iNTALECT Ltd

I bet you don’t think too much about your Windows 11 lock screen… but it’s about to get smarter. Soon, you’ll have the power to edit certain widgets on your lock screen – like Weather, Money, or Sports – so it can work better for you. Why does this matter for businesses? Imagine a more streamlined, distraction-free lock screen that gives your team the information they need at a glance, like local weather or traffic updates, while removing sports scores, stock updates, and other clutter. Not only could it help to keep your team focused, it could also help maintain a professional look in shared spaces. Right now, these widgets are automatically enabled in both Windows 11 and Windows 10, but Microsoft are working on new customisation features so you can choose what shows up. Although they’re still in preview, these updates promise more control and less unnecessary noise. Would this kind of personalisation help you and your team stay more focused and productive? #Widgets #Windows11 #LockScreen https://lnkd.in/g8WNc9ZZ

Does your business embrace hybrid working, with some days in the office and some days working from home? If so, I think you’ll be a fan of this new update. Microsoft Places (a tool designed to take the hassle out of booking meeting rooms and desks) is now available in Teams and Outlook. You’ll know the situation: Your team wants to meet in person, but trying to coordinate who’s in the office and find a room for everyone feels like herding cats... Places helps remove the stress, like a virtual office assistant that sorts everything for you. You can now easily book meeting rooms and desks, set work preferences like your office location or in-office days, and even see when your colleagues are in the office – all through the apps you already use daily. For business owners, this means less time wasted on logistics and more time focusing on what matters. Plus, it gives you useful insights about office occupancy and room usage, helping you make smarter decisions. Looking ahead, AI-powered tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot will take it a step further, booking rooms for your team based on everyone’s preferences and even finding the best days for everyone to work in the office together. Would tools like these make it easier for your team to work together? #Microsoft #Places #MeetingOrganiser https://lnkd.in/g4dV_FpJ

Want more good news from Microsoft? Windows 11 is getting some new features designed to give you a smoother, more secure workflow. One of the highlights is the ability to pick up where you left off with OneDrive files between your phone and PC. Here’s how it works: If you open a file like a Word doc, Excel spreadsheet, or PDF on your phone, and then unlock your PC within five minutes, you’ll get a notification on your computer asking if you want to continue working on that file. All you have to do to keep working is click the notification and the file will open in your PC’s browser – no need to waste time searching for the document. This feature has only been available in a preview build so far, but it gives us a glimpse of what’s to come. Another great update is that Microsoft are also introducing stronger passwordless login options. With increased support for passkey manager tools, it’s one more way that Windows 11 can make it easier for you and your team to keep your accounts secure. If you’d like to know more about how Windows 11 can help improve your workflow, we can help. Get in touch. #Microsoft #Windows11 #OneDrive https://lnkd.in/eBreu6Vq

Did you know that 9th January marks two milestones in Apple’s history? On this day in 2001, Steve Jobs first introduced iTunes at Apple’s annual tech convention, Macworld. Back then, iTunes was marketed as a basic music player for people using Mac computers. The idea behind it was to help people easily organise and access their media. This simple idea ended up setting the stage for the iPod and iTunes Store, which helped to transform the way we think about digital content. The second Apple milestone happened on 9th January 2007, when Apple introduced the iPhone. The device was marketed not only as a phone, but a handheld computer that lets you access your emails, calendars, and apps anytime, anywhere. On the same day, Apple also announced that they were dropping “Computer” from their name, signalling their shift towards creating tools that redefine how we work and connect. Suddenly, productivity was no longer tied to your desk. This is something we often take for granted today across all platforms including Windows. For businesses, these moments are a reminder that huge breakthroughs are possible – whether you’re innovating an existing system or creating something brand new. What tech products have had the biggest impact on the way you do business today? #Apple #TechHistory #OnThisDay https://lnkd.in/evvjwVPu

Phishing scams are a huge threat to businesses – and Microsoft have just dealt a major blow to one of the biggest players in the game. But first, what exactly is phishing? It's where cyber criminals trick you into sharing sensitive information, like passwords or payment details, by pretending to be trustworthy. The damage to businesses can be devastating; think lost revenue, data leaks, and compromised systems. But recently, Microsoft successfully shut down 240 malicious websites used by a group called ONNX, which sells “phishing kits” to other criminals. These kits make it easy to create fake emails and websites that look convincing enough to fool even the most cautious people. ONNX even offered subscription plans and tutorial videos to help scammers get started! Their kits also included advanced methods like QR code phishing (redirecting people to fake sites when they scan the QR code), which can be hard for security systems to detect. While this takedown by Microsoft is a big step forward, it’s nowhere near the end for phishing. Cyber criminals are always adapting, and new threats will continue to emerge. Remember: Stay vigilant, train your team to recognise phishing attempts, use strong security tools, and always be prepared for scams to evolve. How are you protecting your business from phishing threats? #PhishingScam #Microsoft #CyberSecurity https://lnkd.in/e-i6dmKv

