XFER Blog

When a soldier in the military is promoted to officer, one would assume that it's due to their ferocity and quick decision-making abilities that have been proven on the battlefield. Character traits like these are important, but to be an officer in today's military, one will need to possess one skill above all others: Microsoft PowerPoint proficiency.

Operating systems aren't designed to last forever. This is why new versions are released every few years or so. In the case of Microsoft, selling their latest OS has always been their bread and butter. However, with Windows 10 on the horizon, one has to wonder if Microsoft has considered offering their new OS to users as a free upgrade?

The Apple iPhone 6 and 6+ are here! Are you enough of an Apple fan to have waited in line for hours to get your very own? To date, the new iPhone is so popular that it's on backorder and difficult to get a hold of. Is the latest iPhone worth the hype? Let's take a look at the specs and find out.

More businesses are switching to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) in order to consolidate their communication tools and save money on their phone bill. Before you make the switch, you will first want to understand your different VoIP options so that you will have a plan that fits your company's communication needs. Here are some tips to get you started with VoIP.

The Internet of Things is on its way, and more devices are connecting to the Internet than ever before. Unfortunately, this also means that more devices are vulnerable to the threats that cybercrime poses. Some professionals believe that, despite the obvious benefits that the Internet of Things provides (i.e. big data analytics) some cyber criminals might turn to more nefarious schemes.

When it comes to IT support, communication is key. The parties giving and receiving support must absolutely be on the same page. If not, then a PC disaster is imminent. Sometimes, IT support miscommunications can be so bad that they're funny, as seen in the 2001 movie "Zoolander." Thankfully, nobody is really this detached when it comes to computers, right?

The news is out; what was previously thought to be Windows 9, codenamed “Threshold,” has been revealed to be Windows 10. While leaks have already shown us quite a bit of what the latest installment of Windows can do, the official reveal goes into more detail about the nature of Windows 10 for enterprises and even common users. First, let’s go over what we already know about the enigmatic new operating system, then we’ll get into the juicy new details.

The battle between iOS and Android operating system enthusiasts has been a long and bloody affair with plenty of third-party casualties (sorry Blackberry), but did you know that you might be able to tell a lot about someone just by looking at their smartphone?

Desktop virtualization isn't necessarily a new subject, but it is something that has been growing in popularity over the past few years, and it's easy to understand why. Instead of keeping your desktop in physical form on your computer, it's becoming more reliable to just keep it safe and secure on a hosted server. This takes care of most physical problems that computers often deal with, such as a sudden crash or old age.

Any user of the latest mobile technology may have noticed their device running a little hot. In normal circumstances, a device that's warm to the touch is nothing to be concerned about. Although, there are documented cases where a device in perfectly good working order overheats and goes kablooey!

It's summertime, and the living's easy... unless you're a small business owner. The heat and great weather is the perfect excuse to take off for a while and use that vacation time you've been saving up. But if you're still worried about leaving your business behind, the mobile technology of a tablet can help you keep in contact and still enjoy your vacation.

Business is on the move. There is no argument from industry professionals that more business is done on the go today than ever before. A big part of this upward trend in mobile computing is the proliferation of smartphone technology to boost productivity. The capabilities of these devices have increased to the point where any worker can accomplish a cursory amount of work.

Windows XP is a product that has consistently performed well for Microsoft and it continues to see growth, even though it's not supposed to. With its support ending this past April, Windows XP was supposed to never be heard from again. Instead, XP is refusing to go quietly into the night by posting positive usage numbers for June 2014.

Can you imagine a world where language isn't a barrier? Humanity would be able to achieve some crazy things, like perhaps rocketing a skyscraper into outer space! With every passing year, new technology innovations like Skype Translator chip away at the language barrier, making one bright and coherent future!

Technically speaking, it needs to be 158°F for a raw egg to become firm. The summer heat doesn't get that hot, but outdoor objects like sidewalks and car hoods that come in contact with it can. Thus the phrase, "It's so hot you can fry an egg on the sidewalk!" When it's hot outside, you need to keep your server units cool inside.

The new Microsoft Surface Pro 3 is out and Microsoft is hoping that they have a winner on their hands. It's a sweet piece of technology, to be sure, with a 12-inch screen and a Core i3 processor for the base model, but, like previous Surface models, it's unlikely to experience the same level of success as Apple's iPad. Why is this?

The world is growing ever more mobile. We used to rely on landline telephones for communication, but portable cell phones have revolutionized the way that we communicate with each other. The fact that they can now connect to the Internet completely changes everything once again. While some people tend to use them for random games such as Candy Crush Saga and Words with Friends, the smartphone is particularly valuable for a small business owner.

Anyone who has been following the recent trends in technological growth will come to the conclusion that mobile technology is more popular, and has taken its rightful place at the head of the pack. 2014 may see even more drastic shifts toward the mobile revolution, cementing its place as the preferred mode of computing.

The technology for artificial intelligence isn't quite there yet, but according to a recent Turing Test performed at the University of Reading, there might be some hope for it in the near future. A Russian team has assembled a computer program called Eugene Goostman who many believe is the first to pass the Turing Test.

Cloud computing is one of the largest growing areas in the IT industry. The concept of “Cloud Computing” refers to the hosting of a server or an application by a third party in an offsite location accessed via the Internet. The premise is that the vendor will not only provide the client with a reliable experience, but one that will be resistant to downtime and data loss.

Personally, I know that the Insurance industry has been enjoying the benefits of cloud computing for many years. But what are the caveats and recent concerns garnered by those enrolled in these online services?