Windows 10

Tech Tip – Snip & Sketch

Posted on by Andy Miller

If you need to be able to quickly grab areas of your screen, annotate them and share them, Windows 10 has an easy to use Snip & Sketch app.

To use Snip & Sketch:

– Hold down the Windows key + Shift + S to bring up a snipping toolbar.

– Snip the required area of your screen which will then be automatically loaded to your clipboard.

– You will then receive an invitation (bottom right of the screen) to mark up and share the image you’ve clipped. Click on the words ‘Select here’.

– This will load the Snip & Sketch app.

– Annotate your image with the pen symbols and click on the save or share icons (top right).

Microsoft Announces New, Integrated ‘Office’ Suite App For Mobile Devices

Posted on by Andy Miller

Microsoft has announced that it is working towards the launch of its ‘Office’ mobile app (currently only available in public preview) which integrates Word, Excel, and PowerPoint mobile apps into a single app.

The ‘Office’ Vision

Microsoft says that the mobile app, called simply ‘Office’, represents their vision for what a productivity solution would look like if first built for mobile devices.

The idea is that users have all their Office documents together in one place, can reduce the need to switch between many different apps, and can reduce the amount of space that they use on their phone compared to multiple installed apps.

“Simple, Integrated Experience”

The ‘Office’ app is intended to provide users with what Microsoft describes as a “simple, integrated experience”.

The app combines Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, access to recent and recommended documents stored in the cloud or on a user’s device, the ability to search for documents across a user’s organisation if using a work account, and easy access to Sticky Notes e.g. for reminders and writing down ideas.

What Can You Do?

Microsoft’s Tech Community web pages say that users of ‘Office’ will be able to create content “in uniquely mobile ways” such as snapping a picture of a document and turning it into an editable Word file with just the press of a button or transforming a picture of a table into an Excel spreadsheet so that users can quickly work on the data. Also, a new Actions pane in the app will enable users to complete tasks such as creating PDFs with their camera and signing PDFs just by using their finger or scanning QR codes to open files and links.

Public Preview and Only On Phones

The Office app is currently available in public preview for Android and iOS, can be downloaded and used for free, and doesn’t require a sign-in to use it.  Those with work, school, or personal Microsoft Accounts can, however login and gain access to their files stored in the cloud via the app.

Microsoft has said that it will continue to support and invest in the existing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint mobile apps (‘Office’ isn’t replacing them), and that the new ‘Office’ app is currently only available for phones, although plans are afoot to extend this to tablets.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

Back in February, Microsoft announced its new, free “Office” app for Windows 10 as an update to the former My Office app, and as a way for those who do have a 365 subscription and have Microsoft’s apps installed on their device to open Office from the Office app, and those who don’t have a subscription to be automatically directed to the online version.  This latest announcement of the preview stage, available to all, soon-to-be-launched ‘Office’ mobile app is a progression of Microsoft’s move to publicise, raise awareness about, and get more people using its (free) versions of Office.  This will also help Microsoft adapt and compete with rivals, such as Google, and appeal to business and other existing Microsoft Office users who are now used to being able to carry out most of their business on-the-go with mobile devices and apps.  Some of the features, such as taking a picture of a document and turning that into an editable file are likely to add value for many business users who are spending less time at the desktop.

The new app could mean time-savings (not switching between multiple apps), convenience and greater leverage of mobile capabilities for users, and for Microsoft, it offers them a way to keep existing users loyal to their OS and Office Suite, gain new users, and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving mobile working market.

Tech Tip – See Your Top Sites

Posted on by Andy Miller

If you need to be able to quickly see and access any of your top 25 most visited websites, there’s an easy way to display this list in Windows 10 on the taskbar or Start menu.

– Right-click the Microsoft Edge icon to display the Jump List of your top 25 websites.

– Click on any website on that list to load the website in a browser.

– Right-click on any entry to remove it from the list.

