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Digital Marketing offered at AFScott

thecamel2@trilogycap.co (Design Team) — Wed, 25 May 2016 00:00:00 GMT

One of our favorite things about working in the technology industry is discovering innovative companies that provide valuable services and then sharing them with our clients. Henry Warner and his team at New Wave Digital Designs won us over with a refreshingly direct approach to search engine optimization (SEO) marketing that is easy to understand and simple to implement, and we are pleased to welcome them under the umbrella of AFScott. Our new services include the following essential tools for controlling, understanding, and expanding your company’s digital imprint:

SEO keyword research & analysis
Business directory optimization reports
Cross-competitor analysis & screening
Industry targeted link-building development
Content marketing targeting and creation
Social media optimization (35 total profiles)
Website audits and reports

As a growing company, we have experienced firsthand the importance of increasing our Google ranking. One of the first lessons we learned from New Wave began with their documentation of AFScott’s online listing ( Scan your business listings ), and we were amazed—not in a good way—at the disparity of information they found despite AFScott’s one-word company name and two main locations. We found 100 location errors and every one of these errors is penalized by Google , significantly impacting your company’s Google ranking.

These inconsistencies can create confusion for potential clients as well as damage a company’s Google ranking. One of the many services that New Wave offers is the syncing of your business’s top 50 online listings. They provided us with an analysis of our SEO keywords and the SEO keywords of our top NJ managed-services industry competitors, which allowed us to improve upon and expand the keywords we were already using to give us an edge over our rivals in Google rankings.

These are just a few of the benefits that convinced us that adding SEO analysis and social media optimization , among others, to our managed services will increase our range of client resources and allow us to provide a comprehensive, more holistic technological experience.

CryptoWall: How to protect your systems

thecamel2@trilogycap.co (Design Team) — Sun, 15 May 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Viruses infecting computers are as common as ants invading the picnic table — sooner or later, it’s just going to happen. The reality surrounding malware is that it’s here to stay. The more that the Internet of Things (IoT) permeates our daily consciousness, granting smart features to everyday items, the greater the influx of malware will be. Such a target-rich environment is precisely what a majority of malware thrives in. The more targets, the greater the chance of a pay off (or destruction) — whatever the motivation behind the malware, more is viewed as better than less.

This is why viruses like CryptoWall (and its predecessor, the now defunct CryptoLocker) are poised to strike consumers and enterprises equally very hard. With the internet as its distribution point, any and all Windows desktops that are not thoroughly protected will likely feel the pain of CryptoWall’s payload through either direct or indirect infection. Below are some common questions I’ve received when speaking to victims of the infection and how to best explain what this virus is, what the virus does, and how to best protect your systems against it.

What is CryptoWall?
CryptoWall is classified as a Trojan horse, which is known for masking its viral payload through the guise of a seemingly non-threatening application or file. Its payload involves encrypting the files of infected computers in an effort to extract money for the decryption key.

CryptoWall and viruses similar to it are also known as “ransomware” in that the infection offers the end user a means with which to remove the threat and recover all their files in exchange for paying a ransom. After they pay, the user is allowed to download and run a file and/or application to cleanup the infection or, in this case, decrypt the encrypted files to return them back to a working state.

Where does it come from?
Geographically speaking, that is unknown as of this writing. What is known regarding origins of infection is that CryptoWall is most typically spread through email as an attachment and from infected websites that pass on the virus — also known as a drive-by download.

Additionally, CryptoWall has been linked to some ad sites that serve up advertising for many common websites users visit on a daily basis, further spreading its distribution.

How does it infect a computer?
The infection process, as stated previously, is pretty standard for a virus. However, once it gets a hold of the host computer, it begins by establishing a network connection to random servers, where it uploads connection information like the public IP address, location, and system information including OS. Next, the remote server will generate a random 2048-bit RSA key pair that’s associated with your computer. It copies the public key to the computer and begins the process of copying each file on its pre-determined list of supported file extensions. As a copy is created, it’s encrypted using the public key, and the original file is deleted from the hard drive.

This process will continue until all the files matching the supported file types have been copied and encrypted. This includes files that are located on other drives, such as external drives and network shares — basically, any drive that’s assigned a drive letter will be added to the list. Also, cloud-based storage that stores a local copy of the files on the drive will be affected, and changes will propagate to the cloud as the files are changed.

