April 24, 2013
Screen size is on the rise!
Mobile device designers have fallen in love with huge screens. Take two recent announcements from Samsung and Dell for instance.
Samsung recently announced the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 – this is a smart phone that is nearly the same size as the iPad Mini! Imagine holding this device up to your ear! It may even make iPad owners wonder why they can’t make phone calls with their iPad Mini. The Galaxy Mega 6.3 has an HD screen, a 1.7GHz dual-core CPU, and runs the most recent Android OS. Levi’s needs to design jeans with bigger pockets!
In other ‘big’ news, Dell recently announced their new 18” tablet named the Dell XPS 18. This device is a blend between All-in-One computer and a tablet. With a full version of Windows 8 it can be used as a regular computer with mouse and keyboard, then easily picked-up for tablet use, or transport from the desk to the couch. Sure, large touchscreen monitors have been around for a while, but the XPS 18 is the touchscreen monitor and computer combined in one slim (0.7in thick, 5lb) package. With the option of outfitting the XPS 18 with an Intel Core i7 CPU and 8GB of RAM, this device does not compromise performance.
Jonathan Linch, Team Manager – General Business & Nonprofit
April 18, 2013
OR/WA MGMA Conference in Tacoma, WA
This year marked our fourth year participating as an exhibitor at the Oregon/Washington MGMA Annual Meeting. This year’s conference was at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center.
We’ve found that having a booth is not a great way for an IT company to obtain new customers. Instead, we may fantastic connections with other healthcare IT (HIT) vendors and create partnerships so that we can better serve our existing and future healthcare clients. In addition, we learn more about local and regional trends in healthcare. Our investment in these types of events helps us be more than just another IT company; it allows us to provide The Customized IT Experience for you!
Plus, spring is a beautiful time to be in the northwest!
Jeffrey Kaye, Chief Technology Officer
Mike Tijerina, Account Executive… Read More
April 18, 2013
Return of the ‘Up’ Button in Windows 8
One of the features I loved about Windows Explorer in Windows XP was the ‘Up’ button. This feature was removed from Windows Vista and Windows 7. Who cares about one little button, so what, big whoop, right?
If you are unfamiliar with the Up button, let me introduce you: Most people know the Back button, which takes you back to the folder you were viewing previously. The Up button, however, takes you one level higher in the current directory tree.
Now, granted, the missing Up button is not a deal-breaker for Windows 7—Former Windows XP users have figured out how to get by without it, however… (Wait for it…) Microsoft has brought back the Up button in Windows 8!
The Up button has returned to its previous home at the top of Windows Explorer. Now I just need to retrain my brain that I choose between Back or Up.
Jonathan Linch, Team Manager General Business & Nonprofit
April 16, 2013
And the winner is…
The winner of the first annual Centerlogic Bracket Challenge is David Swartout of Mt. View Medical Center (www.mountainviewmed.com)! David won an iPad Mini and 5 FREE consulting hours for the clinic. It came down to the last game and with the Louisville win, David’s bracket just edged out Marci of Compass Engineering’s (www.compass-engineering.com). So close and very exciting. Next year, we will sign participants up well in advance (if Yahoo! Sports allows this), so more people will have time to sign-up and submit their brackets.
Thank you to all of our friends who entered the challenge!
Mike Tijerina, Account Executive
April 15, 2013
WordPress website targeted by hackers
The WordPress blogging platform, which hosts more than 64 million websites, has been attacked by a huge botnet.
The botnet targets WordPress users with the username “admin”, trying thousands of possible passwords.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22152296… Read More
April 15, 2013
Verizon Delays Upgrade Eligibility to Two Years, Starts Device Payment Plan
http://www.longisland.com/news/04-14-13/verizon-delays-upgrade-eligibility-to-two-years.html
Posted by James Foley, Senior Network Consultant… Read More
April 12, 2013
Microsoft Plans 7-inch Tablet
The software giant is developing a new lineup of its Surface tablets, including a 7-inch version expected to go into mass production later this year, said people familiar with the company’s plans.
