Archive

6 things you need to know about 802.11ac Wave 2

A new Wi-Fi standard known as 802.11ac Wave 2 was recently certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance. Here are the six details you need to know.

wave 2

The Wi-Fi Alliance, a global nonprofit association of companies that determine the interoperability of Wi-Fi technology, recently certified the 802.11ac Wave 2 standard. The new standard brings a host of updates that could eventually affect the daily connectivity of consumers and businesses alike

Here are six performance changes that we will see with 802.11ac Wave 2.

1. It opens up gigabit Wi-Fi possibilities

With all the hype around products like Google Fiber, AT&T GigaPower, and Verizon Fios, it’s safe to say that gigabit internet is hot right now. However, it’s mostly constrained to a hardline connection. Using the Wave 1 standard, gigabit speeds have been achieved in lab settings, but not commonly in the real world.

The Wave 2 standard could open the door for gigabit Wi-Fi, though. The PHY (physical) rate, which in turn affects the throughput rate of data transfer, is much higher in Wave 2. Wave 1 PHY rate maxes out at 1.3 Gbps, while Wave 2 can be 2.34 Gbps. Even if the throughput was 50% lower than the theoretical PHY rate for Wave 2, in theory it would still be above 1 Gbps.

2. It supports more connected devices

Wave 2 offers offers greater density than Wave 1in that it supports multiuser multiple input, multiple output (MU-MIMO). This means that the spectrum is used more efficiently for multiple connected devices, and devices can more easily get on and off of the network.

Gartner research vice president Tim Zimmerman said it is: “The ability for the access point to communicate simultaneously with multiple mobile devices in a single coverage area.” The access point will be able to talk to up to four, single stream devices at one time going downstream.

The support of MU-MIMO is important for consumer users, as most people tend to have multiple connected devices in their home or on their person, but it’s also good new for businesses. The growing number of mobile devices and IoT-connected devices have created some frustrations for network admins, and the addition of MU-MIMO support could help alleviate some of those headaches.

3. It offers stronger performance

In addition to the stronger PHY rate, it also adds the option for 160 MHz channel width. Previously, in Wave 1, the only options were 20, 40, and 80 MHz. In theory this will make it easier to access and transfer large files.

The Wave 2 standard also adds a fourth spatial stream, up from the three streams offered in Wave 1. According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, “Device speeds are proportional to the number of spatial streams.” So, more streams should mean better overall performance.

4. It brings more bandwidth and flexibility

One of the biggest updates that comes with 802.11ac Wave 2 is that it supports additional 5 GHz channels. If these channels are designated for Wi-Fi use, it could help support more users and devices overall. Most devices (65% according to the Wi-Fi Alliance) now are dual-band, meaning they can operate in both the 2.4 and 5 GHz frequencies.

5. It is certified for interoperability with five devices

With the certification of 802.11ac Wave 2, the Wi-Fi Alliance listed five products that it has certified for interoperability:

  1. Broadcom BCM94709R4366AC
  2. Marvell Avastar 88W8964
  3. MediaTek MT7615 AP Reference Design and MT6632 STA Reference Design
  4. Qualcomm IPQ8065 802.11ac 4-stream Dual-band, Dual-concurrent Router
  5. Quantenna QSR1000 4×4 802.11ac Wave 2 Chipset Family

6. It won’t be widely available immediately

Wi-Fi.org lists 24 products that have compatibility with 802.11ac Wave 2 features. However, not many of them are hardware-related. As with most new technologies, it will take some time for adoption to ramp up and for supporting products to be released. We will likely see more Wave 2-enabled hardware hit the market by the end of the year.

“You’ll see them in the devices in a near time frame, but the roll into the end-user, whether it be in the consumer or whether it be in the enterprise, it’s going to be a little bit slower,” Zimmerman said.

Have questions?

Get answers from Microsofts Cloud Solutions Partner!
Call us at: 856-745-9990 or visit: https://southjerseytechies.net/

South Jersey Techies, LL C is a full Managed Web and Technology Services Company providing IT Services, Website Design ServicesServer SupportNetwork ConsultingInternet PhonesCloud Solutions Provider and much more. Contact for More Information.

To read this article in its entirety click here.

Windows Tip of the week: Keyboard tricks for switching between programs

Keyboard tricks for switching between programs:

windows-switch

Do you know all the program switching techniques for Windows? The more programs you have open, the more you can benefit from these keyboard shortcuts.