Finally, once the encryption process has completed, CryptoWall will execute some commands locally to stop the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) that runs on all modern versions of Windows. VSS is the service that controls the backup and restoration of data on a host computer. It also controls file versioning, a feature introduced in Windows 7 that keeps histories of changes made to files. The file may be rolled back or restored to a previous version in the event of an unintended change or catastrophic event that causes the integrity of the file to have been modified. The command run by the virus stops the service altogether and also adds the command argument to clear/delete the existing cache, making it even more difficult to recover files through versioning or system restore.

Will I know if my computer is infected?
There are two telltale signs that indicate CryptoWall has compromised a host computer.

When attempting to open certain files, such as .doc, .xls or .pdf, for example, the files are launched with the correct program; however, data may be garbled or not properly displayed. Additionally, an error message may be accompanied when trying to open infected files.
The most common indication will be the appearance of three files at the root of every directory that contains files that were encrypted by CryptoWall.
DECRYPT_INSTRUCTION.txt
DECRYPT_INSTRUCTION.html
DECRYPT_INSTRUCTION.url
Clicking on any of these files left behind in the wake of CryptoWall’s infection will lead the end user to step-by-step instructions necessary to carry out the ransom payment.

The HTML file will actually have a caption indicating the amount of time left on the ransom and how much money is being requested as payment. Typically, the ransom amount begins at $500 (USD), and the countdown timer provides for a period of three days in which to get payment to the requestor.

After the timer has reached zero, the caption will change. The new amount requested will double to $1,000 (USD) and the timer will provide a cutoff date and time. Usually, the timeframe is about one week, and it will indicate that if payment is not received before the cutoff time, the remote server housing the private key and decryption application to decrypt your files will be automatically deleted, making your files unrecoverable.

What are my options if my computer is infected with CryptoWall?
After having confirmed infection with CryptoWall, the next step for the end user is to decide if they are willing to pay the ransom to get their data back, or if they’re not going to pay and lose access to their data altogether. If deciding to pay the ransom, continue reading. If deciding not to pay the ransom, jump down to the next section for some helpful steps to take that may or may not allow you to recover your files.

Paying the ransom is an exercise in and of itself. Unfortunately, the ransom amount must be paid in Bitcoin, a digital currency that’s used to purchase goods and services, similar to US currency. However, due to its lack of regulation and general lack of acceptance, Bitcoin is a niche market and not as common as US currency. Adding to the difficulty of procurement is that many exchanges that accept US currency for Bitcoins have limited purchases of larger Bitcoin amounts. There are also strengthened company policies that further restrict the accumulation of the necessary amount of Bitcoins to pay off the ransom. Many of these changes have come about as a direct result of the CryptoWall virus, with some exchanges known to cancel transactions and restrict accounts suspected of using their services to pay off the ransom.

Though difficult, it’s still possible to open an account at an exchange to begin funding the purchase of Bitcoins in order to pay the ransom in the time allotted. If neither time nor technology is on your side, another viable option is seeking out the services of an IT consultant with experience in this matter. They may be able to assist you in the overall recovery process of your data and may even be able to do so without incurring any penalty due to non-payment within the specified time frame.

I’ve decided not to pay the ransom. Can my files be recovered another way?
Deciding not to pay is a fair argument, especially if the amount being requested is worth more than value of the data. Perhaps out of principle, you feel you shouldn’t have to pay. Regardless of the reasons, there are a few things end users can do to see if their files are recoverable without paying. Just please do realize that this is a big IF, and most cases will result with loss of data for non-payment, while those who do pay within the time frame will be able to recover their data through the use of the provided private key and decrypter application. With that disclaimer in place, the most effective method to recover your files is by using a backup. If your files have been backed up regularly, connect your backup drive to a non-infected computer to check your files. If they are indeed on there and not infected, then you simply clean the infected computer of CryptoWall, and you’ll be able to reconnect the drive to restore your data.