James Foley, Senior Network Consultant… Read More
April 11, 2013
Reduce cord clutter for MacBooks
You spend all this money on a beautiful MacBook Pro and after you plug-in all the peripheral devices and cables, you realize why they advertise the Macs as if they’re floating in the air: Clutter doesn’t sell.
The Zendock could ease your mind:
Zendock removes cord clutter, gives MacBook owners organized Bliss
Mike Tijerina, Account Executive… Read More
April 10, 2013
The risk of sticking with Windows XP
Yesterday started the 365-day count-down timer on Microsoft’s support for Windows XP. Come April 9th, 2014, Microsoft will cease to develop any further patches/bug fixes for Win XP.
TechRepublic has great blog covering the risk of sticking with ‘good-ole’ Windows XP.
The scary part, as Centerlogic’s Josh Wade mentioned yesterday, is that 38.73% of all computers are still running Windows XP. Over one third of all computers are currently using an operating system that is 12 years old! Wow! How could that be true?!
There are a couple of common reasons we see businesses sticking by Windows XP:
- Financial cost of upgrading to new technology (new hardware and software).
- Legacy software which require Windows XP and/or may be too expensive to upgrade these business critical applications.
- If it ain’t broke…
When confronted with one (or more) of the above factors, some businesses choose to ‘let it ride,’ and continue relying on Windows XP. This approach, however, is very risky to security and overall system reliability, negatively impacting organizational/employee productivity.
In a recent interview, Rik Ferguson, global VP security research at Trend Micro, said “It’s a racing certainty that significant new vulnerabilities with XP will be uncovered in the future … You’d be a fool to say every possible vulnerability has already been discovered and either mitigated or patched.”
Centerlogic consultants see the vulnerabilities in Windows XP on a daily basis at our clients. We continue to fight malware infections on Windows XP regularly. While malware for Windows 7 is certainly seen—the bulk of our effort in fighting malware still comes from Windows XP computers.… Read More
April 09, 2013
Skype trojan forces Bitcoin mining
A trojan attack that forces victims’ computers to mine for the virtual currency Bitcoin – which is soaring in value – has been discovered.
Read more:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22064534
James Foley, Senior Network Consultant… Read More
April 09, 2013
Patch Tuesday and the Beginning of the End for Windows XP
Today is Patch Tuesday – Microsoft’s regular release of updates for Windows and other products, occurring on the second Tuesday of every month. As is very often the case, there is an important security update that should be installed as soon as possible to mitigate risk from newly discovered exploits in both Windows and Internet Explorer. Getting these updates installed quickly should be a priority for everyone.
Additionally, today marks exactly a year until Microsoft fully discontinues support of Windows XP, one of the most widely-used operating systems ever. In fact, as of last month, 38.73% of all computers are still running Windows XP. Nonetheless, in order to move forward Microsoft needs to discontinue the 11 year old operating system. As of April 9th, 2014, there will no longer be any security updates available for Windows XP. This means that users will be completely vulnerable to any new exploits at that point, with no way of fixing them.
If you haven’t already gotten a plan in place to move your remaining Windows XP computers to a newer operating system, now is definitely the time: there is only one more budget year left in which to do so before support ends. We will continue discussing this with our clients to figure out the best way to proceed.
Josh Wade, Network Consultant… Read More
April 08, 2013
Privacy fears over Facebook Home app
Read more:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22025729
James Foley, Senior Network Consultant… Read More
April 03, 2013
Brighten your day better backgrounds
If you’re a computer user, you probably spend a great deal of time looking at your screen each day—I know I do! Even though I’m an IT guy, I prefer my computing experience to be pleasant looking (that’s right, not all computer geeks look at a window of white code on black background all day long!).
I use my desktop background as a showcase for stunning photos; I also customize the background of the Windows Lock Screen. If there is a place to make my Windows user interface more interesting, I’m there!
