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Remember Excel? It’s been our go-to tool for years, from school projects to business finances. Now, it’s getting an upgrade that can make your business even more productive. Cloud-based Excel and AI are changing the way we work.

With cloud-based Excel, you can access your spreadsheets from anywhere – the office, home, or even on the go. No more being stuck at one computer. This means you can work whenever and wherever you need to, making your business more flexible.

Next, collaboration just got a whole lot easier. Imagine your team working on the same spreadsheet at the same time, seeing updates instantly. No more back-and-forth emails or version confusion. Everyone is always on the same page, literally.

Security is another big win. Cloud-based Excel has strong security measures to keep your data safe from unauthorised access and threats. So, you can relax knowing your information is well-protected.

Ok, let’s talk about AI – it can become your new best friend in Excel. AI can handle those boring, repetitive tasks like data cleaning and calculations, freeing up your time for more important things. It can also analyse data and create charts and summaries in seconds, helping you spot trends and make better decisions faster.

AI in Excel allows you to ask questions in plain English and get instant answers. No more complex formulas. Woo hoo! This makes data analysis easy for everyone, even if you’re not a tech expert.

Another great feature is predictive analytics. AI can look at your past data to predict future trends, helping you plan better and stay ahead of the competition.

I believe cloud-based Excel and AI can make your business more efficient, collaborative, and smart. Have you made the switch yet? If not, my team can help - get in touch.

Excel's evolution: how cloud and AI are transforming the digital workplace AI-enhanced collaboration transforms business data analysis

If you're still on Windows 10, you might have noticed Microsoft's nag screens urging you to upgrade to Windows 11. While these pop-ups can be a bit annoying, they have a point – making the switch to Windows 11 is a smart move.

Windows 10 support ends in October 2025, and staying on an unsupported system isn't good for security or efficiency. Plus, Windows 11 comes packed with new tools and features designed to boost productivity and save you time.

Microsoft’s reminders might feel pushy, but consider the benefits:

- Enhanced security: Windows 11 offers improved security features to protect your business data.

- Productivity tools: New features like Snap Layouts and virtual desktops make multitasking easier.

- Future-proofing: Staying current with your OS ensures compatibility with the latest software and updates.

If your PC can handle Windows 11, you'll keep getting reminders until you upgrade. Even if your device isn’t eligible, you’ll be informed about the end of Windows 10 support.

Need help making the switch? Don’t worry, my team can help make the transition to Windows 11 smooth and hassle-free for your business. Get in touch.

Microsoft brings back nag screens again, urging users to switch to Windows 11 Microsoft wants you to upgrade to Windows 11, and to make users switch, it’s bringing back the nag screens again.

Have you heard about the latest breakthrough from Cambridge University? Scientists have demonstrated a robotic third thumb… yes really. It’s designed to let you do tasks with one hand that previously needed two.

In a recent demo, people showcased the versatility of this extra digit. From basic daily activities to advanced tasks like soldering, playing Jenga, or even strumming a guitar. It turns out that getting comfortable with the third thumb is “easier than you might think,” with most people becoming adept in no time.

The best part? The third thumb is designed to be inclusive for all body shapes and sizes. Researchers tested it with a diverse group of participants aged 3 to 96 years old, and an impressive 98% could use it effectively within just a minute. Whether you’re right-handed, left-handed, young, or old, the third thumb adapts beautifully.

No complex sensors or probes here – just simple controls using your toes. The left big toe controls up and down movement, while the right toe moves it across the palm. This intuitive design means almost anyone can master it quickly.

Would you like to see this kind of tech in your day-to-day life? I’d love to hear your best robo-assistant ideas.

Scientists demo robotic 'third thumb' — get a gaming advantage with an extra appendage Using a third thumb is ‘easier than you might think.’

This may be a little throwback to your childhood… on 11th June 1978, Texas Instruments Inc. introduced the Speak & Spell, a revolutionary talking educational toy. It was the first to electronically duplicate the human voice on a single chip of silicon, turning digital data into synthetic speech and storing more than 100 seconds of linguistic sounds. With five spelling games, it made learning fun for kids everywhere.