Here are three worth memorizing:

  • Alt+Tab: This is the classic shortcut, the one most Windows users are likely to know. Hold down the Alt key and tap Tab to see a list of running programs as thumbnails. If you continue holding down Alt and keep tapping Tab, you’ll cycle through all of them.
  • Alt+Esc: Use this shortcut if you want skip the thumbnails and just cycle through the actual programs. Keep holding down Alt and tapping Esc until you reach the window you want.
  • Ctrl+Alt+Tab: Most people don’t know this one. Press this combination and you get the same thumbnails as with Alt+Tab, with one crucial difference: When you take your hands off the keyboard the thumbnails remain visible. Use the left and right arrow keys to move through thumbnails. To choose one, tap the spacebar or press Enter.

And one last secret: Add Shift to any of these shortcuts to move in reverse.

Have questions?

For More Tips & Info from Microsofts Cloud Solutions Partner!
Call us at: 856-745-9990 or visit: https://southjerseytechies.net/

South Jersey Techies, LL C is a full Managed Web and Technology Services Company providing IT Services, Website Design ServicesServer SupportNetwork ConsultingInternet PhonesCloud Solutions Provider and much more. Contact for More Information.

Windows 10 Anniversary Update: Watch out for these nasty surprises

A major update to Windows 10 is being rolled out. These are the gotchas that are catching out early users.

Windows 10 users are getting the first major update to the operating system in just under a year, with the release of the Anniversary Update.

But alongside the new features and fixes are some more unwelcome changes, ranging from less control for users to frozen machines.

Here are the main gotchas to look out for, as well as some fixes.

Less time to change your mind

With the arrival of the Anniversary Update, those upgrading to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or 8 have less time to switch back to the earlier OS.

Prior to the Anniversary Update, Windows 10 users had 30 days during which they could choose to reset their machine and restore their original OS. However, following the update Microsoft has reduced this period to 10 days.

Microsoft claims it reduced the period after noticing that most users who chose to switch back did so within a few days of upgrading, adding the change will free storage space on users’ machines.

The reduction also coincides with the end of period during which Windows 7 and 8 users could upgrade to Windows 10 for free – meaning those now paying $120 or more to upgrade will likely be less keen to switch back.

Frozen computers and broken systems

When you update software there is always risk that something will break, and that’s exactly what seems to be happening for some who have received the Windows 10 Anniversary Update.

The most common complaint seems to be that the update causes the computer to lock-up soon after loading the desktop.

In response to the problem, Microsoft has been advising users to run Windows 10’s Maintenance Troubleshooter and if that doesn’t work, to perform a clean boot of the system.

Meanwhile, users are reporting the most reliable fix has been to roll back to an earlier build of Windows 10.

Another repeated complaint is that Microsoft’s virtual assistant Cortana is missing from the Task Bar, replaced instead with a search box. In affected systems, Cortana also seems to be disabled inside the Edge web browser.

Some users of Avast and McAfee anti-virus – both widely used products – are also reporting problems after the upgrade, as are gamers trying to use Xbox One controllers.

Cortana is more difficult to get rid of

If you’re not a fan of Microsoft’s virtual assistant Cortana then prepare to dislike the Anniversary Update.

Following the update, it is no longer possible to turn off Cortana from the virtual assistant’s in-built Settings menu.

Instead, if users want to ditch Cortana they will need access to specific admin tools or to edit the registry.

Users can also minimise the information that Cortana collects, although thisdoes require altering various settings.

Harder for admins to block ads

Another less welcome change is that Windows 10 Pro users lose the ability to use admin tools to block ads.

Prior to the update, admins could edit Group Policy settings to stop ads for apps showing in the Start menu and on the lock screen.

However, Windows 10 Pro users will lose that ability, and, following the update, disabling these ads via Group Policy settings will only be available to those running Windows 10 Enterprise, Windows 10 Pro Education, or Windows 10 Education editions.

Individual users should be able to turn off many of these ads by disabling Windows 10 tips, tricks, and suggestions and Windows Store suggestions in the Settings app, however.

Following the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, new installs of Windows 10 will show double the number of ads for Windows Store apps in the Start Menu. Some users have also reported a possible increase in the number of ads shown on the lock screen following the update.

Have questions?

