Macintosh
Enhance your business with outsourced IT support
08/20/18
IT support has changed. Break-fix solutions no longer apply. As your IT environment grows and becomes more complex, the concept of depending on IT support only when needed is no longer sufficient. Instead, as your business reliance on IT expands, a managed service approach monitored by a team of IT professionals can discover and solve problems before your productivity is compromised.
Read More...Apple Introduces macOS Mojave
06/22/18
macOS Mojave has been previewed by Apple as the latest version of the world’s most advanced desktop operating system, with updates inspired by professionals but designed for everyone. Mojave might have been named after the desert in Southern California, but it’s packed with enough new features to provide an oasis for devoted Mac® users.
Perhaps the most dramatic nuance is Dark Mode. This allows users to transform their desktop to a darkened environment where the focus is on content and the controls recede into the background. With Dark Mode, built-in Mac apps such as Mail, Messages, Maps, Photos and others all include new contrasting designs. Dark Mode also allows users to toggle between a light or dark desktop and choose Dynamic Desktop to change the appearance of new Apple-provided desktop backgrounds based on the time of day. Just when you thought you’ve seen everything, you’ll now see everything in a different light. Read More...
Trash talk: A deeper dive into the Mac Trash Can
05/16/18
That’s because the Trash Can embedded in your macOS® is not your father’s trash can, and works very differently in macOS® than in any other operating system. Here’s hoping this information will help you better understand how to manage your files and storage space on your Mac®.
Back in the day, instead of immediately deleting files on your Mac, you would drag them into the Trash where they would sit until you either took them back out or emptied the can. But now, in macOS, instead of just dragging files to and from the Trash, you can take advantage of some special techniques that make working with Trash faster, easier and even more secure.
The most time-tested method of trashing a file is to drop it on the Trash icon in the Dock, but this process can be rather fussy on a large screen. Now, once you’ve selected one or multiple files in the Finder®, you can try one of these alternatives: Read More...
Fun facts about Apple’s new HomePod
03/20/18
Before we delve into the unique personality of this device, let’s first understand what HomePod™ is and what it is not.
Apple® claims HomePod is the ultimate music authority, bringing together Apple Music® and Siri® to learn your taste in music. From all indications to date, Apple is spot on with that assessment. The engineering is amazing. HomePod isn’t just one speaker, it’s actually eight speakers, all controlled by Apple’s own A8 processor and tons of custom software. There are seven tweeters that fire down and out from the bottom, and a single four-inch woofer pointing out of the top for low frequencies. There is also a total of seven microphones — six around the middle for Siri, and a seventh inside that measures the location of that woofer so Apple can precisely control the bass.
All of these speakers and software aren’t trying to add anything to music, but rather to eliminate unwanted extra sounds you might get from reflections in the room in which HomePod sits. It is this kind of nuance that easily makes HomePod the best sounding smart speaker in the marketplace.
If you’re all in on the Apple ecosystem, and you’re a diehard fan of Apple Music, then HomePod is your device of choice. But if you are instead looking for a more competent Amazon Echo or Google Home as a voice-controlled intelligent assistant, you may not find it in HomePod.
If you still have HomePod perched on the fence, here are some fun facts you should know: Read More...
Who should buy the new iMac Pro?
01/10/18
To be clear, Apple® created the new iMac Pro® for the professional user.
It’s an astonishing machine, and it’s packed with the most powerful graphics and processors ever in a Mac®, along with the most advanced storage, memory and I/O — all behind a breathtaking Retina® 5K display in a sleek all-in-one design. There’s no debate when Apple bills this as "the most powerful Mac ever built”.
That power starts with the processor, an 8-core Intel Xeon W. If that's not enough performance for you, there are also 10-core, 14-core and 18-core options. Standard RAM is 32 GB, but you can bump it to either 64 GB or 128 GB. The default storage is a 1 TB solid-state drive, but you can increase that to 2 TB or 4 TB. You can't upgrade the iMac Pro in any way yourself, but you can take it to an Apple Store® or an Apple Authorized Service Provider to have additional RAM installed.
Watch Out for Phishing Attacks Hidden in Your Email
12/18/17
Online criminals know we are all busy, and that we often aren’t focused on what we are opening, reading and where we are clicking. They take advantage of that inattention by forging email messages to look like they've come from Apple, Facebook, and Amazon, along with well-known banks, payment services, retailers, and even government agencies such as the IRS and the Social Security Administration. Even more dangerous are messages that appear to come from a trusted individual and include personal details—often targeted at executives and company managers.