If a cloud-based backup exists, depending on the service provider, you may be able to sanitize the computer before restoring your files from the cloud. However, as stated previously, some cloud services store a local copy of the data on the host — like Dropbox, for example. In these cases, most of the cloud services offer file versioning as a form of added protection against file modifications made in error. By using this feature after sanitizing the computer, you should be able to rollback a file change to date/time prior to the infection.

If no backup — local or cloud-based — are available, then the only chance at file recovery will lay in the VSS, restore previous file versions, or system restore. Since much of the CryptoWall virus is automated, there are times when a command can’t execute due to a system resource issue or hanging app. Though rare, in these cases, recovery may be possible by initiating a system restore to a time/date prior to the infection occurring. Note, this is the exception, not the rule on average — but each situation should be handled on a case-by-case basis. Also, you might try using Shadow Explorer to attempt to restore a file or two first to test out if this method works for you. If it does, remember to clean the computer first to get rid of any/all infections before trying to restore all your data. If the system is not cleaned, it will only try to encrypt the files again — and this time, it may succeed in stopping VSS and clearing the cache.

Are there steps I can take to protect my computers?
Yes, there are. There are several steps that should be taken at all times, regardless of what the infection risk may be. You should have an active antivirus application installed with the latest virus definition files. You should also have a malware scanner, preferably with active scanning capabilities and updated with the latest definition files. With your computer(s) protected, we move on to one of the biggest issues: Backup or — in some instances — lack thereof. A proper backup system with preferably a local and cloud-based backup schedule will go above and beyond to protect your data. Even when the system itself is compromised, you can count on being able to restore your data, as needed.

Other considerations for protection include safe internet practices. Don’t visit questionable websites, never click links found within emails, and certainly never provide anyone any form of personally identifiable information in chat rooms, forums, discussion boards, or social media sites! Lastly, consider enabling software restriction policies if you’re a system administrator on an enterprise network or using a freely available application such as CryptoPrevent to block many of the avenues to which CryptoWall uses to gain a foothold on your computer.

Viruses, regardless of whether they’re attacking your files or stealing your banking credentials, are nuisances. As a society, will need to continue to contend with them as digital divides slowly shrink and our connected lives stretch further out. While there may be little recourse once infected, there’s a lot in the realm of possibilities that can be done to limit our exposure to infection and subsequent loss of data. You just needs to be proactive enough to ensure that these fail-safes are in place and check on them from time to time.

As the old adage goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” – Ben Franklin

By Jesus Vigo October 21, 2014, 9:06 AM PST // themacjesus http://www.techrepublic.com/article/cryptowall-what-it-is-and-how-to-protect-your-systems/

Tags: AFScott , anti virus softare , Apple , Bedminster , central new jersey , computer , computer virus , crisis management , managed IT , managed it provider , managed it service , managed IT services , Manhattan , New Jersey , new york , New York City , NJ , NY , NYC , servers , software solutions , Somerset

Windows Server 2003 End of Life

thecamel2@trilogycap.co (Design Team) — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Microsoft has ended its extended support for Windows Server 2003 and the move has many in the industry (including the Department of Homeland Security ) feeling nervous about the fall out. Feeling under pressure from Microsoft to perform a server migration to a more modern platform may not seem appealing, but if you remain on Windows Server 2003 after the deadline you risk being exposed to security vulnerabilities as well as a lack of future updates and support from Microsoft. On top of this, you’re missing out on improvements and innovations that Windows Server 2003 does not have.

Understanding what end of support means for Windows Server 2003

The end of support for Windows Server 2003 means no more updates or patches from Microsoft, which can result in a less secure and less stable infrastructure for your business. Edward Jones from Computerworld breaks down what this really means:

Maintenance Costs – running legacy servers is expensive. Intrusion detection systems, advanced firewalls and network segmentation are required to protect a now vulnerable Windows Server 2003 platform. You will also have increasing costs from maintaining aging hardware. Current estimates in a TechNet post from Alex Fu place the cost of custom support post end-of-life at $200,000 on average. In a Q&A with David Mayer , practice director of Microsoft Solutions for Insight Enterprises, he estimated a support cost of $1500 per server per year.

No Updates – there will be no more updates to fix bugs, performance issues and security vulnerabilities. To put this into perspective, 2013 saw the release of 37 critical updates for Windows Server 2003/R2 . Past the end of life date, these critical issues will remain unfixed leaving you open to cybersecurity dangers such as malicious attacks or electronic data loss.