Get answers from Microsofts Cloud Solutions Partner!
Call us at: 856-745-9990 or visit: https://southjerseytechies.net/

South Jersey Techies, LL C is a full Managed Web and Technology Services Company providing IT Services, Website Design ServicesServer SupportNetwork ConsultingInternet PhonesCloud Solutions Provider and much more. Contact for More Information.

Why you’ll never buy a 3D printer

Mattel’s ThingMaker 3D Printer and ThingMaker Design App is expected to ship later this year. Could a $300 3D printer capable of making hundreds of parts that can be assembled into toys finally place the technology next to the inkjet printer in the home?

The consumer 3D printer market, which has even tried to connect itself to video gaming, still seeks ‘killer app’

While 3D printer sales will experience healthy growth over the next four years, consumer machines remain a technology in search of a purpose, according to researcher IDC.

Read More

Windows Tip of the week: Get additional Snap Assist options

Get additional Snap Assist options:

Most users are familiar with the Snap Assist function in Windows 10, where dragging a window to either side will snap that window into one-half of the screen. However, many users are unaware of how the Snap Assist function has been enhanced for Windows 10.

Not only can you drag and snap to one-half screen—now, if you drag a window to one of the four corners of the screen, it will snap to fill one-quarter of it. This means you can easily position four windows to be open at once, as shown in Figure.

Figure

h10quicktips

Have questions?

For More Tips & Info from Microsofts Cloud Solutions Partner!
Call us at: 856-745-9990 or visit: https://southjerseytechies.net/

South Jersey Techies, LL C is a full Managed Web and Technology Services Company providing IT Services, Website Design ServicesServer SupportNetwork ConsultingInternet PhonesCloud Solutions Provider and much more. Contact for More Information.

Research: Apple rated highest for security on mobile devices

Mobile devices are almost universal in the enterprise in 2016. Tech Pro Research conducted a survey to see what devices employees are using for work, and how safe these devices are.

In new research conducted by Tech Pro Research, 98% of respondents said they use mobile devices for work. Smartphones and laptops were the most common, with 94% of respondents who use mobile devices using them. 74% of mobile device users said they work with tablets. Wearables haven’t found a widespread usage base in the workplace, with only 14% reporting using them. When users rated the security of devices based on vendors, Apple got the best ratings in all categories.smartphones

For smartphones Apple’s high ratings could be partially attributed to familiarity since 67% of respondents said employees at their company use iPhones. Only Samsung was close to Apple in terms of prevalence, and the company was way behind Apple in security ratings.

tablets

Apple also had the largest share of tablet use, and the highest security rankings, among respondents. 53% said they and their colleagues use iPads and 46% of users ranked security as very good or excellent.

laptops

Dell was the most popular brand among respondents, in terms of use for work, but it got third place in security ratings.

wearables

Security on wearables appears to still be developing, based on the mediocre security ratings among all brands, and the fact that security feature usage isn’t the norm for wearables yet.

Have questions?

Get answers from Microsofts Cloud Solutions Partner!
Call us at: 856-745-9990 or visit: https://southjerseytechies.net/

South Jersey Techies, LL C is a full Managed Web and Technology Services Company providing IT Services, Website Design ServicesServer SupportNetwork ConsultingInternet PhonesCloud Solutions Provider and much more. Contact for More Information.

To read this article in its entirety click here.

Exclusive offer from BigBeagle.com

Exclusive offer from: BigBeagle.com  |  24/7 Support: 8885051532
Amit Shah — Customer Number: 57156051

BigBeagle is a reseller of GoDaddy and offers GoDaddy products at a discounted price. Don’t forget to visit our coupon page at http://bigbeagle.com/coupons for the latest and greatest promotions.

Save up to 5% on new purchases of $50 or more and get everything you need. Hurry before the offer expires.

Use promo code rs6749b in your cart when you order.

*Some limitations apply. Applicable to new purchases only. Enter promo code into shopping cart to see full details. Minimum purchase of $50 required. Offer expires Thursday, August 18, 2016 at midnight (Mountain Time).

Copyright © 2016 BigBeagle.com. All rights reserved.

RingCentral July Feature Release

Take a look at RingCentral latest release of useful new features and upgrades for you and your workforce.

RingCentral Meetings Updates

Transform any ordinary conference room into an exceptional online meeting space. Extend your RingCentral Meetings capabilities with.