Generally speaking, these attacks are called phishing. And they cost businesses hundreds of millions of dollars every year.
The goal, of course, is to prompt you to click a link in the message and visit a malicious website. That site usually continues to masquerade as being run by a company or organization you trust. Its aim is to sucker you into revealing confidential information by asking you to log in, pay for a product or service, or fill out a survey. The site — or an attachment in the email message — might also try to install malware. Although macOS is quite secure, it can still be affected if you approve certain security prompts.
Here’s how you can help identify potential phishing attacks. Read More...
Elevate your Mac experience with macOS 10.13 High Sierra
10/11/17
It’s easily the most captivating desktop image ever unveiled on a Mac®, almost breathtaking on a Retina® display. It’s the wrapping paper for macOS® High Sierra, designed by Apple to make your Mac more reliable, capable and responsive than ever before.
(Before you read on, if you are a business customer, enjoy this information but please DO NOT upgrade until you first get the go-ahead from CranstonIT.)
macOS High Sierra introduces new core technologies that improve the Mac’s most vital functions, under-the-hood changes that modernize the entire foundation. The new APFS (Apple’s proprietary file system) uses all‑flash internal storage and an advanced architecture that brings a new level of security and responsiveness. This significantly improves how data is stored on your disk, how data is managed and how data is secured through built-in encryption, crash-safe protections and simplified backup on the fly. Read More...
Upgrade madness from Apple
09/20/17
It’s upgrade season at Apple, and your only goal is to avoid going nuts while managing through the process. There are some important alerts here from CranstonIT, so be sure not to miss them.
There are new releases of macOS®, iOS, watchOS and tvOS, and once they are available for free download, your challenge is to decide when to install them. The operative word is when, because there is no harm in delaying major OS upgrades until Apple has had the chance to squash the initial bugs and you have the time to focus on the task. But just don’t wait too long — as it may put you at risk of security vulnerabilities and prevent you from taking advantage of new integrations within the Apple ecosystem.
Let’s take it from the top.
Incoming! How to stay focused in Apple Mail.
08/23/17
A new day, a new barrage of emails. How to stay focused? But there are advantages to working in the Mail app on your Apple® devices — a Filter feature that allows you to reduce distractions and keep your eye on the ball.
Apple added Filter in macOS® 10.12 Sierra and iOS 10, and the feature will remain in place in future OS upgrades to both. The advantage these filters have over competitive email features is a search function that keeps and shows messages only in the current mailbox. Filter obeys your commands and hides everything else, but without moving nor modifying your messages in any way.
Start using Filter on the Mac® by clicking the Filter button at the top of the message list in any mailbox. On your iPad® or iPhone®, tap the Filter button in the lower left corner.
By default, mailboxes show only unread messages. Click or tap Unread to bring up all the preset filter choices that fall into these four categories:
A backup triple play that ensures data safety.
08/23/17
Hope is not a strategy when it comes to protecting your valuable data. If you hope your data never becomes wiped, lost, hacked or manipulated, you’re already in trouble.
It is not optional to back up your Mac®. Backing up your computer on a regular basis protects your professional and personal data against loss, theft, damage or corruption. Backups offer the iron-clad insurance you need for fast recovery at work and at home.
But don’t assume that a single backup to an external hard drive or even a drive on your desk is good enough. It’s not. Because a fire or flood at your office or home may not be selective as to the damage it causes. Plus, if you rely on your Mac to get your work done, you may not want to wait as long as it will take to restore from certain types of backup devices.
Here is a triple-play backup strategy will help you avoid virtually all of these problems.
Backup #1: Time Machine
Apple® has been making backups easier since 2007 by providing Time Machine® software with the Mac. Set it up with an external drive and it will cheerfully create versioned backups that contain multiple copies of each file as it changes over time. With versioned backups, you can restore a lost or damaged file to its most recent state, or to any previous state. That’s essential if corruption crept in unnoticed and you’ve been backing up a corrupt file for some time. Time Machine also enables you to restore an entire drive as of the latest backup, which you might do if you have to reformat or replace your drive.
iCloud and Photo Sharing: This Changes Everything
07/23/17
While it’s easy to snap lots of photos on vacation, your family and friends are just being polite when you bomb them with the entire collection. A greatest hits or best of is always the right choice!