Tech Tip – Minimise Distractions With ‘Focus Assist’

Posted on by Andy Miller

If you’re using Windows 10 and you’d like to maintain productivity and minimise distractions from your operating system e.g. notifications, sounds and alerts, ‘Focus Assist’ can help you to achieve this and can now be turned on automatically for full-screen apps.

With Focus Assist you can choose which notifications you’d like to see and hear when working, and you can choose the automatic rules for these (using on/off toggles) so that you can minimise distractions at certain times and during certain activities.  You can also ask Focus Assist (with a simple tick box) to give you a summary of what you missed while it was on.

To use Focus Assist:

Type ‘Focus Assist’ in your Windows 10 search box (bottom left)

Select ‘Focus Assist Settings’ or ‘Focus Assist Rules’

Make your notifications choices: ‘Off’, ‘Priority Only’, or ‘Alarms Only’

Use the On/Off toggles to set your ‘Automatic Rules’.

Why You May Be Cautious About Installing The Latest Windows 10 Update

Posted on by Andy Miller

Some of Microsoft’s enterprise-based customers may be feeling cautious about installing the latest Windows 10 update because Microsoft warns that it could stop the Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) service from running.

The Update and Warning

The update in question is the October 15, 2019 KB4520062 (OS Build 17763.832).  The update contains a long list of improvements and fixes (see here for full details: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4520062/windows-10-update-kb4520062), but also three known issues, one of which concerns the Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) service.

What Is The ATP?

The ATP is a paid-for service, for Microsoft Enterprise customers (not Home or Pro customers) that’s designed to help enterprise networks prevent, detect, investigate, and respond to advanced threats. It offers features like endpoint behavioural sensors embedded in Windows 10, Cloud security analytics and access to threat intelligence generated by Microsoft hunters, security teams, and augmented by threat intelligence provided by Microsoft’s partners.

What’s The Issue With the Update?

In the update’s release notes Microsoft says, “We suggest that devices in an affected environment do not install this optional non-security update”.

The reason given for the warning is that installing the update could mean that the ATP service could stop running and may fail to send reporting data.  This could mean that certain enterprise customers are more exposed to security threats until a solution has been found.

Microsoft also warns that an error (0xc0000409) may be received in MsSense.exe.

Not Fixed Until November

Microsoft says that although it’s working on a resolution it estimates that it won’t have a solution to the problem until November.

One of Several Update Problems Recently

This is one of several updates from Microsoft recently that have come with problems.  For example, an update on the 16th of September was reported to have caused issues with Windows Defender.  Later in September, Microsoft had to issue two emergency Windows updates to protect against some serious vulnerabilities relating to Internet Explorer and Windows Defender (anti-virus software).

Also, the October 3 update is reported to have adversely affected the Start Menu and print spooler, and the Start Menu issues were reported to be still present following the 8 October update.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

Although Home and Pro customers need not worry about this particular issue, Microsoft’s valued Enterprise customers, who have paid for the ATP service to help stay ahead of the game in security may be a little worried and frustrated at having to either wait until November to enjoy the improvements of the new (optional) update in safety, or install it now and risk the loss of their ATP service and face the associated potential security risks.

Microsoft customers seem to have suffered several problems related to updates in recent months, and Enterprise customers are likely to be those that Microsoft particularly does not want to upset.  It is likely, therefore, that Microsoft will be focusing of getting an appropriate solution to the new update issues before November if possible.

Tech Tip – Create Calendar Events Directly From the Taskbar

Posted on by Andy Miller

One of the new features added to Windows 10 with the September (1909) update was to enable Calendar users to be able to simply create a Calendar event directly from the Calendar flyout on the Taskbar.

To add quickly and easily add your Calendar event:

– Click on the date and time at the lower right corner of the Taskbar to open the Calendar flyout.

– Pick your desired date and type your text box to identify your event.

– Use the Inline options to set a time and location.

Windows Virtual Desktop Generally Available Now

Posted on by Andy Miller

Microsoft has announced that its Windows Virtual Desktop is now generally available worldwide on Azure and will include Windows 7 free Extended Security Updates for up to three years.