But the Speak & Spell wasn't just a toy; it was a pioneer in handheld electronics with a visual display and interchangeable game cartridges. It was launched at the summer Consumer Electronics Show, and marked a significant milestone in tech history. The device, developed by a small team led by engineer Paul Breedlove, had an initial budget of just $25,000 (around £19,500) and was based on Texas Instruments' Solid State Speech technology.

Fast forward to 2019, and Basic Fun brought back the classic Speak & Spell with minor updates, proving that great innovations stand the test of time. Maybe your own children (or grandchildren) have one today.

So, what’s the business takeaway? Innovation and adaptability. The Speak & Spell's success lies in its blend of cutting-edge technology and user-friendly design. It simplified complex tech to create an engaging, educational experience.

For your business, think about how you can innovate by making your products or services simpler and more engaging for your customers. Sometimes, the key to long-term success is to combine advanced technology with simplicity and practicality.

Speak & Spell - This Day in Tech History June 11, 1978 Texas Instruments Inc. introduces the Speak & Spell, a talking educational toy for children. The device features the first electronic duplication of the human voice on a single chip of silicon. It transformed digital information processed through a filter into synthetic speech and coul...

If you’re feeling a bit behind with AI tools like Copilot, don’t worry – you’re in good company. A new study by the Reuters Institute and Oxford University found that most people aren’t using AI tools regularly.

This survey, covering over 12,000 people across six countries, revealed that the AI hype hasn't quite reached everyday use. Even among those who have tried generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or Microsoft Copilot, most have only used them 'once or twice'.

In the US, only 7% of people use ChatGPT daily, and it's just 2% in the UK. Surprisingly, many haven’t even heard of these tools – 47% in the US and 42% in the UK didn’t know about ChatGPT at all.

The tools people recognised the most, after ChatGPT, were Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and Snapchat My AI. Fewer people knew about AI imagery tools like Midjourney or other chatbots like Claude and xAI's Grok.

So, why isn’t everyone using these tools? Well, for most, they haven’t proven to be reliable or easy enough to integrate into daily routines. The study showed that people are mostly experimenting with AI – using it for fun, writing emails, or making images. When it comes to getting information, users were cautious due to AI's tendency to make mistakes.

Interestingly, while many are still just dabbling, the majority believe AI will significantly impact our lives in the next five years. Younger people (60% of 18-24 year olds) are more optimistic about this than older adults (41% of those 55 and older).

Despite current reservations, tech giants are integrating AI into our daily tech tools, from Google Search’s AI summaries to Microsoft’s Copilot across its products. This means AI is becoming part of our tech lives, even if we're not fully embracing it yet.

What about you? Are you using AI tools daily, just experimenting, or avoiding them completely?

Hardly any of us are using AI tools like ChatGPT, study says – here’s why AI is still strictly for early adopters, it seems

If you use Windows 11, there's a new update with features to make your daily tasks smoother and more efficient.

One of the standouts is the return of drag-and-drop support in the File Explorer address bar. What does this mean? You can now drag a file directly to another folder using the address bar, making file management much easier. Lots of people missed this feature when it was removed in a previous update, so it's back by popular demand.

To get this update, head to Settings > Windows Update and click “Download and install.”

You can also find direct download links for the update on the Microsoft Update Catalogue if you prefer offline installation.

As well as improved file management, this update brings performance fixes (speeding up File Explorer when accessing pinned or network-shared folders). And other new features like a page for managing linked devices, and tweaks in the Start menu for Microsoft account ads.

Of course, if you’re not comfortable running this update for your business, my team and I are always happy to help - get in touch.

Windows 11 KB5037853 out with File Explorer features (direct download .msu) Windows 11 KB5037853 turns on drag and drop in File Explorer, lets you manage Linked devices, view Microsoft account settings.

I want to give you a heads-up about a recent security threat affecting WordPress websites. Cyber security researchers have discovered that a vulnerability in a lesser-known plugin, Dessky Snippets, is being exploited to steal customers' credit card details.

Here's what's happening: Attackers are targeting online stores running on WordPress, using the Dessky Snippets plugin to insert malicious code.

