Did your website survive ‘Mobilegeddon’?

By on May 12, 2015 in Blog, Google, Internet

Thousands of companies across the world are waiting anxiously to see whether the latest search change implemented by Google might have a detrimental effect on their website’s visibility.

The search giant announced recently that it would place a higher value on sites that are optimised for mobile phones – something which should come as no great surprise, given that it now processes over 100 billion searches from these handheld devices every month.

However, although Google updates its algorithm fairly frequently – to improve user experience – there have been fears that this latest change could have severe impacts for business websites – specifically, as bbc.co.uk puts it, that it “could send some hurtling down the rankings.” This change took place in April 2015, so have those fears been realised? Or have unresponsive websites largely survived what’s been nicknamed ‘Mobilegeddon’?

It’s hard to say, according to Mike O’Brien, writing for searchenginewatch.com: “so far, the results have proven inconsistent”. Initial research showed there are 21 per cent fewer non-mobile-friendly sites ranking among the top three pages; something that was more pronounced on the second and third pages than on the first.

While some sites that fail the ‘mobile-friendly test’ (which analyses a URL for mobile-friendly design) have seen their rankings drop, others – such a Ryanair – have moved up; hence O’Brien’s comment about inconsistency.

Darren Richmond from Fortunesoftuk.co.uk added “Whether or not the announcement by Google will have an impact on your website site ranking’s your business must still consider the user experience especially for the ever increasing mobile browsing usage”

 The Office for National Statistics reported that access to the Internet using a mobile device has more than doubled between 2010 and 2014, from 24% to 58%.

Experts seems to think that, with the advance warning given by Google, lots of website owners managed to optimise their online offering in the nick of time – so the impact has not been so catastrophic. Regardless, the message has been put out there: that those who haven’t been quite so proactive with their web presence need to become mobile-friendly fast, or risk losing out.

If you would like us to run a simple check to see how mobile responsive your website is please get in touch.

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The five year ITch: What does the future hold for the iPad?

By on May 12, 2015 in Blog, Miscellaneous

Apple’s revolutionary iPad tablet was first launched five years ago last month, on April 3 2010. Now, 1,825 days, six generations, and nine incarnations later, more than 225 million iPads have been sold. But with sales declining through 2014, is the tablet revolution coming to an end?

When the late Steve Jobs first unveiled the original iPad, its purpose baffled some technology experts. Too big to be a comfortably-handheld device and too small to be serious work tool, many failed to see how it would be embraced. “Unlike the iPhone, which filled an already well-established need there is no existing need the iPad fills,” said TechCrunch blogger MG Siegler back in 2010.

And then? A whopping 300,000 units sold in the first 24 hours. The iPad’s popularity grew and grew, but its fortunes might be changing. Sales for the iPad dropped 18 per cent in the final quarter of 2014 alone, according to CNN Money, with a further five per cent decline predicted in 2015.

“We are seeing a strong shift from tablets to smartphones as the lines blur between smartphones, phablets, and tablets,” said industry expert Giulio Montemagno, of SVP International RetailMeNot. Indeed, only a little over a week ago (April 27) Apple revealed that it sold 4.56 million Macs in the first three months of 2015; a ten per cent increase on the same period in 2014. This helped produce a $5.6 billion Mac revenue line that’s $187 million more than that of the iPad.

[themecolor]Could it be crunch time for Apple iPad?[/themecolor]

But is it really over after just five years? Not according to Martyn Landi, a press association technology correspondent. “There are still flashes of life in the iPad,” he said. “It’s still the fastest selling product in Apple history with more than a quarter of a billion sold in five years – and that’s quite something up against the iPhone and iPod.

“iPad numbers were always going to fall at some point because they had a huge market share to begin with – 75 per cent after the first year of iPad – and that was always unlikely to be sustainable once the competition got involved.”

Phablets such as the Samsung Note 4 and iPhone 6 Plus (as well as wearables such as the newly launched Apple Watch), might have a temporary sleeper hold on the iPad right now, but that doesn’t mean we’ve seen the last of it. However, all good things must come to an end, and the chances of the iPad ever reaching such lofty heights again are unlikely. Either way, Happy 5th Birthday, iPad!