Windows Virtual Desktop

Windows Virtual Desktop from Microsoft, which was announced last September but has just been made generally available worldwide, is a Cloud-based ‘virtual’ version of Windows that can be accessed by employees from any device from anywhere, provides full multi-session, and is always up to date.  The Virtual Desktop has been designed with modern working practice in mind where not all employees sit in an office, use just one device or work from secure locations.

According to Microsoft, Windows Virtual Desktop is the only virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) that can provide simplified management, multi-session Windows 10, optimizations for Office 365 ProPlus, as well as and support for Remote Desktop Services (RDS) environments.

The Virtual Desktop enables Windows desktops and apps to be deployed and scaled on Microsoft’s Azure portal in minutes, and it includes built-in security and compliance features.

Supported Transition to Windows 10

One key sweetener of the new service for those companies facing the end of support for their old Windows 7 deployments is that it offers free extended security updates for the Windows 7 virtual desktop including more support options for previous app versions while users transition to Windows 10.

Migrate

Microsoft is keen to emphasise that its Virtual Desktop can work with your current Remote Desktop Services (RDS), and can therefore easily be migrated on Azure.

Trust

Microsoft is also keen to emphasise that businesses can trust the new Windows Virtual Desktop not least because Microsoft invests more than USD $1 billion annually on cybersecurity research and development, employs 3,500+ security experts, and Azure has more compliance certifications than any other cloud provider.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

With Virtual Desktop, Microsoft is hoping to capitalise on the fact that many businesses have workers in multiple locations with multiple devices who need to have convenient and secure access to a constantly updated version of their desktop.  Microsoft also knows that companies are getting more confident about moving more of their infrastructure to the Cloud, and want a secure, scalable ‘as-as-Service’ offering where they don’t need to worry about having the expertise in-house.

The easy migration aspect of the service and the offer of extended Windows 7 support may be of value to businesses looking to make a leveraged move forward to Windows 10 and may help Microsoft retain valuable business customers.

Goodbye Skype for Business, Hello Teams

Posted on by Andy Miller

Microsoft has announced that Skype for Business Online will be giving way to ‘Teams’, with support for Skype for Business ending on 31 July 2021, and all new Microsoft 365 customers due to get Microsoft Teams by default from 1 September 2019.

What Is Teams?

Introduced back in November 2016, ‘Teams’ is a platform designed to help collaborative working and combines features such as workplace chat, meetings, notes, and attachments. Described by Microsoft as a “complete chat and online meetings solution”, it normally integrates with the company’s Office 365 subscription office productivity suite, and Teams is widely considered to be Microsoft’s answer to ‘Slack’.

Slack is a popular, multi-channel collaborative working hub that offers chat channels with companies and businesses you regularly work with, direct voice or video calls and screen-sharing, integrated drag-and-drop file sharing, and an App Directory with over 1,500 apps that can be integrated into Slack.

Back in July 2018, Microsoft introduced a free, basic features version of Teams which did not require an Office 365 account, in order to increase user numbers and tempt users away from Slack.

According to Microsoft figures announced in July, Teams now has 13 million users which are more than Slack’s 10 million users.  Microsoft is keen to promote Teams as a new communications tool rather than just an upgrade to Skype for Business.

End of Skype For Business
Microsoft originally announced at the end of 2017 that Teams was set to replace Skype for Business as Microsoft’s primary client for intelligent communications in Office 365.

With this in mind, Microsoft ended support for Skype for Business at the end of July, will be giving all new 365 customers Teams by default from 1 September and has said that current Skype for Business Online customers won’t notice any change in service in the meantime.

Migration and Interoperability

Microsoft has announced investment and interoperability that will ensure a painless migration to Teams for Skype for Business Online.  For example, from the first quarter of 2020 customers on both platforms will be able to communicate via calls and text chats, DynamicE911 will work in Teams, and Teams also includes contact centre integration and compliance recording solutions.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

Microsoft is succeeding in challenging and overtaking its competitor Slack in the business collaborative working communications tools market.  Brand reach and power coupled with a free version, and now compulsory migration for existing and default for new users has seen Teams reach the point where, as planned by Microsoft more than two years ago, it can ably replace Skype for Business.