This code sneaks into the checkout process. It modifies the billing form at checkout, adding extra fields for names, addresses, credit card numbers, expiry dates, and CVV numbers. It even disables autocomplete to avoid raising red flags for customers.

Their payment data can be stolen, leading to serious financial and reputational damage.

WordPress is generally safe, but plugins and themes can be weak points if they’re not properly managed.

How can you protect your site?

- Only keep the plugins and themes you really need. Delete any you don't use.

- Make sure all your plugins and themes are up to date. Updates often include important security patches.

- Keep an eye out for unusual changes to your checkout process.

Being proactive about your website's security can save you from a lot of headaches down the line. This is something my team can help with. You want to talk it through? Get in touch.

WordPress Plugin Exploited to Steal Credit Card Data from E-commerce Sites Unknown threat actors target WordPress sites using lesser-known code snippet plugins

There are different types of IT Support, you can get support or fixes from a local computer shop, or you can phase out the traditional shop and seriously look at your business. Managed Services is where we come in. Call us for chat 01423 438953 https://htsmsp.com

CallSwitch is not like other phone systems, we don't charge for every little feature. How many systems have you used that is boring to use? Why not switch to a system that works for you. Call us to book your demo 01423 438953 https://htsmsp.com

Are you using Microsoft 365? If not, why not? Microsoft provides world-class desktop applications and professional e-mail and storage. If you are considering it and are still using a domain imap/pop or a free email host, call us 01423 438953 https://htsmsp.com

Does the Cyber Security in your business take centre stage in your thought processes? If you answered no, then it should. We are seeing much higher attack attempts compared to last year. If you're unsure if you are safe call us 01423 438953 https://htsmsp.com

Don't be tied down to a desk phone, you may be busy on the road or have staff working from home. A phone system shouldn't burden you. HTS can provide a portable system and local number options. Call for a chat or to arrange a demo 01423 438953 https://htsmsp.com

Check out 5 data security trends to prepare for in 2024 https://bit.ly/3yU0FgF

Here Are 5 Data Security Trends To Prepare For In 2024 | Hamilton Systems Here Are 5 Data Security Trends to Prepare for in 2024

Time to update your phone system? The BT Switch off has been delayed, but that doesn't mean you should delay switching over. Upgrade your system as we bring that works for you. Too many systems are terrible. Call today 01423 438953 https://htsmsp.com

Are you using a FREE VPN or thinking of getting a VPN to protect your browsing? If you would like to have a talk about a simple way to keep your data secure while using public wifi, call us 01423 4380953 https://htsmsp.com

Are you happy with your current IT Support? Fed up of waiting for tickets to be solved, keep having repeat issues? This is what our potential clients tell us. Why not talk to us to see how we can help? 01423 438953 https://htsmsp.com

Since Covid, working from home is very much acceptable. In fact it is a growing demand for the workforce, but what happens when they are at home using their internet, how do you protect your workers and the Cyber Security in your office? Tailor made solutions, just for you. Call us 01423 438953 https://htsmsp.com

Microsoft is launching Team Copilot later this year, expanding the reach of their AI assistant from individual tasks to team projects and meetings.

What exactly is this? It’s a collaborative tool designed to make your work life easier by acting as an AI-powered assistant in group settings. This means it can join your Teams video calls to take notes, create follow-up tasks, track agenda times, and assist in both in-person and hybrid meetings. Essentially, it’s a smart assistant that helps you stay on top of everything during a meeting.

Team Copilot can also summarise long group chats, highlight important info, and answer questions from the group. It’s perfect for making sure everyone is on the same page without getting bogged down by long conversations.

Need help managing projects? Team Copilot’s got that covered too. It can create tasks and goals within Microsoft Planner, assign them to team members, and even draft documents like blog posts. Plus, it will notify the team when additional input is needed, keeping everyone aligned and on track.

While the feature is still in preview and will be available later this year for Microsoft 365 customers with a Copilot subscription. I think the potential benefits are huge - it’s all about making group work more efficient and productive.

What do you think about Microsoft Copilot and all the uses it has?