Now, Windows 8 has introduced the engaging new Windows 8 Start screen—one more canvas for user customization. That’s where Stardock Decor8 comes in—this tool allows users to easily change the Windows 8 Start screen background. Users can choose from their own folder of images, enabling automatic rotation of images, or choose one of the additional images that come with Decor8.
Examples:
Decor8 also allows customization of the Windows 8 tile colors (which Windows usually chooses for you). Additionally, there are some basic image manipulation settings which can be used to tweak the hue, blur, and contrast of your images (see the honeycomb image below).
Stardock Decor8 is available as a 30-day trial ($4.99 to purchase).
http://www.stardock.com/products/decor8/
Jonathan Linch, General Business & Nonprofit Team Manager… Read More
April 02, 2013
Apple Preps iPhones
Apple Inc. plans to begin production of a refreshed iPhone similar in size and shape to its current one in the second quarter of the year, according to people familiar with the device’s production, teeing up a possible summer launch for the next version of its flagship device.
James Foley, Senior Network Consultant… Read More
April 01, 2013
How your movements create a GPS ‘fingerprint’
A report from researchers at MIT and other institutions shows how anonymous data can be used to identify mobile users.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/26/tech/mobile/mobile-gps-privacy-study/index.html
James Foley, Senior Network Consultant… Read More
March 29, 2013
‘Biggest ever attack’ slows internet
An attack on the servers of an email antispam service is affecting servers worldwide.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21954636
James Foley, Senior Network Consultant… Read More
March 29, 2013
Apple IDs hacked! How to protect your online accounts and business network
A vulnerability was discovered last week allowing an unauthorized reset of another user’s Apple ID password. Apple responded quickly, temporarily disabling the Apple ID password reset site used in the hack until they could resolve the security flaw.
This startling flaw in Apple’s security is a perfect example of the need for higher security measures, such as two-factor authentication. In essence, two-factor authentication requires your account password, as well as a secondary security measure that can only be provided by the true account owner, such as a temporary code sent to your cell phone, or your fingerprint, for example.
Example of two-factor authentication for Apple ID security:
In addition to Apple’s newly available Two-Step Verification for Apple ID, many popular online sites now offer two-factor authentication, such as Facebook, Google, Microsoft SkyDrive, Dropbox, and Evernote. Here is a guide showing how to enable two-factor authentication on these and other popular online services.
Are you interested in protecting your business network access with two-factor authentication? Centerlogic can setup two-factor authentication to protect remote access to your network, in many cases utilizing the network firewall you already own. More advanced two-factor authentication systems are also available—contact your Centerlogic consultant for more information on two-factor authentication and secure network access.
Jonathan Linch, General Business & Nonprofit Team Manager… Read More
March 28, 2013
OHSU HIPAA Breach – A Reminder for all of us!
In light of the recent OHSU HIPAA news, Centerlogic thought we would send out a reminder of a few HIPAA Security basics.
- HIPAA breaches are most often caused by Human Error – Ensure staff follow clearly defined policies and procedures established in your organization. Review, Remind, and Train staff often!
- Ensure all remote devices used for business purposes are encrypted
- Ensure only recommended secure solutions are used for remote access
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your HIPAA security procedures, please get in touch with a Centerlogic associate. We will answer any questions you may have and strive to provide resources for any solutions you need.
Oregon Health & Science University is notifying some 4,000 patients after an unencrypted laptop containing their personal health information was stolen. Officials say the laptop was stolen from an OHSU surgeon’s Hawaii vacation rental late February.
This is OHSU’s third reported HIPAA breach involving more than 500 individuals since 2009, all incidents involving stolen and unencrypted devices.
Craig Schmid, Team Manager – Healthcare & Government… Read More
March 25, 2013
New HIPAA rules go into effect tomorrow!