With iCloud®, it’s now easy to create a shared album and to invite other iCloud users to subscribe to it. This makes it especially handy for viewing on an iOS device or Apple TV®. It’s also easy to create a public web page of photos that anyone can see, even if they don’t use any Apple® devices.
Here’s how:
Keeping up? Create custom apps to automate tedious business processes
06/21/17
Enhance Your Business' IT with Managed Services
05/22/17
IT support has changed. Break-fix solutions no longer apply. As your IT environment has grown and becomes more complex, the concept of depending on IT support only when needed is no longer sufficient. Instead, as your business reliance on IT expands, a managed service approach monitored by a team of IT professionals can discover and solve problems before your productivity is compromised.
CranstonIT is an Apple® centric professional IT services company and a member of the Apple Consultants Network. We are charged with offering IT services for macOS® and iOS platforms and focused on the key desktop and mobile support solutions that help your business integrate Apple and third-party technologies. CranstonIT’s certified techs are dedicated to providing comprehensive support via managed services, ensuring your entire IT environment is continually maintained to the highest standards in the industry. Read More...
iMovie: Now enhanced and appearing everywhere.
05/22/17
Apple® announced some important bug fixes to address issues that have surfaced in previous updates. The new version improves the performance and stability of the app, and also rectifies a bug that sometimes prevented video shot on the iPhone® from appearing in the import window.
With iMovie for macOS® and iOS, users can easily browse through clips and create Hollywood-style trailers and stunning cinema-quality 4K-resolution videos. As iMovie for macOS and iOS is designed to work together, users can start an editing project on an iPhone and then continue on an iPad®. Move it to a Mac®, and filmmakers can then add finishing touches like color correction, green-screen effects and even animated maps Read More...
MailButler Takes the Headache Out Email Management
04/18/17
MailButler for Apple® Mail may be the solution to your email woes, a personal assistant that can handle many of the time-consuming tasks of prioritizing and sorting content. MailButler offers a variety of features to streamline workflow, enhance your productivity and save you time. Read More...
Hints and Hacks - Read Receipts in Messages
03/20/17
As we covered last month, many services work seamlessly across multiple Apple devices. One of these is iMessage, Apple's secure messaging service. With iMessage, you can send unlimited messages to any other user who is also on iMessage. iMessage is accessed using the Messages App on either iOS or macOS devices.
When sending messages using iMessage, read receipts are automatically sent back to the sender when the message is delivered to and then read by the recipient. Read receipts are automatically enabled in Messages for iOS, but are disabled by default in Messages for Mac. With the latest versions of macOS and iOS, however, you can turn this feature off or on globally and then selectively choose who receives or does not receive a read receipt.
Efficiency Gets a Helping Hand with Mac OS: Continuity
02/15/17
Continuity is aimed at the discerning user who owns multiple Apple products, and builds on the idea that you can do more when your devices work together. The suite includes Cellular Calls, Handoff, Universal Clipboard, Instant Hotspot, Auto Unlock, and Text Messaging. Each app uses a similar user interface across devices that makes switching between them seamless and blurs the lines between device-specific functions. Read More...
Maximize Your Business with a Custom App
01/19/17
When finding the right software solution to run your business seems like an exercise in futility, it may be time to consider a custom app. To decide whether or not a custom app is the right solution for you, there are a few questions you should first ask yourself.
- Have you ever found yourself wishing you had the software to run your business more efficiently?
- Are you tired of using software that wasn’t really built for your specific needs?
- Are you doing everything in spreadsheets or even still using paper and pencil?
- Do you have a workforce that needs access to the same information whether they’re at their desks or on the road?
- Do you find yourself constantly re-entering data because you’re using multiple different software solutions that don’t talk to each?
- Are automated reports on business activities just a beautiful daydream that you wish you could achieve?
If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, CranstonIT can help. Our in-house staff of full-time developers will custom build a software solution for your business. Read More...
1Password Is the Solution for Password Protection
12/15/16
Every. Single. Site.
You’re doing that, right?
Most of us use our pet’s name with a birthdate stuck on the end or something similar. And we use the same password for multiple sites because 1) it’s too difficult to remember a different password for every site, 2) we don’t keep a record of every password we create, and 3) we’re just plain old lazy. Read More...