  • RingCentral Rooms easily adds web conferencing services to the off-the-shelf conference room equipment you may already have. All you need is an iPad, camera, monitors, speakers, and a Mac.
  • RingCentral Room Connector enables you to use your existing H.323/SIP conference room systems to connect and collaborate with RingCentral Meetings participants from desktops, mobiles or tablets.
    Learn more about creating connected conference rooms.

Read More

10 reasons why you shouldn’t upgrade to Windows 10

The end of Microsoft’s free Windows 10 upgrade offer is right around the corner. But while Windows 10 is great, there are valid reasons to reject it.

An offer you can refuse

The clock is ticking, folks. If you want to upgrade to Windows 10 for free, you only have until July 29, 2016 to do so. And most people should! Windows 10 is the best Windows yet, chock full of handy new features, sleek under-the-hood improvements, andheadache-killing extras.

 

But it’s not for everybody. There are some very real, very valid reasons not to upgrade to Windows 10.

If you’re on the fence about whether to accept or reject Microsoft’s freebie, read on for some concrete justifications for staying put.

No Windows Media Center or DVD support

Before we dig into the meatier stuff, let’s take a look at what you’ll potentially give up if you upgrade to Windows 10, starting with some robust media playback options.

Windows 10 kills Windows Media Center off completely, after Windows 8 pushed it into a dark corner. There’s a reason for that: Windows Media Center is fairly niche, and not a lot of people use it. But if you do, you won’t want to upgrade to Windows 10 unless you’re prepared to dive into alternatives like Kodi, Plex, and DVR workarounds.

Oh, and if you’re on Windows 7, be aware that Windows 10 doesn’t offer native DVD playback, though there are no-cost alternatives you can use.

windows-gadgets

No desktop gadgets or widgets

Likewise, if you’re a big fan of Windows 7’s gadgets and widgets for the desktop, they aren’t available in Windows 10. Which is good, because they’re horribly insecure. Whether you choose to stay on Windows 7 or upgrade to Windows 10, you’d probably be better off using Rainmeter’s seriously slick interactive desktop software.

onedrive

No OneDrive placeholders

Windows 8.1 offered a handy feature for hardcore OneDrive users: placeholders. Placeholders showed everything stored in your OneDrive account in the Windows 8.1 file system, but only downloaded files to your PC when you opened them. It was a wonderful way to stay on top of your cloud-stored files without downloading all of them to every Windows device you logged into with your Microsoft account, especially if you’ve stashed dozens of gigabytes’ worth of stuff into OneDrive.

Unfortunately, users found it confusing, and Microsoft ripped placeholders out of Windows 10. There are hints that a similar feature may make an appearance someday, but it hasn’t yet, so if placeholders are a must-have feature for you, you’ll want to avoid upgrading to Windows 10. The new operating system’s less granular selective sync options just aren’t the same.

windows-10-updates

No control over Windows Updates

Aaaaaand here’s the biggie. Windows 10 utterly eradicates the ability to manually control your system updates. Windows 10 Pro will let you defer updates for a few months, but that’s the extent of it. If Microsoft pushes out an update, your system willinstall it eventually (though identifying your Wi-Fi connection as “metered” lets youchoose when updates download, at least).

This isn’t a big deal for people who stuck with Windows 7 and 8’s default Windows Update options, which downloaded patches automatically. But if you like to control your own update destiny, this could be a showstopper.

privacy

Privacy concerns

That segues nicely into another controversial Windows 10 “feature.” Microsoft’s new operating system tracks you far more closely than previous versions of Windows, especially if you use the express settings during the initial setup. The search bar utilizes Cortana, Windows 10’s digital assistant, and sends all your queries to Microsoft servers. Your Windows Store app usage is tracked for ad targeting. Windows 10 tracks your typing, location, Edge browser behavior, program installations and more.

It’s a lot. To be fair, a lot of the concern roaring around this is overblown; most of Windows 10’s potential privacy concerns can be disabled. But there’s no way to turn off some of the telemetry data Windows 10 collects about your system and beams back to the mothership. Microsoft executives don’t consider this a privacy issue. If you do, Windows 10 isn’t for you.

Ads and more ads

Windows 10 doesn’t only track your Windows Store app usage for improved ad targeting; it frequently pushes ads of its own at you. By default, you’ll see pop-up notification ads imploring you to get Skype or Office (even if you have Office), ads for suggested Windows Store apps slipped into your Start menu, and even occasional full-screen lockscreen ads for high-profile Windows Store releases.

