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Underutilized Windows 10 tips and tricksAre you using all of Windows 10’s awesome productivity features? From adjusting system and battery performance to silencing notifications, you could be missing out on powerful features and productivity enhancements — check out our four favorites. Night Light This feature lets you reduce the amount of blue light emitted from your screen, which reduces eye […]

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24 Oct, 2019 / by Complete Technology Resources / in Productivity, Windows category
Underutilized Windows 10 tips and tricks

Are you using all of Windows 10’s awesome productivity features? From adjusting system and battery performance to silencing notifications, you could be missing out on powerful features and productivity enhancements — check out our four favorites.

Night Light

This feature lets you reduce the amount of blue light emitted from your screen, which reduces eye strain and boosts sleep efficiency. Night Light is disabled by default, so you need to enable it by following these steps:

  • Click the Start Menu
  • Open the Settings app (or press the Windows key + I to quickly open Settings)
  • Select the System icon followed by the Display option in the left-hand pane
  • Set Night light to “On” or “Off”

Taskbar pin

It takes only a few seconds to open a browser and enter a web address or choose a saved page from the bookmarks menu. However, Windows 10 makes the process even quicker with Edge browser’s “Pin this page to the taskbar” feature. This is an essential shortcut for anyone who relies on web-based apps such as email or company intranets.

Pin your open windows

Do you struggle to organize a screen cluttered with open windows? Holding the Windows key and pressing an arrow should solve most of your problems:

  • Windows key + Left – Resize the current window’s width to half the size of the screen and align it to the left
  • Windows key + Right – Resize the current window’s width to half the size of the screen and align it to the right
  • Windows key + Up – Maximize the current window to fit the entire screen
  • Windows key + Down – Downsize the current window

When none of those keys are enough to set you straight, holding the Windows key and pressing the Tab button will show you all the apps you currently have open.

Focus Assist

Notifications are frustratingly distracting. Windows 10’s Focus Assist feature helps you tackle this issue by customizing which contacts and applications can interrupt you during predetermined periods of time. Try it out by:

  • Opening the Settings window
  • Clicking the System icon
  • Selecting Focus Assist from the left-hand pane
  • Adjusting the notifications settings based on your preference

If you wish to disable it and receive all notifications, click “Off.”

These are just a few of our favorites. For more software and productivity recommendations, give our experts a call today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Google Now is now Google AssistantGoogle Assistant was launched in 2016 as an enhanced version of Google's previous virtual assistant (VA), Google Now. It improved on Google Now's features, and those who use Google-powered devices certainly have a lot to gain. What functionalities can you expect from the search giant's AI-powered virtual assistant? Read on and find out. Locate the […]

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12 Jul, 2019 / by Complete Technology Resources / in Productivity category
Google Now is now Google Assistant

Google Assistant was launched in 2016 as an enhanced version of Google's previous virtual assistant (VA), Google Now. It improved on Google Now's features, and those who use Google-powered devices certainly have a lot to gain. What functionalities can you expect from the search giant's AI-powered virtual assistant? Read on and find out.

Locate the best route to any location

Google Assistant works seamlessly with Google Maps, which makes it a great tool for finding the best route to any location.

For instance, if you're trying to find the best route home, just turn on the app and say, "Get me home." It will then work with Google Maps to let you know the ideal route based on your current location.

You can also check for traffic updates with Google Assistant, and get the latest information on road closures and traffic diversions. This feature is perfect for people who are often on the move.

Make a shopping list with your voice

Google Assistant can also help you make shopping lists with ease — just "talk" to the app.

To do this, open the app and say, “Add [item] to my shopping list.”  Google Assistant will then collate all the items on your shopping list and read it back to you for good measure. 

Stay updated with the latest news

Too busy to browse the day’s news? Why not have Google Assistant read them for you? If you say “Play the news,” Google Assistant will begin reading the stories from news sources you have saved in your RSS feeds, social media accounts, etc.

You can make Google Assistant play, pause, and stop reading at any time, as well as request it to read articles from a particular source or media site. 

Take control of your smart home

If you're enhancing your living space with smart devices like ovens, light bulbs, or thermostats that operate automatically, Google Assistant can help you easily control them. For example, you can say, "Okay. Google, turn off lights in the living room."

To activate Google Assistant, tap on the menu icon at the upper-right section of the screen and choose Settings. You can then add the smart devices in your house that are compatible with your app.

Measurement and currency conversions and language translation

You can also use Google Assistant to convert measurements, currencies, and other data. You can even ask it to get exchange rates between the US dollar and a foreign currency. Just say, "What is 12 US dollars in euros?" The trusty assistant also has a nifty language translation feature. 

