Leave it to tech heavyweight Apple to do two product launches within two months of each other. After launching Apple Watch Series 4 and three iPhone variants in September, here’s the additional stocking stuffers they unveiled on October 30.

The redesigned and reengineered MacBook Air

The new model for 2018 is a breath of fresh air. It has 17% less volume, a quarter of a pound lighter, and 10% thinner than its predecessor, but it is by no means a lightweight when it comes to features and capabilities:

• Faster performance – features the 1.6GHz/3.6GHz Core i5 processor, has up to 16GB of memory, and SSDs with up to 1.5TB of storage
• 13.3” Retina display – has over 4 million pixels, making text and images are sharper and more detailed
• Apple T2 Security Chip – enables Touch ID, permits only trusted operating system software to boot at startup, and encrypts stored data
• Touch ID - allows user to unlock the device, buy items using Apple Pay, or open other apps in conjunction with a 3rd party password manager with a touch of a finger
• Butterfly keyboard – each key is more stable and responsive, and is backlit for easier typing
• Force touch trackpad – now larger, allowing better conveyance of finger gestures
• Superb sound system – with louder speakers with more bass, and three mics enable clear group facetime call audio and voice recognition
• Two Thunderbolt 3 ports – has versatile ports that enables fast data and graphics delivery and charging via a single cable

The new Mac mini

This small-yet-powerful PC packs six processors for five times faster performance than the previous model. Other features include:

• Up to 64GB of memory
• All-flash SSDs – four times faster, with up to 2TB of storage
• Apple T2 Security Chip – just like what the new MacBook Air has
• Connectivity options – has ports for Ethernet (configurable to 10GB), Thunderbolt 3, HDMI, USB-A, and audio
• Stackability – use hundreds of Minis together for mission-critical IT processes that run 24/7

The new iPad Pro

The October 2018 launch focused solely on the Pro variant, perhaps signaling the discontinuation of the economical non-Pro iPads, considering Apple’s push for PC-level tablets.

iPad Pro users can now use resource-intensive programs such as AutoCAD, which is software that lets you tackle millions of objects within one file. Moreover, Photoshop users on the iPad Pro can create huge graphic design masterpieces with hundreds of layers without suffering lag.

The main features of iPad Pro include:

• Liquid Retina display – gives the best color accuracy of any screen to date and shows things as true to life as possible
• Face ID – use your face to open your device, log onto apps, and use Apple Pay
• A12X Bionic Chip – contains the Neural Engine, which enables advanced machine learning for smart image and video editing, among others
• 8-core CPU – run multiple programs simultaneously apart and dynamically together, such as doing multiple-item drag-and-drops across different apps
• 7-core GPU – offers 1000x faster graphics performance
• USB-C port – connect directly to your other devices so you can work on your creations immediately
• Apple Pencil (sold separately) – features tip and slant sensitivity, making it the most intuitive electronic drawing tool in the market today
• Smart Keyboard Folio (sold separately) – serves as a protective covering and a dual-mode keyboard: one mode lets you type comfortably on a desk, while the other lets you use the Pro on your lap

With so many top-of-the-line features that compliment their intuitive designs, it is no wonder that Apple devices command above-average prices. Indeed, Apple truly knows how to stir up demand for its products. To learn how you can take advantage of Apple’s powerful tech to make your staff more productive, efficient, and creative, drop us a line. Our IT experts can help you source the best hardware and software for your business.

The post Apple’s second stash of stocking stuffers appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

In an age when data privacy has never been more important, blockchain has rapidly expanded and has taken over several industries, including healthcare and pharmacological sciences. Propositions concerning blockchain-based technology are still in the process of development, but it’s high time to start familiarizing yourself with this trend.

What is blockchain?

Although the technology is known for enabling cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, blockchain was immediately recognized as having a broader value beyond an alternative form of currency. To understand why it's so vital, you need to be familiar with three key concepts:

• Blocks
  These are encrypted data or documents. In healthcare, these can be in the form of test results.
• Chains
  Chains make data harder to counterfeit by linking every block with the one that preceded it using an encrypted address.
• Decentralized networks
  By using decentralized networks, each computer in the network can check for suspicious alterations in the chain. Every block that is added to the chain gets distributed to all the computers in the network, and when one computer tries to alter previous blocks, others can compare it with their local copies and recognize it as fake.

Blockchain was originally developed to eliminate the need for centralized banks to process and validate transactions. The technology allows people to transfer money freely because each computer in the blockchain network can examine the chain and confirm whether a transaction is legitimate.

This way, transactions are much safer and more efficient. They cannot be altered unless the security of every computer in the network gets compromised simultaneously. That level of data security and integrity is handy for reducing costs in the healthcare industry.

Blockchain technology in healthcare

Even with the use of digital files, data loss continues to be one of the biggest problems in healthcare. This resulted to $1.7 billion in damages and as many as 2,000 lives lost in the US, according to CRICO Strategies CBS report in 2016.