It appears that Microsoft is making efforts and investing to ensure that the migration is as smooth for (and attractive to) existing Skype business customers as possible and that the voice and video capabilities, cognitive and data services and insights that Teams offers should add value that could translate into advantages and extra efficiencies for users.

Latest Windows 10 Update Causes Problems For VPN Enterprise Users

Posted on by Andy Miller

The latest update to Windows 10 could break the platform’s Remote Access Connection Manager (RASMAN) and, therefore, cause problems with VPN for Enterprise users with certain settings.

Potentially Millions

Given that the latest Windows update which contains the problem code accounts for 50 million users, it was initially thought that a problem may have been created on a massive scale. Microsoft has, however, said that the code problem will only impact Windows 10 Enterprise.

What’s The Problem?

With certain settings, the latest KB4501375 update for Windows 10 1903 contains code that appears to adversely affect the Remote Access Connection Manager (RASMAN), which manages how Windows 10 connects to the internet and, therefore, is affecting VPN services.  The interruption to VPN services happens for Windows 10 Enterprise and results from a non-default setting (the diagnostic data level being manually configured to the non-default setting of 0) when used in conjunction with a VPN profile being configured as ‘Always ON VPN’ (AOVPN).  This can result in an error “0xc0000005” being shown on devices as the RASMAN stops working, and reports indicate that users have also reported an error in the Application section of Windows Logs in the Event Viewer with Event ID 1000 listing “svchost.exe_RasMan” and “rasman.dll”.

VPN

A virtual private network (VPN) provides a secure, encrypted connection, between a user’s device and a server operated by the VPN service thereby meaning that apps running across a VPN benefit from the functionality, security, and management of the private network.

The VPN market has grown rapidly in recent years as users seek greater security, and the large number of mobile and wireless devices now used by businesses and organisations which need to access business applications from remote locations (employees securely accessing the corporate intranet while outside the office) has made VPN technology a crucial component across various business verticals.

What To Do

Microsoft is reported to be developing a fix for the problem with no timeframe as yet, but a workaround is shown near the bottom of the page on Microsoft’s support site here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/help/4501375/windows-10-update-kb4501375

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

Many businesses now have workers who need to access the company’s network securely from a variety of remote locations, and VPN has, therefore, become an important business tool.  Although there are many different VPN services, Microsoft is a big name, a trusted brand, and its Enterprise users (those with 500 or more computers and 250 for the public sector) may be those likely to be using Microsoft’s VPN.  The disruption to VPN caused by the update may, therefore, be significant and can’t help Microsoft in the highly competitive and growing VPN market. As well as being disruptive and potentially costly, having VPN problems could also pose a security and privacy risk to businesses. It may also be quite inconvenient having to wait for the fix to be developed, with no sign off it to date.

Tech Tip – Night Light For Windows

Posted on by Andy Miller

If you leave your computer on and/or need to work late into the evenings, for example, the Windows 10 ‘night light’ feature enables the gradual limitation of the colour spectrum from your computer so that your body’s Melatonin (the bedtime-indicating chemical) isn’t impeded.

When a screen is left on it emits blue light which can keep you overly awake.  With the night light setting on, warmer colours are displayed which can help you sleep.  Windows knows what time zone your computer is in so scheduling it for your sunset and sunrise should be easy.

To activate night light:

Go to ‘Settings’, click on ‘System’.

Put night light ‘On’ and click on ‘night light settings’ to select ‘colour temperature’.  You will also see a ‘Turn on Now’ button to help you get the right colour temperature.

Under ‘Schedule’, toggle ‘Schedule night light’ to ‘On’.

Either select ‘Sunset to sunrise’ or select ‘Set hours’ and enter custom times for the night light to turn on and off.