Microsoft’s Team Copilot aims to help manage meetings, group chats The collaborative Team Copilot tool, available later this year in preview, will also track team projects, expanding the reach of Microsoft’s generative AI assistant.

Ever feel overwhelmed by the number of websites asking for permissions like location, notifications, camera, and microphone access?

Managing these permissions can be crucial for your privacy and security. And it's easier than you think with the Microsoft Edge browser on Windows 10 and 11. Here’s how you can take control…

First things first, fire up your Edge browser.

Go to the site you want to manage permissions for. You’ll see a little lock icon next to the website link in the address bar. Click it.

Select 'Site permissions' from the menu. You’ll see options for location, camera, microphone, notifications, etc.

Use the drop-down menus to allow or deny each permission. Want to reset to default? Just click 'Reset permissions' and then 'Reset'.

Refresh the website to apply your new settings.

If you need to change permissions later, it’s no problem. Open Edge and navigate to the website. Just like before, click that lock icon. Use the drop-downs to tweak your settings. Hit refresh to ensure your changes take effect.

And that's it. You've mastered managing site permissions on Microsoft Edge. It’s a simple process but it keeps your browsing experience secure and tailored to your needs.

I have tons more advice to protect your business’s privacy. Get in touch.

How to manage site permissions on the new Microsoft Edge You can control permissions for websites to improve security and privacy on Microsoft Edge, and in this guide, we'll show you the steps to perform this task.

Here’s some news that could make your work a whole lot easier. Microsoft is rolling out a brand new feature for its Edge browser: Live video translation. I’m excited for this one.

It was announced at the Microsoft Build 2024 conference. This AI-powered tool can dub and subtitle videos in real-time from popular platforms like YouTube, LinkedIn and more.

Imagine watching a YouTube tutorial in Spanish and having it translated into English instantly. Or catching a business webinar on LinkedIn in German, even if you don’t speak the language. This feature can do just that, translating spoken content into select languages as you watch.

Currently, it supports Spanish to English, English to German, English to Hindi, English to Italian, English to Russian, and English to Spanish. While the language options are limited now, Microsoft plans to expand them soon. Plus, the tool will also work on popular news sites like Reuters, CNBC, and Bloomberg.

This feature could be a game-changer for those who are hard of hearing, providing captions for videos that don’t have them natively. Many video players offer automatic captioning, but for those that don't, Edge's new tool could be incredibly useful.

This is just one of the many exciting AI innovations Microsoft has in store. It’s a perfect reason to consider switching to Edge to stay ahead with the latest tech tools.

Is Edge already your browser of choice?

Live video translation is coming to Microsoft Edge — what you can do with it An incredibly cool feature is coming to Microsoft's browser

Let’s take another trip down memory lane today, to 6th June 2009. On this day, Palm launched its Pre smartphone, aiming to reclaim market share after their Treo line was overshadowed by the iPhone.

The Palm Pre was powered by the innovative Linux-based Palm webOS and was praised by tech reviewers. But it struggled to compete with the rapid rise of Apple.

Despite its innovative features, the Pre couldn't gain a solid foothold, and within a year, Palm was acquired by HP for £944 million. HP tried to revive the webOS platform, but after poor sales of their TouchPad tablets, they halted production of all webOS devices.

But the story didn't end there. HP made webOS open source, then sold it to LG, where it found a new life. Today, webOS powers LG’s smart TVs, refrigerators, and projectors, showing how innovative technology can evolve and adapt.

For business owners, the Palm Pre's journey offers valuable lessons in innovation, market timing, and adaptability. It's a reminder that even if a product doesn't initially succeed, its technology can find new applications and drive future innovations.

What’s your most impressive story of business adaptation?

Palm Pre Released - This Day in Tech History June 6, 2009 Palm, Inc. releases the Palm Pre smartphone through Sprint in an attempt to regain marketshare, after their Treo line of smartphones is dwarfed by Apple’s iPhone. Featuring the Linux-based Palm webOS operating system, the Pre receives some praise from technical reviewers, but due to p...

