending to-do lists, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and cope by trying to accomplish ten things at once.

At the end of the day, what is it that keeps all of us in business? Our clients. Growing and retaining a solid client base is the goal every business shares. We would all agree that one of the primary ways to accomplish this goal is by providing excellent client service. And while technology seems like an industry unrelated to the “warm fuzzies” of client care, at Fixed Fee IT, we take the challenge of connecting with our clients seriously.

Owning a mobile phone has become a given in our fast-paced culture. It’s rare, especially in the business community, to find someone who doesn’t own a cell phone. Taking it one step further, more and more people are buying smart phones. In fact, recent studies show that about half of Americans own and use a smart phone.

Buying and selling just isn’t so simple anymore. Technology has caused many changes in our culture, perhaps one of the most significant being the way we view what it means to own something. As a rule, consumers are less focused on stuff for the sake of stuff. They are more focused on stuff for the sake of what goals the stuff helps them accomplish, and who (a celebrity) or what (a cause) it connects them to.

On July 26^th we held our second annual Client Appreciation Event at On Deck- and we had a blast! With over 50 people in attendance we enjoyed great food, drinks, and socializing. We would like to thank everyone for coming and showing your support for Fixed Fee IT. For those of you who were unable to make it, we hope to see you next year.

You probably aren’t aware of it, but there’s a big target on your back. Why? Because people want your money! Particularly cyber thieves who are very good at what they do. Unfortunately, most small to medium sized businesses don’t take their security very seriously.

On Thursday, August 16^th Fixed Fee IT will be hosting the Beaverton Chamber Business After Hours event at our office on the back patio, and we would like to invite you to join us!

Come visit Fixed Fee IT at the Portland Business Journal’s annual BizGrowth Summit on Thursday, July 26^th, 2012 at the Oregon Convention Center.

Technology is amazing. From the constant evolution of social media to the gizmos and gadgets we have come to rely on, every aspect of the technology industry continues to become more and more important in our day-to-day lives.

Using graphic icons to represent technology has been popular for some time now. There are certain images we see, and immediately know exactly what that image means.

What is your favorite way to communicate with other people? If you’re like most, your answer was probably either email or text message. Many people have observed that it seems like different forms of technology are steadily replacing real human interaction. We have started to distance ourselves from other people and turn to technology to fill our need for companionship.

It has been reported today, Wednesday, June 6, 2012 that over 6 million LinkedIn passwords have be stolen and posted to a Russian hacker website. The leaked passwords are believed to be encrypted and very secure but weaker passwords may have already been exposed.

We are excited to announce that Fixed Fee IT is now part of the Apple Consultants Network.