I loathe the idea that my paid-for operating system—and yes, Windows 10 isn’t truly free—is pushing ads in my face. Fortunately, all of the offenders can be disabled. But doing so requires diving into arcane system settings located in different far-flung corners of the operating system.

Microsoft’s aggressive upgrade tactics

Microsoft’s been acting pretty shady in its aggressive quest to push Windows 7 and 8 users to Windows 10, employing unstoppable pop-ups, malware-like tactics, forced upgrades, intrusive full-screen takeovers, and nasty tricks to coax—and sometimes outright deceive—people into adopting the new OS. It eventually became so heavy-handed that some users have disabled Windows Updates entirely rather than suffer the barrage.

But you know that. If you’re still considering upgrading to Windows 10, you’ve lived through it.

None of that detracts from Windows 10’s underlying awesomeness. But it may have detracted from your desire to upgrade to Windows 10—and rightfully so. If you’re unhappy with Microsoft’s ethics and tactics in handling Windows 10 upgrades, you’re well within your rights to stay put where you’re at.

Software compatibility

In the wake of those forced upgrades, dozens and dozens of readers reached out to me with tales of woe, many revolving around software that simply doesn’t work with Windows 10. As my colleague Glenn Fleishman recently pointed out at Macworld, old software isn’t inherently bad software—but some of it won’t work in Windows 10.

If you rely on particular pieces of software, do a quick Google search to make sure they’ll work in Windows 10 before you upgrade. Office 2003—the last pre-Ribbon UI Office—isn’t compatible, for instance, nor is software that requires the use of Windows 7’s “XP Mode” compatibility, which isn’t available in Windows 10. Microsoft’s upgrade advisor is supposed to let you know if any software won’t work with Windows 10, but users report that it isn’t very reliable. Doing some homework now could save you some big headaches in the future.

printers

Hardware compatibility

Similarly, you’ll want to make sure Windows 10 works with your PC, too. No matter whether you’re running Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, I’d recommend running Microsoft’s hardware compatibility tool to scan your system. To do so, open the Get Windows 10 app—the taskbar icon that’s been tossing out all the upgrade pop-ups—and click on the compatibility report option.

But wait! That’s not all. The tool only checks your core PC reliably. Some people who upgrade to Windows 10 discover that their hardware peripherals won’t work, particularly older printers and scanners. If you have any aging peripherals connected to your PC, be it a printer or a beloved keyboard, I’d again suggest conducting some quick Google searches to ensure your gear won’t become paperweights if you decide to upgrade.

 

Ain’t broke, don’t fix it

This final reason applies more to people who resist change or aren’t very technically savvy. Yes, Windows 10 is stellar and absolved Windows 8’s worst sins. Getting used to the new operating system shouldn’t be too difficult for many PC users—but the transition isn’t entirely seamless. From Cortana to the introduction of the Edge browser to the radically new-look Start menu, and Windows 10’s evolution into being a more cloud-centric operating system, there are some big changes you’ll need to wrap your head around.

Do Windows 10’s new features and under-the-hood improvements make upgrading worthwhile? I think so. But if you aren’t comfortable dealing with changes on your computer, you might want to stay put. I know several less technically inclined people who paid technicians to revert their PCs to Windows 7 after they couldn’t wrap their heads around Windows 10.

Conversely, if you’ve perfected your workflow on your current operating system and don’t see much benefit in marquee Windows 10 features such as Cortana, the Windows Store, DirectX 12, and virtual desktops, it may not be worth the hassle to switch over to Windows 10.

Have questions?

Get answers from Microsoft Cloud Solutions Partner!
Call us at: 856-745-9990 or visit: https://southjerseytechies.net/

South Jersey Techies, LL C is a full Managed Web and Technology Services Company providing IT Services, Website Design ServicesServer SupportNetwork ConsultingInternet PhonesCloud Solutions Provider and much more. Contact for More Information.

To read this article in its entirety click here.

 

Read More

Windows Tip of the week: Add more places to send files

Add more places to send files:

When you are working in File Explorer and you right-click a file and navigate to the Send To menu item, you’ll see a small list of suggested places where you can send the file. If you Shift + right-click that file instead and then navigate to the Send To Menu item, you will be shown a much more extensive list of places where you can send that file.

Read More