Here’s how blockchain can address the problem of data loss and miscommunication:

• Medical histories and records can be stored in a chain that patients can access and control. If a primary care physician needs to see the patient’s medical history, they can see it as soon as the patient gives authorization.
• Payments between banks, government entities, insurance providers, and patients can all be coordinated in a fraction of the time without costly intermediaries.
• Healthcare equipment usage, depreciation, and lifecycles can be automatically tracked in a chain to keep tabs on the status of expensive and fragile fixtures.

What’s more, ransomware has taken a toll on data security in healthcare, and service providers are relying on costly solutions to keep up with the exponential growth in digital records. Blockchain technology can resolve both these issues at once.

Adopting new technology can be intimidating, especially for an industry as heavily regulated as healthcare. Blockchain technology has already been adopted by several organizations, but before you embrace this trend, you need full-time IT experts to assess your systems and manage your security. To learn more about how you can use blockchain in healthcare, give us a call.

The post Transform healthcare by using blockchain appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Business owners stand to gain from learning emerging IT trends. In the case of containers, it’s an opportunity to reduce costs, increase hardware efficiency, and improve data security. One of the best ways to learn about containers is to address the misconceptions about them.

Containers are made up of the bare minimum hardware and software requirements to allow a specific program to run. For example, if you want to give employees access to a single Mac-based server application, but everything else you run is in Windows, it would be a waste to build a new machine for just that program. Containers allow you to partition just the right amount of hardware power and software overhead to run that Mac program on your Windows server.

Misconception #1: Containers require virtualization

Previously, containers could only be created and managed in the Linux operating system (OS). This meant complicated and sometimes unreliable improvisation was required to benefit from container technology on Windows and Mac servers.

First, you would need to virtualize a full-fledged Linux installation on your Windows or Mac server, and then install container management inside of Linux. Now, container management software can run on Windows and MacOS without the confusing multi-layer systems.

Misconception #2: There is only one container vendor

Traditional virtualization technology, which creates entire virtual computers rather than single-application machines, allowed two decades for vendors to enter the market and improve their offerings. Containers, however, didn’t break into the mainstream until a few years ago.

Fortunately, there are still more than enough container vendors. Docker dominates the industry and headlines, but there are at least a dozen other programs to choose from.

Misconception #3: You can’t create and manage containers in bulk

Orchestrators are separate programs that allow you to scale up your use of containers. If you need to partition more hardware power so more users can use a container, or if you need to create several identical containers, orchestrators make that possible.

Misconception #4: Containers are faster than virtual machines

Obviously, virtualizing an entire operating system and the hardware necessary to run it requires more management and processing requirements. A lot of people tend to think this means containers are faster than virtualized machines. In reality, containers are just more efficient.

Accessing a container is as simple as opening it and using the application. A virtualized machine, however, needs to be booted up, a user needs to log in to the OS, and then you can rummage through folders to open an application. Most of the time containers are faster, but there are instances when that’s not true.

Virtualization and containers are complicated technologies. For now, just remember that 1) Virtualization and containers are separate technologies, each with pros and cons, and 2) you have plenty of software options to manage containers (sometimes in bulk). For anything more specific than that, give us a call!

The post Dispelling myths about containers appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Business owners stand to gain from learning emerging IT trends. In the case of containers, it’s an opportunity to reduce costs, increase hardware efficiency, and improve data security. One of the best ways to learn about containers is to address the misconceptions about them.

Containers are made up of the bare minimum hardware and software requirements to allow a specific program to run. For example, if you want to give employees access to a single Mac-based server application, but everything else you run is in Windows, it would be a waste to build a new machine for just that program. Containers allow you to partition just the right amount of hardware power and software overhead to run that Mac program on your Windows server.

Misconception #1: Containers require virtualization

Previously, containers could only be created and managed in the Linux operating system (OS). This meant complicated and sometimes unreliable improvisation was required to benefit from container technology on Windows and Mac servers.

First, you would need to virtualize a full-fledged Linux installation on your Windows or Mac server, and then install container management inside of Linux. Now, container management software can run on Windows and MacOS without the confusing multi-layer systems.

Misconception #2: There is only one container vendor

Traditional virtualization technology, which creates entire virtual computers rather than single-application machines, allowed two decades for vendors to enter the market and improve their offerings. Containers, however, didn’t break into the mainstream until a few years ago.

Fortunately, there are still more than enough container vendors. Docker dominates the industry and headlines, but there are at least a dozen other programs to choose from.

Misconception #3: You can’t create and manage containers in bulk

Orchestrators are separate programs that allow you to scale up your use of containers. If you need to partition more hardware power so more users can use a container, or if you need to create several identical containers, orchestrators make that possible.

Misconception #4: Containers are faster than virtual machines

Obviously, virtualizing an entire operating system and the hardware necessary to run it requires more management and processing requirements. A lot of people tend to think this means containers are faster than virtualized machines. In reality, containers are just more efficient.

Accessing a container is as simple as opening it and using the application. A virtualized machine, however, needs to be booted up, a user needs to log in to the OS, and then you can rummage through folders to open an application. Most of the time containers are faster, but there are instances when that’s not true.

Virtualization and containers are complicated technologies. For now, just remember that 1) Virtualization and containers are separate technologies, each with pros and cons, and 2) you have plenty of software options to manage containers (sometimes in bulk). For anything more specific than that, give us a call!

The post Dispelling myths about containers appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..