The omnibus privacy and security rule was released by Health and Human Services on January 17, 2013 with an effective date of March 26, 2013. The compliance deadline of (most of) these rules is September 23, 2013 which means covered entities, business associates, etc. have until then to get everything tidied up.
See this article at ModernHealthcare.com for more information.
Jeffrey, CTO… Read More
March 22, 2013
Microsoft Office 365 – great offering, confusing to purchase
Microsoft Office has a fantastic service called Office 365. We can resell it to you…well, in many cases we can, but…whoa. It’s confusing. Give us a call or email and we’ll guide you to the best offering!
- Craig Schmid and Jeffrey Kaye… Read More
March 21, 2013
Microsoft Office 2013 incompatible with Windows XP & Windows Vista
Microsoft’s newest version of the Office productivity suite, Office 2013, was released to the public on January 29, 2013, and the software has started appearing on computers at Centerlogic clients. Early adopters of Microsoft’s latest Office suite are often purchasers of new computers, where Office comes pre-installed along with Windows 8, or Windows 7.
However, as businesses consider upgrading to the next version of office it is important to consider the system requirements needed to run the new software. Companies still relying on Windows XP or Windows Vista computers take note: Office 2013 will only install on computers running Windows 7 or Windows 8.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee624351.aspx
Outlook 2013 & Microsoft Exchange Server
Along with the above compatibility requirements, it is worth noting that Outlook 2013 does not support connections to Exchange Server 2003. Outlook 2013 is designed to function with Exchange Server 2007, 2010, or 2013. If you are unsure what version of Exchange server your company uses, please contact your Centerlogic consultant(s).
- Jonathan Linch (posted on Jonathan’s behalf by Jeffrey)… Read More
June 06, 2012
LinkedIn passwords compromised: change yours now!
Here’s just the latest example of passwords being stolen and then posted on a website. The ‘good’ news for now is that the passwords are still encrypted and can’t be read. The bad side is that if you don’t change your password the chances that yours will be decrypted increases every minute.
Here’s a link to an article about the leaking of the passwords and how to change yours:
http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2012/06/06/millions-of-linkedin-passwords-reportedly-leaked-take-action-now/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=gcluley&utm_campaign=naked%2Bsecurity
Thank you to our friends at Sophos for being on top of things.
Jeffrey, CTO… Read More
June 04, 2012
In the media: CTO interviewed for KOPB
I was interviewed by Kristian Foden-Vencil of OPB (KOPB) the National Public Radio affiliate for Oregon and Southwest Washington, last wee about Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) also known as Section 125 reimbursement accounts. You can read the transcript and/or listen at the link below.
http://news.opb.org/article/new-rules-lower-flexible-spending-account-contributions/
Jeffrey, CTO… Read More
June 04, 2012
Windows 8 Release Preview Available
If you’re really curious as to what the next version of Windows will look like you can download the Release Preview and see for yourself. This requires that you have an ‘extra’ computer, set up an existing machine to dual-boot, or use a virtualization system. We can help you with any of these options.
Please take a look at Microsoft’s Windows Experience Blog for more information about the Release Preview as well as the Windows Upgrade Offer. Again, we strongly recommend you contact your Network Consultant before installing the preview.
We have another option: Let us show you the preview! We have installed this on one of our laptops and can give you a short tour.
Jeffrey, Chief Technology Officer… Read More
May 29, 2012
Visit us at OR/WA MGMA
Mike (Account Exec) and Jeffrey (Chief Technology Officer) will be at the 2012 Oregon/Washington Medical Group Manager’s Association Annual Meeting from May 30th through June 1st at the Oregon Convention Center. If you’re in attendance please come say ‘hello’ at booth 700 and drop off a business card. We’d love to see you and you have a chance to win our drawing.
We participate in this annual meeting to network with physicians and administrators as well as other vendors who work with area medical groups. As part of the northwest’s medical community we like to plug into what’s going on in the industry.
Let’s toast to our common goals!