Check the email inbox and appointments calendar

If you're using Google Assistant, chances are you're using other services like Gmail or Google Calendar, so why not use your voice-activated helper to connect to these apps?

You can ask Google Assistant to skim through your Gmail inboxes for target keywords, or pull up a recently added appointment in your Calendar app. Google Assistant can also work with your Google Keep app, which is handy for taking down notes. 

These are just a few of the things Google Assistant can do for you. If you have questions about this tool, get in touch with our experts who are ready to help you.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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How to make Office 365 work for youOffice 365 can boost your company’s productivity in many ways, but a lot of people don’t know how to utilize this service fully. Here are the things you can do to be more productive and make the most of Office 365. Get the staff aboard To maximize your company’s productivity with Office 365, make sure […]

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04 Jul, 2019 / by Complete Technology Resources / in Office, Office 365, Productivity, Security category
How to make Office 365 work for you

Office 365 can boost your company’s productivity in many ways, but a lot of people don’t know how to utilize this service fully. Here are the things you can do to be more productive and make the most of Office 365.

Get the staff aboard

To maximize your company’s productivity with Office 365, make sure that every employee with a computer uses it. While this may be easier said than done, you can easily promote the service by encouraging the officers of your company to use it first. When your executives, managers, and top employees use Office 365, others will be persuaded to do the same.  

Train employees

If your employees don’t know how to use Office 365, they won’t be productive, and the cloud service becomes a wasted investment. This is why training is vital. Teach your staff the ins and outs of the platform so they can take full advantage of it. 

One way to train your staff is to make or assemble short training videos. These are easy to digest and will be remembered by employees. They can be viewed over and over again and used anytime. This saves management the trouble of training people. 

Utilize core tools

When you first used Office 365, what did you like about it? You were probably sold on the idea that it increases staff productivity since it allows employees to work and collaborate anywhere. If you’re not utilizing this service for that purpose, now is the perfect time to do so. 

Some of the tools that increase productivity are OneDrive for Business (OD4B), SharePoint, and Skype for Business. OD4B and SharePoint allow employees to upload and save documents to a virtual drive, share that document with another group or user, and edit it at the same time. This gives everyone the ability to access that document and work wherever they want. 

Because it is a flexible communication channel, Skype for Business also enhances productivity since employees, colleagues, and customers can communicate easily. From online meetings to conference calls, video calls to instant messaging, you have a wealth of options for instant communication. 

Be more secure

Not only can a security breach cost you money, it can also destroy your business. While Office 365 already has built-in security with Azure Active Directory, it’s always wise to be cautious of the files you add and share on the service. If you upload files with sensitive company information to the platform, make sure you control them.   

These four productivity tips can help your business grow. If you’d like to learn more, or need additional training on Office 365, give us a call. We are happy to help you!

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Simplify calendar sharing with Office 365Calendar apps have done wonders for the business world. They’ve made it so much simpler to schedule meetings with colleagues, manage projects, and increase productivity. But things can get sticky when you want someone outside of your organization to see your calendar. Thankfully, Office 365 tackles this challenge. Share an Office 365 calendar with specific […]

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30 May, 2019 / by Complete Technology Resources / in Office, Office 365, Productivity category
Simplify calendar sharing with Office 365

Calendar apps have done wonders for the business world. They’ve made it so much simpler to schedule meetings with colleagues, manage projects, and increase productivity. But things can get sticky when you want someone outside of your organization to see your calendar. Thankfully, Office 365 tackles this challenge.

Share an Office 365 calendar with specific people

Click the Share button from the Home menu along the top of your Office 365 calendar. This will open an email window where you can enter the addresses of people you want to see your calendar.

From that window, you can limit how much of your calendar they see by choosing from Availability Only, Limited Details, or Full Details. The latter two will show recipients the meeting names and participants of events on your calendar, whereas Availability Only will simply display scheduled events as Busy. After you’ve sent the invitation, recipients receive an email with a link to view your calendar in a web browser.

Make an Office 365 calendar public

If you’d prefer to have a link that you can share in a variety of channels whenever you’d like, click the Publish Online button from the Home menu along the top of your Office 365 calendar. From the dropdown menu, first click Publish This Calendar, then Configure This Published Calendar. This will create a link that you can give to collaborators outside your organization. As long as you don’t change your calendar’s visibility, they’ll be able to open that URL and view your availability.

Share your calendar so others can manage it

Users who have administrative control over their Office 365 calendar can set up special sharing settings that allow someone else to send and respond to invitations. From the Account Settings window, click on the Delegate Access button. This window lets you add or remove delegators and configure how much control they have over your calendar.

Even something as simple as sharing your calendar outside your organization has the potential to increase office productivity and efficiency. If you have questions or concerns about managing various aspects of Office 365, get in touch with us today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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