No Compliance – once support ends, your organization will almost certainly fail to meet industry wide compliance standards. Regulations such as HIPAA, PCI, and SOX & DODD-FRANK all require regulated industries to run on supported platforms. The impact is twofold: Non-compliance could result in the loss of business, while high transaction fees and penalties from non-compliance could dramatically increase the cost of doing business.

Software and Hardware Compatibility Issues – new software and hardware devices will not be built to integrate with Windows Server 2003. Sticking with a legacy server means you will likely run into compatibility issues and may not be able to run new software or communicate with the latest devices.

No Safe Haven – without continued support from Microsoft, virtualized and physical instances of Windows Server 2003/R2 and Microsoft Small Business Server (SBS) 2003 will not pass a compliance audit.”

What are the Benefits of Changing?

This migration offers businesses a chance to move forward with an updated version of Windows and modernize for the next generation of business technology innovations. As Kyle Jasinski of Zuma Technology points out, “The reality is that, for many customers, this is about more than just Windows Server 2003. Given the age of the installation, the chances are high that other software products beyond the operating system are aging as well. The list of products that customers may be concerned about would include applications, database products, and management tools, all of which may be approaching or already past their supported life cycles, leaving customers at even further potential risk should a problem arise. Regulatory compliance and support life cycles are not purely operating system issues.

The benefits to upgrading include even more than enhancements to productivity, efficiency, and security. Hyper-V and web server improvements, virtualized datacenter capabilities, and access to the cloud are some of the many new and updated features supported by Windows Server 2012. Microsoft commissioned Forrester Consulting to quantify the cost benefits of upgrading, and the final report found that upgrading to Windows Server 2012 delivered a risk-adjusted ROI of 270% with a payback period of six months, and a decrease in Windows Server management costs by 35%.”

Some of the advantages to your business are:

Avoiding rising, ongoing customized support costs by migrating to Windows Server 2012 or other cloud business services
Enhancing your business systems with new security features, such as BitLocker
Interfacing with a new, productive OS similar to Windows 8
Adopting new Hyper V virtualization tech allowing multiple OSs to run on a single platform
Improving overall substantial performance, management, scalability and availability

What Should You Do?

First step… plan for the future. It’s pretty clear from all sides that migration away from Windows 2003 is just a matter of time; so don’t wait, start now to avoid unnecessary and potentially catastrophic business complications.

Tags: computer , computer repair , computer virus , computers , crisis management , managed IT , managed it provider , managed it service , managed IT services , Managed Service Provider , Microsoft , microsoft office 365 , MSP , networking , PC , Server , servers , tech , technology , Windows , Windows 2003 , Windows 2003 Migration

New Disaster Recovery Division

thecamel2@trilogycap.co (Design Team) — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT

AFScott is pleased to announce the addition of a disaster recovery division to our AFScott team. This team will focus on disaster recovery solutions in the form of technical documentation, compliance, introduction of proper procedural practices, evaluation of corporate infrastructure and the recommendation and implementation of disaster recovery solutions. Our technicians will work with each client individually to create a comprehensive personalized protocol using experience gained from over 30 years of anticipating and managing disaster recovery scenarios in corporate settings. As we enter this age of technological dependence AFScott offers clients a way to stay ahead of the competition while engaging in extensive disaster preparation.

Tags: 12-inch Macbook , Apple , Apple Pay , Apple Watch , butterfly mechanism , computer , computers , deep touch , Force touch , gold Macbook , haptic feedback , HBO , HBO Now , HBONow , light touch , Macbook , Retina , Retina display , rose gold , Spring Forward , Spring Forward 2015 , Spring Forward Event , tactile technology , tech , technology , USB-C , Watch Edition

The Apple Watch and a 12-inch Macbook

thecamel2@trilogycap.co (Design Team) — Sat, 02 May 2015 00:00:00 GMT

The Apple Watch was the featured attraction at Apple’s ‘Spring Forward’ Event last week, and while the press was sensational history has taught us always to be wary of first-generation Apple products (case in point: my brother-in-law bought the first IPhone for $800 and four months later a better, faster version was released for $400). To recap Apple’s ‘Spring Forward’ event: Amidst much speculation Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that the Apple Watch (all models) will have 18 hours of battery life on a single charge, and you’ll get 8 GB of storage with 2 GB allotted for music and 75MB for photos. There is a model for everyone, ranging from $349 to $17,000(!) depending on your budget and style preference. The Apple Watch will be available beginning on April 24 with preorders starting on April 10.