2012 Oregon/Washington MGMA Annual Meeting
- Jeffrey Kaye, CTO… Read More
October 20, 2011
Fixing the Unfixable: Corrupted Outlook Personal Files
I have archived the Exchange 2003 mailbox of a client’s former employee who left the company a couple of years ago. His mailbox includes about 10,000 items and includes a large amount of historical data on projects which are still in process. The Outlook Personal Files file, or PST for Personal STore, was corrupted and could not be fixed by the Outlook 2003, 2007, or 2010 Inbox Repair Tool (scanpst.exe), the usual method for fixing these issues.
I researched and found Stellar Phoenix Outlook PST Recovery Software. It cost $129, about an hour of labor. It fully restored the entire PST in 20 minutes. The trial version verified that it could recover the data but does not allow you to save the recovered PST.
I highly recommend remembering this tool if you have a mission critical Outlook PST which must be recovered.
We do not directly resell this tool but you can learn more about it here:
http://www.stellarinfo.com/outlook-pst-file-recovery.htm
Jeffrey… Read More
October 13, 2011
iPhone and iPad iOS 5 update – Be careful [updated]
For any iPhone or iPad you use for work we highly recommend that you contact your Evosus Solutions consultant before you install the new iOS 5 updates. These are big updates and we’ve seen a number of issues since the release yesterday.
We will be posting more information here in the next day.
This update from Apple is extremely popular and a large number of iPhone, iPod, and iPad users have reported issues with the upgrade failing.
The first step is to make sure that you upgrade iTunes to version 10.5. For many people this will take an hour, even on a fast connection.
The iOS upgrade is very large, almost 800 MB. Even on a fast broadband internet connection this can take an hour or more just to download.
Here are our suggestions for performing this upgrade:
- If you use your iPhone, iPod, or iPad for business-critical work, please contact us or your internal IT department before the upgrade. As of October 20, 2011, we recommend waiting for the first update to iOS 5 to be released as there are some bugs in the Exchange email, text messaging, and other key services handling on the iPhone and iPad.
- Make sure your devices are fully charged. Some devices don’t charge properly while connected to your laptop or desktop computer.
- If you’re performing the upgrade at work, make sure that you will have at least four hours to complete this task. Again, check with your manager and IT department since this may affect your ability to work!
October 06, 2011
LiveVault false error alert
Autonomy has notified us of the following issue. Please contact us if you have any questions about your services.
Autonomy LiveVault – Event Notification – False Negative disconnect message in the LiveVault Web UI
Date: October 6th, 2011
Dear Autonomy LiveVault Customer:
As part of Autonomy’s ongoing commitment to delivering the industry’s most flexible and powerful server protection, we would like to inform you of the following issue that is currently affecting the LiveVault Web Interface. Please be assured this issue has no affect on our backups on our Vaults.
What does this mean?
Currently we are experiencing an issue with the LiveVault service. The summary page of your portal interface for each server may inaccurately display a disconnect warning. Your backups should not be impacted by this situation. If you experience any difficulty performing a restore, please contact Technical Support and we will assist you with your retrieval. We are working with all available resources to correct this issue to resume normal service.
You will receive a follow up notification once we resolved the issue. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
What action is required?
There is no action required on your part.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact support. We will be glad to speak with you and answer any questions you might have regarding this notification.
Customer Support Line
1-855-288-6778 (Option#1)
Customer Support Email
LivevaultSupport@Autonomy.com
Best Regards,
Autonomy LiveVault Support… Read More
October 04, 2011
SonicWALL Peak Performance 2011 Conference
We’re taking part in SonicWALL’s Peak Performance 2011 partner conference in Palm Springs learning ways to better support your needs. SonicWALL is continuing to bring out amazing products and services to better make your business happen. I’ll continue to post updates to our site.
Jeffrey, CTO… Read More
September 02, 2011
CMS experts will discuss registration and attestation for EHR Incentive Programs
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is hosting a (yet another) 90-minute conference call for Eligible Professionals (EPs) to cover Registration and Attestation for Meaningful Use. If you still have questions about what needs to be done in order to get your piece of the incentive payments, consider registering for this call soon. Space is limited.