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Tax agents advised on IT fraud protection

By on May 12, 2015 in Blog, Security

The ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales) has informed tax agents and advisers on the best way to prevent IT related tax fraud to prevent cases reaching HMRC.

With April marking the tax year’s end, the ICAEW expects an increase in fraudulent submissions going through to HMRC via tax agents. Although there haven’t been any reported cases as yet this year, there has been a trend in place for this since 2009.

[themecolor]Tax attacks – be on your guard against tax-related cyber scams[/themecolor]

The method of attack highlighted by the ICAEW involves fraud cases that haven’t come from fake accounts or been a result of HMRC systems breaches, but instead are the result of valid log-in details being stolen from tax advisers and agents. Armed with these credentials, cyber-criminals are able to request payment be submitted to third party bank accounts, whilst appearing perfectly valid.

HMRC has helped police operations in all reported cases, and the ICAEW has issued a warning to all tax agents and advisers so they don’t fall foul of the same criminal techniques.

In its latest warning, the ICAEW urged vulnerable parties to make their entire online experience as secure as possible. As communications and transactions are taking place online more regularly than ever before, the fraud risk has grown simultaneously. To combat this, robust security is needed at both ends of any transaction, to ensure there were no gaps or weaknesses.

Furthermore, with threats becoming ever more sophisticated, agents and advisers also need to keep abreast of related developments, knowing not only what they could be up against but also the best way of dealing with it were the worst to happen.

Concluding, the ICAEW offered some more typical security tips, such as keeping passwords secure and changing them regularly.

HMRC also has its own security measures to protect the online tax system, including a firewall, SSL certification, secure sign-in procedures and time outs. It can only do so much, though, meaning that agents and advisers are also being asked to keep their anti-virus and anti-spyware software updated.

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Stay vigilant when opening emails

By on April 14, 2015 in Blog, Company news, Security

M2 Computing are warning people to stay vigilant when opening emails and attachments. Hackers have developed new and increasingly clever ways of breaching security measures by disguising themselves as familiar contacts. These are particularly prevalent in accounting and purchasing departments, where an attachment can look like a recent order confirmation or an expected invoice, when in fact it contains a lethal virus.

Unexpected and random pop-ups should be also avoided. Whilst some pop-ups are perfectly harmless, others come armed with malicious code. Once clicked upon, these bugs can begin monitoring keystrokes to ascertain vital personal information such as log in details, passwords and pin numbers. Some pop-ups actually look like a notification from your system that you have downloaded a virus, even with realistic looking logos and messages from your operating system.  These should be avoided at all costs.

To guard against these unwanted bugs, M2 Computing have installed the latest anti-virus and security software on all clients’ systems. These solutions help to prevent malware infections and phishing attacks. They provide protection for web browsing to avoid tampering of transactions and safeguard personal information to defend against identity fraud.

Greg Roffe, Managing Director comments ‘Whilst we make sure all our customers are protected with the latest versions of security software, it is impossible to guard against all malicious activity as new codes are developed every day. We advise our clients to stay vigilant when opening emails, check that they know the sender and be cautious about opening attachments or clicking on pop-ups.’

For further information about how to avoid malware infections and phishing attacks, please get in touch with us on 01293 871971.

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Protect your digital legacy with The Soldier’s Box

By on April 14, 2015 in Blog, Company news, Topical

A new service designed to protect your digital legacy was announced by Fortunesoft UK Ltd earlier this week.  The Soldier’s Box was named after a common practise which occurred during World War I.  Soldiers on the frontline often kept their personal possessions and important documents in small tins or boxes. If they lost their life in action these boxes of treasured possessions would be passed to their loved ones, the contents bringing comfort to families at a time of grieving.  The modern day Soldier’s Box works in exactly the same simple way.  Digital assets and files are stored in a highly secure online box which includes a unique mechanism for easily passing the contents to a trustee and multiple beneficiaries.