Sports Lover: $349-$399. The anodized aluminum and Ion-X glass Sports model comes with a fluoroelastomer (synthetic rubber) band in Space Gray or Silver. Apple will sell bands separately between $49 and $449, with additional magnetic chargers costing $29 for a 1-meter cable and $39 for a 2-meter cable.

Business Casual: $549-$1,099. The next tier model is stainless steel, comes in two sizes, two colors (polished stainless steel and space black) and with a display that’s laminated in scratch resistant sapphire. Prices for the 38mm and 42mm devices, including a black or white Sports Band, start at $549/$599. The stainless steel–link bracelet raises the price to $1,099 for the 42mm model.

Jay Z: $10,000-$17,000. For those in the highest tax brackets the Watch Edition will be an eye-catching status symbol. Also available in 38mm and 42mm sizes, the Watch Edition features sapphire crystal displays and are made of solid 18k Rose or Yellow gold. This version of the watch will be a limited edition, a logical decision given the price tag.

Summary: These watches are big. While they may be wearable for men without too much fanfare they are too big for most women to wear without making a major statement about your commitment to tech (is your watch really the first thing you want people to notice about you?) Also, the watches are expensive when one considers that they are almost outdated upon arrival and the wearer will most likely want an upgrade to the smaller version that will probably arrive next spring (or sooner). The 18-hour battery life on a single charge sounds nice until you realize that in addition to your phone, your IPad, and your computer, you will have to charge your watch. EVERY NIGHT. All of that being said, I wouldn’t say no to a rose-gold Watch Edition for a mere $10,000, as long as someone else is paying.

The 12-inch Macbook is a thing of beauty. It was the gold (yes, gold) Macbook I found myself daydreaming about instead of any of the Apple Watches. It has a 3 million–pixel Retina Display, weighs just 2 pounds (the next lightest Apple product is the 11-in MacBook Air weighing in at 2.38 lbs) and is only 13.1mm thick. And for the first time, Apple’s new Macbook will come in gold, silver, and space-gray. The Macbook promises a very reasonable 9 hours of battery life and has a larger trackpad with haptic feedback (the use of tactile technology, or sense of touch, to provide information) and support for Force touch (new technology that can distinguish between light touch and deep touch). Apple incorporated a new butterfly mechanism for the keyboard keys, which makes them 40% thinner and four times more stable (for greater precision typing) than traditional keys.

One port: The 12-inch Macbook is the first Apple product to adopt USB-C, which combines power, data and video output in a single, reversible port. It uses low power 1/1GHz and 1.2 GHz Intel Core M processors with Intel HD Graphics 5300, which let it have a fanless design with silent (and cool) operation. The Macbook will ship on April 24 (same date the Apple Watch will be in stores), and prices start at $1,299 for the model with 256GB of storage and $1,599 for twice that amount of storage and a slightly faster chip. Both models come with 8GB of RAM and, for now, neither can be upgraded to more.

What don’t you get? A MagSafe power plug or any of the old ports from previous models (except for a place to plug in your headphones), which means most people will need an adapter for older peripherals. Also, the camera quality isn’t as good as what you get on the MacBook air.

HBO Exclusive Partnership

One of the big surprises from Apple’s “Spring Forward” event was the announcement by HBO CEO Richard Plepler of an exclusive partnership between Apple and HBO for HBO’s stand-alone streaming device, HBO Now. Beginning on April 12, just in time for the premiere of the “Game of Thrones,” only Apple device owners can access HBO Now via Apple TV, Ipads, Iphones and HBONow.com. With more than 2,000 titles, including “Girls,” “The Sopranos,” and “Veep,” available for only $14.99 per month, our AFScott at Home head Matt Sutte says, “This is the death knell for cable TV. Soon having cable will seem like 1999.”

