31478 Industrial Road Suite 200, Livonia, Michigan 48150 sales@xfer.com

XFER Blog

  1. You are here:  
  2. Home
  3. Blog
  4. Tags
  5. Software

XFER Blog

XFER has been serving the Livonia area since 1994, providing IT Support such as technical helpdesk support, computer support, and consulting to small and medium-sized businesses.
Categories
Tags
Suggested keywords
x

Software

Subscribe to this list via RSS
Mike

Ready or Not, Windows Server 2003 is Scheduled to Fade July 2015

b2ap3_thumbnail_get_rid_of_windows_server_2003_400.jpg
Small business owners, beware. On July 14th 2015, Microsoft will stop supporting the aging server operating system, Windows Server 2003. If your business is still operating servers using this outdated OS, you need to upgrade away from it before the end-of-support date. If you don’t, you run the risk of hacks and security discrepancies.

Tags:
Software IT Support Operating System
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

A New Plan Might Make Software Reverse-Engineering Far More Difficult for Hackers

b2ap3_thumbnail_software_re-engineering_400.jpg
Hackers make life difficult for even the most innocent Internet user, and it’s all thanks to a nasty little trick called reverse-engineering. This is when a hacker picks apart the code that makes up a program, then scans it for vulnerabilities or exploitations. A new type of security measure is being developed to protect against the reverse-engineering of software.

Tags:
Security Software Hackers
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

Make Dynamic Infographics with Microsoft PowerPoint

b2ap3_thumbnail_powerpoint_for_infographs_400.jpg
Not only can Microsoft PowerPoint make great slideshows, it can also make engaging infographics. The latest trend in marketing is fairly simple: Visual content sells. Images and videos are the most popular way to take advantage of this. Infographics can offer your marketing campaign a combination of text and image, allowing your marketing content to be both engaging and informative.

Tags:
PowerPoint Microsoft Office Software
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

Don’t Get Caught in a Software-Licensing Nightmare

b2ap3_thumbnail_software_licensing_current_400.jpg
A business owner must understand the licensing status of their company's software, but this has grown more complicated since the inception of the Internet. If you feel like your employees, or maybe even your corporate culture survives off of pirated software or applications, or stuff you found "for free" online, then your business could potentially suffer from legal issues.

Tags:
Software Licensing Piracy
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

Don’t Put Your Business at Risk: Update Your Software!

b2ap3_thumbnail_update_regularly_400.jpg
Sometimes, when complex systems are put into place, the simplest and most fundamental tasks seem to be neglected. Updating your business' software should not be avoided. Software updates help secure your network and provide your company with an extra competitive edge. Don't risk your company's strengths by neglecting your software updates!

Tags:
Security Software Upgrade
3 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

90% of Large Businesses Have Successfully Upgraded from Windows XP

b2ap3_thumbnail_windows400.jpg
We hope that this isn't the first time you've heard about Microsoft ending support for their popular Windows XP OS on April 8, 2014. Microsoft has been warning users of this "death date" for years, yet we still come across businesses and consumers that are just now getting the memo. You may have to help get the message out!

Tags:
Upgrade Software Windows
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

Businesses Still Prefer Windows 7

b2ap3_thumbnail_eightseveny400.jpg
We are in a unique time of Windows OS transitions. The redesigned Windows 8 has been out for one year, and the first major update to it (Windows 8.1) was just released. Additionally, the popular Windows XP expires in April, forcing everybody to upgrade and choose between Windows 7 and 8. Which OS will your business go with?

Tags:
Microsoft Windows Software
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

Apple’s New OS X is Free for All!

b2ap3_thumbnail_mavs400.jpg
Overshadowed by the new iPad Air and iPad Mini announcement, on October 22nd Apple launched its new Operating System OS X Mavericks. This new OS is sleek, efficient, and free. Wait, a free Apple product? Really? Yes really. Is this too good to be true? Let's take a look at this new OS and find out.

Tags:
Software Apple Operating System
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

Fleksy Cures the Woes of Typing with Fat Fingers

b2ap3_thumbnail_flesky.jpg
You can do almost anything with a smartphone, except type a quick and accurate text message on a four inch screen. Even the best typist struggles with hitting the correct keys on a digital keyboard, and it doesn't help if you have a little extra mass on your fingers. A new app called Fleksy promises to cure the woes of smartphone typing.