Ever find it overwhelming trying to manage multiple email accounts? Having to forward emails from one account to another to get everything where you want it to be? Good news: Outlook is about to make this much simpler. An update due to roll out next month will let you easily move emails between different accounts, helping you to save time and stay organised. This could save you a lot of headaches if you have different work accounts for different clients or projects, or if you use different email addresses for different aspects of your business. For security reasons, this feature won’t automatically be available for business accounts. So, if you use Outlook for your business, you’ll need to have someone with admin rights switch on the policy that allows this feature to work. With this new tool on the horizon, it’s worth chatting with your IT admin now to see how it could work for your business. (And if you don’t have an IT admin, reach out to us – we’d be happy to help). Will this feature be useful for you and your team? #Outlook #EmailOrganisation #Microsoft https://lnkd.in/dzk5FHfd

File Explorer for Windows 11 is getting some great updates that could make your daily work easier. Soon, instead of having multiple File Explorer windows cluttering up your desktop, you’ll be able to open folders as tabs in a single window, like you do when you’re browsing the internet. This is one of the most requested features, and it’s finally being tested. If you do prefer separate windows, don’t worry; you can still open a folder in a new window by pressing the Ctrl key while clicking on the folder. Another useful change is the option to disable OneDrive backup reminders directly from File Explorer. If you’ve ever felt nagged by those “start backup” prompts, now you can either snooze them for a month or turn them off completely for specific folders. But here's the thing: Daily backups are still critical if you want to keep your business data safe. So, if you don’t use OneDrive as your backup system, make sure you have an alternative in place for all the devices within your business. These updates are another sign of Microsoft’s focus on making Windows 11 more adaptable and user-friendly. Will you and your team make use of these new features? #Windows11 #FileExplorer #Backup https://lnkd.in/e8zxz5_z

Cyber criminals have found another way to try and steal your business data. This time, they’re making realistic-looking websites for fake tools that claim to generate AI images and videos. The websites include realistic touches like cookie banners, which trick you into thinking they’re safe. The fake AI tools are designed with one goal: To infect your computer with malicious software, otherwise known as malware. For Windows, this malware is called Lumma Stealer; and for macOS, it's called AMOS. Once the malware is on your computer, it secretly collects your data from browsers like Chrome or Edge. It can steal anything from passwords to credit card details, which are then either used by the scammers or sold on illegal online marketplaces. If you’ve accidentally downloaded this malware, or any other malicious software, you should treat all your passwords and sensitive data as if they’ve been compromised. To help keep your business safe: • Avoid downloading software from untrusted sites or random ads • Use unique, strong passwords for every account (and change them if they're compromised) • Enable multi-factor authentication for sensitive accounts like banking or email AI can help your business in lots of different ways, but always make sure the apps you use are genuine before you download them. If you’re worried about malware or need guidance on the best AI tools for your business, my team can help. Get in touch. #Malware #CyberSecurity #AI https://lnkd.in/d6QRGcmT

We’ve all heard of the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy… but what about Amazon’s Fire Phone or the HTC Facebook Phone? No? These quirky gadgets are just a couple of examples of how innovators have tried – and sometimes failed – to use wild ideas to stand out from the crowd. Today’s most popular smartphones are all about sleek design and smooth functionality. But there was a time when companies seemed to just throw crazy concepts at the wall, hoping something would stick. The Fire Phone, for instance, came with a 3D-style parallax display that no one really asked for. Meanwhile, the Facebook Phone made Facebook your entire home screen, whether you liked it or not… Another weird and (not so) wonderful smartphone idea was the OnePlus 7 Pro, with its James Bond-style pop-up camera. Then OnePlus did it again with the 8 Pro’s accidental X-ray filter, which was swiftly disabled once people realised its potential for mischief. Also, let’s not forget the bulky dual-screen Kyocera Echo – or the LG Wing phone, where a second screen flipped out like a holy cross. Or the “build your own phone” DIY attempts, like Google’s Project Ara and Motorola’s snap-on mods, which expected us to want to endlessly customise every component of our phones. If you haven’t heard of these, it’s worth checking them out online. To be fair, while these experiments may have flopped, they were still born out of bold creativity. Innovation comes with both risks and rewards. Just think about all the ideas that have worked out. As business owners, it can be a fun lesson in trial and error, right? Sometimes it’s the strange ideas that lead to a breakthrough, and sometimes they’re just good stories to tell. Did you ever own any of these devices? What smartphones do you and your team use today? #SmartPhones #FailedIdeas #Innovation https://lnkd.in/eveD-XBN