Global Domination

Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that Apple now has 453 retail locations in 16 countries and six of the 21 stores in China opened within the last two months. Wow. He elaborated that their global presence allowed Apple to reach 120 million customers in its retail stores in just the last quarter. Apple Pay, Apple’s digital wallet, continues to expand its reach with 2,500 card-issuing banks and 700,000 locations across the US. Why shouldn’t my wallet, like everything else I use on a daily basis, come with an apple on top? With this latest “Spring Forward” event Apple cements their commitment to innovation and shaping the future of technology as we know it.

Microsoft Introduces Windows 10

thecamel2@trilogycap.co (Design Team) — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Great news for Windows 7 Start Menu fans (namely everyone), Microsoft’s new Windows 10 will include the classic Windows 7 Start Menu with the best features of Windows 8. And it looks as though Microsoft is trying to make this upgrade as painless and cost-effective as possible for those running older versions of Windows. Microsoft announced at their January 21 event that for the first year after Windows 10 launches any device running Windows 8.1, or Windows Phone 8.1 can upgrade to the latest version of Microsoft OS for FREE. Previously Microsoft also confirmed that Windows 7 users will be able to upgrade to 10 for free but we’ll see if that pans out. Microsoft is promoting their new commitment to consistently updating devices throughout the “supported lifetime for the device.” Other welcome features of Windows 10 include the return of the Start Menu, its unification across desktop and mobile, the introduction of Xbox streaming, Cortana (the voice assistant in Windows Phone 8.1—Windows’ Siri) integration and holographic plans.

Here is a breakdown of some of the new features of Windows 10:

1. Multiple Devices
Windows 10 will run across all devices including desktop, laptop, tablet, phablet, and smartphone. “Windows 10 will run on the broadest amount of devices. A tailored experience for each device,” said Myerson. “There will be one way to write a universal application, one store, one way for apps to be discovered, purchased and updated across all of these devices.”

2. Return of the Start Menu
The Windows 10 Start menu combines the classic Windows 7 Start Menu with the best features of Windows 8, namely the Live Tiles, reimagining them for an impressively modern desktop that allows for multitasking. As our tech Saif Naqvi says, “To be honest, I’m just glad the start menu is back… they’re finally going back to the core Windows platform that everyone enjoys and is familiar with.” Searching within the Start Menu will now perform a web search and its layout can be customized so apps can be removed or resized.

3. Better Touch/Keyboard & Mouse Integration
Microsoft is calling their new approach to moving between different input methods (like touch and the keyboard and mouse) ‘Continuum’ and it will be able to switch automatically between modes by detecting how users interact with their device. It will carry over to the new Start Menu, windowed apps within the desktop and other features of Windows 10.

4. Windows Phone
Microsoft will soon issue a major update to Lumia devices running the latest version of Windows Phone 8.1, codename “Denim.” The Denim update will include Cortana, Live Folders, a Glance Screen Tool, enhancements to Internet Explorer and the camera app, among others. The leaked screenshots below show a tiled interface with a new notifications system which looks similar to the existing one but which will allow for synced notifications across different devices, so if you clear one on your phone it will also clear on your desktop.

5. Virtual Desktops
Virtual desktops will have multiple desktops and be triggered with a new task view button that allows users to launch a new virtual desktop and jump between them.

6. Xbox Streaming
Windows 10 and Xbox One will interact in a variety of ways, including streaming Xbox One games to the Windows 10 PCs and tablets in your home, according to announcements made by Head of Xbox Phil Spencer at Microsoft’s January 21 event. In a live demo, Forza Horizon 2 streamed from an Xbox One to a Microsoft Surface. Streaming will require a one-time set up to pair the devices, after which Xbox One games can be accessed on a Windows 10 device by clicking on the game’s name in the Windows 10 Xbox app.

7. Pricing/Availability
Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 10 will be free for Windows 8.1 users for its first year. No final word on the upgrade for Windows 7 or older versions but Microsoft did confirm this fall that the two most recent versions will be able to upgrade to Windows 10 directly. There is no set date for the release of Windows 10 but recently Neowin cited sources claiming that Windows 10 will start appearing on consumer hardware coming this June 2015.