I've got some great news about the latest update to Microsoft Edge on Windows. Version 125 just rolled out, and it’s packed with improvements, especially with Workspaces.

Now when you load a workspace, not only will the title bar display the colour of your choice, the entire browser window’s border will also match. This little tweak makes it super easy to identify your workspace at a glance. No more guessing which window is which.

But that’s not all. Microsoft has also integrated your website Favourites into the Workspace. Which makes it simple to access everything you need without switching between standard windows and Workspaces. It’s all about streamlining your workflow.

Another cool update is the improved copy-paste controls from Microsoft Purview (which is like a super organised library for all your data, helping you find, understand, and manage it easily). Now, when you paste something, you'll see a self-dismissing dialogue confirming the paste was successful. It’s a small change but makes a big difference in keeping your work smooth and hassle-free.

There are also some exciting new features in this update. For instance, there’s a new Image Editor feature that comes with AI tools like a background remover, making it easy to edit images directly in your browser. And sharing URLs just got simpler with a new QR Code Generator. Instead of sending links the old-fashioned way, you can now generate a QR code and scan it with your phone.

If you have low-end PCs, you’ll love this – Edge now has Resource Controls that let you limit how much RAM the browser uses. This helps keep your system running smoothly even when you’re multitasking.

While some old features are being phased out, these new updates are going to enhance your business’s productivity and browsing experience. Which one sounds best to you?

Microsoft Edge 125 on Windows improves Workspaces, copy-paste features Microsoft Edge 125 improves Workspaces appearance, copy-paste features and adds QR code generator and Designer image edit policies.

Starting next month, Microsoft will enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all Azure administrators.

What’s MFA? It’s a security measure that adds an extra layer of protection when logging in. After your password, you’ll need to enter a code from another device. Think of it like adding a second lock to your front door.

What’s Azure? It’s a cloud service from Microsoft that lets you store data, run applications, and manage your IT resources online.

MFA is a simple yet powerful way to boost your business’s security. Even if cyber criminals steal your password, they’ll still need the MFA code to get in to your account.

I’d recommend you use it on as many of your tools and accounts as you can for an added layer of protection. Do you think it should it be mandatory for all applications?

Microsoft will soon start enforcing Azure MFA logins Admins will have to set up MFA for Azure very soon

Looking to spruce up your phone system? Whether you need a local or national number from single lines to call centre setups, we have your back. Call 01423 438953 and we can arrange a demo https://htsmsp.com

Had an email from your bank or the government? STOP! Don’t click anything and be really careful… as a trojan is currently targeting business owners and managers like you.

What’s a trojan? Think of it as a cyber enemy disguised as something harmless, like an email attachment. Once you open it, the trojan installs itself on your system, aiming to steal sensitive info like bank details.

The current one, called Grandoreiro, has been spreading since March 2024. It’s a phishing attack, where you get an email from someone pretending to be someone you trust, to trick you into downloading malware.

How does it work? You might get an email looking like it’s from the government or a bank, telling you to click a link to view an invoice or statement. Clicking redirects you to an image of a PDF icon while a ZIP file downloads in the background. This file contains a disguised executable that, once opened, installs the trojan.

Once inside your system, Grandoreiro can track keyboard inputs, simulate mouse activity, share screens, and display fake pop-ups to steal usernames, operating system info, device runtime, and most importantly, bank details. It spreads through your inbox, leading to more spam and infections.

Here’s how to protect your business:

* Be cautious of unexpected emails, especially those with links or attachments.
* Double-check the sender’s email address and contact the organisation directly if unsure.
* Ensure your systems and protective software are up to date.
* Make sure everyone knows about phishing tactics and how to recognise them
* Regularly back up important data.

If you need a hand with anything to keep your business secure, my team and I can help - get in touch.

Spare some time to read our IT Buyers Guide https://bit.ly/3V9vYeI if you’re thinking of changing your IT Support, want to chat about your options then call us 01423 438953 or visit https://htsmsp.com

Is your exisiting IT driving you mad by their slow response times? Waiting ages for a response or constantly having the same issue? If so why not take a different approach, talk to us about your options 01423 438953 or visit https://htsmsp.com

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