The Soldier’s Box can be used for storing private personal files including family photos, videos and messages to loved ones. On a more practical level it can be used for household documents, bill details, passwords and account log-ins. For business owners or the self-employed, it offers an ideal solution to store vital information regarding the running of a small business. It is not designed to replace a Will, in fact the Soldier’s Box initiation code required to open the box, can be added to a Will to cover your digital legacy.

Currently in development, The Soldier’s Box has recently been through user acceptance testing and is due to launch this summer. To assist with the launch, the team have recently entered the Virgin Business Pitch to Rich 2015 campaign to win a share of a £1 million marketing fund.

For more information about The Soldier’s Box visit www.thesoldiersbox.com.

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New app-wrapping tablet may be most secure on the market

By on April 13, 2015 in Blog, New technology, Security

A new high-security tablet incorporating IBM’s ‘app-wrapping’ technology has been unveiled by Blackberry-owned voice and data encryption firm Secusmart.

The device has been built in collaboration with Samsung, to provide additional security features for business and governments alike. IBM’s app technology allows organisations to contain their enterprise apps and integrate security controls without needing to modify a single layer of code.

Currently undergoing security certification at the German Federal Office for Information Security, the Secutablet will offer organisations extra layers of security for their sensitive data. However, whilst the device was made with corporate and government pain points in mind, Secusmart has confirmed that less vigorously protected social media and video platforms can also be used.

Secutablets are “based on” the Samsung Galaxy 10.5, according to the manufacturer, and also run on Samsung hardware. They are compatible with the Blackberry 10, and it’s likely they will run on Android. This, according to CCS Insight vice-president Nick McQuire, is due to “Blackberry’s focus on becoming more of a cross-platform security company,” as well as the fact that Samsung is a partner.

Dr Hans-Christoph Quelle, CEO of Secusmart GmbH, said: “Security is ingrained in every part of Blackberry’s portfolio, which includes voice and data encryption solutions.

“Subject to certification of the Secutablet, German government agencies will have a new way to access Blackberry’s most secure and complete communications network in the world.”

Blackberry purchased the German firm in December 2014. It clearly got to work straight away, with Secusmart revealing the Secutablet at the CeBit technology fair in mid-March. Having struggled in the tablet market in the past with the now-discontinued 2010 PlayBook device, Blackberry will be hoping this new device performs much better.

The Secutablet is expected to cost roughly £1,600. It will face stiff competition from Silent Circle, the privacy platform behind the encrypted Blackphone, which announced the new security-focused Blackphone 2 smartphone in March.

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Poor brand image results in the death of Internet Explorer

By on April 13, 2015 in Blog, Internet, Topical

The Internet Explorer (IE) brand will soon be no more, as Microsoft feels the public’s perception of its long-standing browser has become too negative.

Microsoft isn’t moving away from the web browser market completely though, instead it will overhaul its current offering. This new version doesn’t yet have a name; it is simply known as ‘Project Spartan’. IE has acquired a reputation for slow performance and numerous security issues, so Microsoft aims to ensure this new browser will be much faster and sleeker.

The company has tried and failed to dispel people’s negative attitude towards IE – it even ran adverts stating IE is the browser “everyone loves to hate”. At one point, more than 90 per cent of internet users accessed their favourite sites via IE but, for a long time, this was partly down to the fact computers with a Microsoft operating system came pre-installed with the browser. In 2013, Microsoft was sued for not giving users a choice in browsers by EU regulators.

IE is still alive and kicking for now, but this will change once Windows 10 is released this summer. The new browser will allow users to write on webpages using a stylus and promises to be much more compatible with the “modern web”. Moreover, Cortana and Bing will also be built into the new browser.

Joe Belfiore, corporate vice president of Operating Systems Group at Microsoft, said that customers who still want to use and download IE will be able to.

“Project Spartan is designed to work the way you do, with features enabling you to do cool things like write or type on a webpage,” he explained. “It’s a browser that is made for easy sharing, reading, discovery and getting things done online.

“At the same time, we recognise that for some of our enterprise customers, it’s important they have the support they need and can continue to use Internet Explorer when and where they need it.”