[The following is from http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/50_Spotlight.asp]
Register Today: Registration and Attestation for Eligible Professionals
Date: Friday September 9
Time: 1:30-3pm ET
The call will cover the following topics:
- Path to Payment
- Highlights of Registration and Attestation Processes
- Third Party Proxy
- Troubleshooting
- Helpful Resources
- Question & answer session
Registration:
In order to receive the call-in information, you must register for the call. It is important to note that if you are planning to sit in with a group, only one person needs to register to receive the call-in data. This registration is solely to reserve a phone line, NOT to allow participation.
Registration will close at 1:30 p.m. ET on September 8, 2011, or when available space has been filled. No exceptions will be made, so please be sure to register prior to this time.
- To register for the call participants need to go to: http://www.eventsvc.com/palmettogba/090911
- Fill in all required data.
- Verify that your time zone is displayed correctly in the drop down box.
- Click “Register.”
- You will be taken to the “Thank you for registering” page and will receive a confirmation e-mail shortly thereafter. Note: Please print and save this page, in the event your server blocks the confirmation emails.
March 24, 2011
Internet Explorer 9 released – be careful
Microsoft recently released Internet Explorer 9 (IE9) for all ‘current’ Microsoft operating systems. Windows XP, 2000, and other older systems are not included. Below are links for more information regarding IE9 features and benefits. We strongly suggest reviewing IE9′s impact on your business and personal use with your trusted IT advisors.
Many software applications are not compatible with newer version of Internet Explorer. Installing IE9 in these cases can make these applications fail entirely or in part. The only way to fix these issues is to reinstall the old version. Many software vendors will provide compatibility information on their websites, newsletters, or email blasts. If you’ve received recent information from your vendor, forward this to your trusted IT advisor (us?) and we’ll help you decide whether or not it’s time to install.
We strongly recommend blocking the automatic installation of Internet Explorer 9 if you think it may not be safe to install. Microsoft provides an automatic updates blocker at the following link. Again, please contact your IT advisors before installing such software:
Toolkit to Disable Automatic Delivery of Internet Explorer 9
For more information about IE9, consider the following links from Microsoft and other sources:
- Microsoft Internet Explorer Product Site
- Microsoft’s Beauty of the Web Site
- PC World: Sorry IE9 and Firefox, Here’s Why I’m Sticking With Chrome
- Guardian: Internet Explorer 9 review
- Engadget: Internet Explorer 9 Beta review
- ZDnet: Internet Explorer 9 beta review: Microsoft reinvents the browser
Jeffrey Kaye, CTO, Evosus Solutions… Read More
October 13, 2010
Happy Patch Tuesday
While not nearly as exciting as Meatloaf Monday or even Casual Friday, Patch Tuesday is nonetheless a vitally important day in the IT industry. On the second Tuesday of every month, Microsoft releases updates for all their products. These can be feature enhancements or bug fixes, but the majority of them are generally security patches.
This month, Microsoft released an abnormally large number of patches – in fact, it broke the previous record for the most patches ever released by Microsoft on a single day. These patches are almost exclusively security related, and resolve vulnerabilities found in all current versions of Windows, as well as Internet Explorer and SharePoint. I highly recommend contacting your primary consultant to discuss these releases and determine the impact on your organization.
The official Microsoft release can be found here:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms10-oct.mspx
Josh Wade, Network Consultant… Read More
October 01, 2010
Our new website and blog
Thank you for visiting our new website and blog. Our hope is to provide information and resources of use to you. We encourage you to use our site as a way of networking with our clients and vendors as well. We’ll help guide the way.
Please comment on postings that interest you and let us know what you think. A website is worthless to us if it doesn’t provide you with what you desire.
Jeffrey Kaye, VP/Principal Consultant… Read More