Tags:
Apps Users Software
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

Google Reader Refugees Take To Feedly

b2ap3_thumbnail_feedly400.png
The expiration date for Google Reader is set for July 1, 2013. Google’s decision to axe the Reader was not because it was unpopular, but rather, it seems like Google wants to focus their energy into fewer products. This announcement leaves many Google faithful out in the cold, and Feedly has welcomed the Google huddled masses yearning to read free.

Tags:
Software Current Events
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

Tip: Use Macros to Save Your Place

b2ap3_thumbnail_MacroText400.jpg
If you are working on a document that is several pages long, then you know the frustration of getting lost in a sea of text. Often overlooked by the casual user, Macros are great productivity tools that can be utilized for several handy tasks, including giving you the ability to bookmark your work areas in a Word document.

Tags:
Macro Software Workplace Tips
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

4 Practices to Speed up a Slow Computer

b2ap3_thumbnail_snailslow400.jpg
There are dozens of PC tricks and procedures you can try in order to speed up a slow computer. Before you do something drastic like open your case and tinker around with the hardware, or reinstall your OS, or even call your friendly IT techs for a service call, you may first want to adopt these four PC practices that are guaranteed to boost your computer's performance.

Tags:
Software Saving Money
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

Producing Prime Presentations

b2ap3_thumbnail_Fotolia_6187857_S.jpg
At some point or another you will be asked to present information to a crowd of people. Whether you have to give a presentation about how you can best profit from a bake sale for your local PTA or you're presenting a sales pitch to potential investors, vendors, or clients; using advances in presentation technology and methodology to your advantage can help you make a strong first impression and more importantly, a lasting one. Below are some presentation services that can be used to enhance the content of your demonstration.

Tags:
Software Marketing
1 Comment
Continue reading
Mike

Tip: Download a Windows 8 Start Button for Free

b2ap3_thumbnail_Classic.jpg
The new Windows 8 OS has received strong reviews on performance, and complaints in regards to the new interface. The main gripe is that the new tile layout is too different than the older versions of Windows, due in no small part to the lack of a start button. Leave it to third party software developers to build a solution.

Tags:
Technology Software Microsoft
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

5 New Features with Microsoft OneNote 2013

b2ap3_thumbnail_One-Note.jpg
Microsoft Office 2013 will be released during Q1 of 2013. The previews we have seen look promising, Office 365 has cloud-based services and touch screen features that work well with the new Windows 8 OS. We will highlight a few of these upgrades by looking at five new features with OneNote 2013.

Tags:
Microsoft Software Workplace Tips
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

Take, Edit, and Share Screenshots with Lightshot

b2ap3_thumbnail_lightshot10.jpg
Taking screenshots of your desktop is infinitely useful (including when you get a strange error that you can't seem to repeat when IT is standing by).. Although the process of taking a screenshot has always felt a bit more cumbersome than it needs to be due to the additional steps of opening editing software, formatting the image, and saving the file. Lightshot is a solution that simplifies the entire screenshot process.

Tags:
Internet Software Quick Tips
1 Comment
Continue reading
Mike

4 New Features of Microsoft Excel 2013

excel.jpg
Does it feel like your new Windows 8 OS is missing something? It might be because Microsoft Office 365 is not out yet; it is scheduled to be released Q1 of 2013. The updated Office applications have been overhauled to flow with Windows 8, and we want highlight five of these new features found specifically in Excel 2013.

Tags:
Excel Software Microsoft
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

Managed IT Service Prevents Costly Repairs

b2ap3_thumbnail_repairs.jpg
Do you have a plan in place for when your technology breaks or crashes? As wonderful as computers are, the hardware wears down, and software can become buggy and crash. Having a go-to plan in place for IT hiccups, will save you time and frustration from having to react to a problem and scramble to find a fix.

Tags:
Hardware Software
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

What’s New with Microsoft PowerPoint 2013

ppt20132.jpg
Riding the hype wave from the launch of Windows 8 is the newest version of Microsoft Office. Scheduled for release during Q1 of 2013, Office 365 has significant upgrades and new features in line with the revamp of Windows 8. We will showcase a few of these improvements by looking at 5 new features for PowerPoint 2013.

Tags:
Microsoft Software
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

Adobe Reader X: The Best PDF Reader for Mobile Platforms

Over the past two decades, the Portable Document Format (PDF), developed by Adobe Systems, has become the industry standard for clean and secure documents. There are many PDF-viewing applications available across the various app markets. However, you can't go wrong with Adobe's sleek-looking and versatile PDF reader, Adobe Reader X.

Tags:
Software Mobile Office
0 Comments
Continue reading