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Vodafone reveals summer rollout of Wi-Fi calling and voice over 4G

By on April 13, 2015 in Blog, Mobile devices, Telecoms and mobile data

Vodafone has announced it will rollout Wi-Fi calling and voice over 4G (VoLTE) in the UK this summer, following similar recent announcements from rivals EE, Three and O2.

Wi-Fi calling uses wireless connections to provide a voice signal, allowing customers to make and receive calls and texts when signal is patchy or even non-existent. The difference in Vodafone’s service, however, compared with that of Three, is that customers won’t be required to download an app.

It’s good news for those customers living in areas of the UK with poor mobile signal but good broadband connectivity. Large buildings and office blocks in which mobile signal struggles to penetrate also stand to benefit. Provided a user is connected to a Wi-Fi network, if network coverage becomes too weak, the mobile device will automatically switch to Wi-Fi calling.

In addition, Vodafone will be providing VoLTE, which offers many more advantages than 2G and 3G calling. The 4G network makes it simpler and easier to transfer larger amounts of data, resulting in an improved connection speed and call quality. Handset battery life is also improved, as devices no longer need to switch to a 2G or 3G network when making voice calls.

While Three and O2 have hinted that they will provide VoLTE at some point in 2015, EE is currently the only provider offering it, although the service has its limitations. For example, calls cannot switch from one service to another mid-call. If Vodafone can be the first to achieve this, many believe it would be a ‘huge feather in its cap’. Vodafone will be looking to build on its reputation for top-notch coverage and will need every weapon in its arsenal to keep competing.

All in all, Vodafone’s developments will be funded by a £1 billion investment into its UK network quality. The first stage of its plan is to launch a residential broadband service (due in spring 2015), which was first announced in November 2014.

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Microsoft Word: Three features you didn’t know existed

By on April 13, 2015 in Blog, Microsoft, Tips & tricks

Of all the different Microsoft Office applications, Word is perhaps the most commonly used. It has an extremely rich feature set; one that allows you to achieve all kinds of things with your text and imagery. To realise its true potential, though, you’ll need to delve a little deeper than the Font and Paragraph sections.

Below are a few of the lesser known yet rather useful features of Microsoft’s trusty word processing tool.

[themecolor]The Clipboard Panel[/themecolor]

Copy & paste is a feature we all use from time to time; it helps us save valuable minutes by making it possible to collate and shuffle sentences, paragraphs and individual words. What many people don’t realise, though, is that you can handle multiple sections of text at one time. Using the Clipboard Panel feature, you can actually store as many as 24 pieces of text to paste as and when you like.

Once in the Home tab, move the cursor to the Clipboard section, and expand it by clicking the arrow button in the bottom right corner. You should see a new panel showing everything you’ve copied recently.

[themecolor]Remove the Ribbon[/themecolor]

The bar that runs across the top of your Word window is crucial as it houses all of the features you need to be productive. That’s not to say you need to see it all of the time, though.

If you press Ctrl + F1, the Ribbon will disappear from view, leaving you to concentrate on your work in peace. The next time you need something, simply click the relevant tab and it should show again. In Office 2013, you can also tweak this feature by clicking the Ribbon Display Option button.

[themecolor]Add a screenshot[/themecolor]

This one is pretty self-explanatory but it can be extremely useful. Inserting a screenshot can be a great way to illustrate your text and support the message you’re trying to get across, especially if you’re producing a tutorial. Most people would find the window they want to copy and press the Print Screen button, but there is a quicker way.

Go to the Insert tab at the top of the screen and click on Screenshot; it should give you the choice of what you want to paste into your document. You can even just take a section of that page with the handy Screen Clipping tool.

When used regularly, the tips above can help even the most seasoned Word user to save valuable time as they work. These are only a few examples as well – there are plenty more handy features to uncover if you take the time to look.

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M2 Welcomes Reston Waste Management Ltd

By on March 23, 2015 in Blog, Company news

We would like to welcome a new client Reston Waste Management Ltd.  A family run business operating for over 16 years, the company provides waste management and recycling services across the London and Surrey area. The team at Reston Waste Management have selected the M2 Assist Gold level IT support package to cover their IT requirements and will shortly be migrating to Microsoft Office 365.

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