8. Spartan browser
Microsoft introduced their new browser, Spartan, which will include reading lists, a distraction-free reading mode and a built-in PDF viewer. Advanced features include the ability to annotate by keyboard or pen directly on the webpage. It will also include support for Cortana, which means the browser will know about your upcoming flights, which will pop up right in the browser’s search bar. Cortana will also show you information about the sites you’re browsing (if you’re looking at a restaurant, Cortana will pop up and show you directions and let you book reservations).

9. Holographic Plans
During its January 21 event, Microsoft revealed Windows Holographc and Microsoft HoloLens, a brand new headset and hologram system designed to reimagine virtual reality.

Every Windows 10 device will support holographic computing APIs.

10. Surface Hub
During their January 21 event Microsoft revealed a brand new device to showcase the features and capabilities of Windows 10, called the Surface Hub. The devices is an 84-inch, 4K touchscreen that is designed for Enterprise users and features stylus support similar to the Surface Pro 3 with a pen made just for this device. The Surface Hub is designed to offer a holistic solution for meetings from web conferencing to white boarding to document sharing.

Should you upgrade to Windows 10?
Lowell Heddings from howtogeek.com put it best: “If you’re upgrading from Windows 8, it’s a no-brainer to make the leap (but not yet!) because Windows 10 is the same type of upgrade from Windows 8 that Windows 7 was from Vista: the internals are similar, but the package is significantly better. If you’re upgrading from Windows 7, here are just a few of the things you’ve been missing out on because the Windows 8 interface was so annoying that you didn’t upgrade:

Improved system resource usage and performance. Less processes running in the background.
Refresh and Reset to reinstall without reinstalling.
New and Greatly Improved Task Manager . You almost don’t need Process Explorer . Almost .
System Boot is significantly faster, and sleep mode works a lot better.
File History to restore old versions of documents and files.
USB 3.0 is natively supported.
Loads of security features like built-in antivirus and network intrusion detection.
Impressive Resource Monitor application to track system performance.
And many, many more features .

Since it’s a free upgrade, we definitely recommend that people make the jump. Just… do NOT upgrade right now. Wait until the final version is released. Note that they haven’t actually announced when it will be released. We’re guessing September, but there’s no way to be sure.”

AFScott on Technology Panel

thecamel2@trilogycap.co (Design Team) — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT

AFScott president and CEO Andrew Scott and marketing director Eliza Sutte took part in a panel discussion about the impact of technology on families that took place at Far Hills Country Day School last week. Head of School Tom Woelper led the discussion with parents and educators that featured The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age by clinical psychologist and family therapist Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair. The book, which examines ways in which technology and media change how children learn and grow and shows parents how to balance the benefits of tech while reducing the risks it poses at every stage of development, was a natural selection for the first head-of-school book club talk this year.

AFScott Welcomes New Employee

thecamel2@trilogycap.co (Design Team) — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 00:00:00 GMT

AFScott welcomes new employee Vincent Panico to the team. Vincent is a VMware-certified associate with a background in education technology. He joins us from the Purnell School in Pottersville, NJ where as network administrator he provided total infrastructure support for the school, including their switches, servers, and routers, as well as their physical access control, end-user devices, and capital projects. From 2006 to 2013 he served as the IT–support analyst for Hunterdon Central Regional High School in Flemington, NJ and played a major role in the support of a 5,000-user environment. While at AFScott, Vincent will be an adjunct professor at Raritan Valley Community College, where he designed and now teaches their Introduction to PHP and Interactive Multimedia courses. He has lectured extensively on education technology and website development, is a licensed pilot, and currently serves on the Readington Township Board of Education.

AFScott becomes Microsoft Authorized Education Reseller

thecamel2@trilogycap.co (Design Team) — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMT

AFScott has become a Microsoft Authorized Education Reseller (AER), a program that authorizes resellers to purchase and re-sell academic priced products to Qualified Educational Users. This includes the authorization to support Microsoft Office 365 Cloud Suite to schools. As cloud storage becomes more prevalent in home and business use, AFScott is happy to have an additional tool to support our clients’ cloud needs. We are already authorized resellers and authorized support representatives for all Microsoft products as well as the Google Apps for Work and the Google Apps for Education suites.