Avoid New Tech Trauma: Let Cranston IT set up your Christmas presents
12/15/16
If you or members of your family are hoping Santa brings a new iPad Pro, Macbook Pro, Apple Watch, iPhone 7 or any other new device for Christmas, chances are high you’ll have to spend a quite a chunk of time setting up that new technology. With transferring files and data, registering accounts, and setting up new Apple IDs, payment info, backups, family sharing, and networking, that process might cost you not only a lot of time, but also a lot of frustration.
There’s a simple remedy for that new tech trauma. Let Cranston IT take care of it for you. Read More...
MacBook Pro 2016 Features Touch Technology
11/28/16
The new MacBook Pro 2016 is lighter, brighter, faster and more fun than previous Mac notebooks. Naturally, all those upgrades come at a cost. If you’re in the market for a high-end laptop, and don’t mind spending up for one, the MacBook Pro might be for you.
The most exciting of this laptop’s interesting and innovative features is the new Touch Bar that has replaced the function keys at the top of the keyboard. This adaptive strip of glass will automatically change based on what you’re doing and what app you’re using. For instance, while in Contacts, the Touch Bar will display actions for the contact card you’re currently viewing in the main app such as shortcuts to call, FaceTime or iMessage that person. While in Safari, you’ll see forward and back keys and an address/search button. Currently, not all apps are Touch Bar ready, but more are being added as developers adopt the technology.
A Closer Look at macOS Sierra
10/31/16
A few months ago we told you a little about macOS Sierra, Apple’s newest operating system for Mac which was released in September. This month we’re taking a closer look and highlighting a couple of the system’s more useful features.
Siri integration is the biggest new feature of macOS Sierra. Get started by clicking the Siri icon on the dock and simply asking “What can you do?” A list of actions that Siri can perform will be shown. Actions Siri is capable of performing on the Mac range from basic – opening a folder or launching an app – to more advanced such as starting a FaceTime call, setting up a meeting via Calendar, or finding photos based on date. Siri can even post updates on Twitter and Facebook for you.
How to Extend Battery Life – Mac and iPhone/iPad
08/17/16
Tips for extending the battery life of your Mac and your iPhone can fall into several categories, from the obvious to the elusive. Sometimes the obvious is what eludes us the most.
Powering Your Mac
Obvious Tip: Turn off what you’re not using.
You probably already know that turning off wifi and Bluetooth can save battery life, but do you actually do it? You’d be surprised at what a difference this simple action can make. If you need to connect to a wireless network to get internet access, then wifi has to be on. Bluetooth is different. If you don’t connect Bluetooth devices to your Mac, you can turn off Bluetooth, save battery and not be inconvenienced. Read More...
Make CrashPlan Your Backup Plan
07/18/16
You don’t have to be caught unaware if your computer crashes. Read More...
Apple Previews Next Operating System for Mac - macOS Sierra
07/18/16
Apple has announced a name change for its Mac operating system that reflects more than just a change of moniker. macOS Sierra, previously known as OS X, is not only a move by the tech giant to unify operating system names across its product lines, but also introduces some of the functionality of iOS to the Mac.
Read More...Endpoint Protector 4 Protects Your Company’s Greatest Assets
06/15/16
Endpoint Protector 4, a full Data Loss Prevention (DLP) and Mobile Device Management (MDM) product available for Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, and Android mobile devices, can help eliminate the risk by protecting your network and sensitive data from these types of threats. It will also help your company maintain compliance with HIPAA and other privacy regulations. The product provides protection in several different ways depending on the system or device. Read More...
Helpful Hints & Hacks Part 3
05/16/16
How to Create Keyboard Shortcuts and Other Helpful Mac OS Tips
Do you know how to take screen shots or send and receive text messages on your Mac? These are just a couple the new tips and tricks we’ve got for you this month in our ongoing series on how to get the most from your Mac and Apple devices. For help with all of your Apple and Mac products, contact CranstonIT at 888-813-5558 or email us at support@cranstonIT.com.
Quickly Switch Between Open Windows
Pull out this little trick at the next office party and everyone is sure to dub you the local Mac genius. To quickly switch between your current application and the application you had open last simply press ⌘+Tab. If you have more than two applications you want to switch between, hold ⌘ and hit Tab multiple times to cycle through your programs. ⌘+~ (the tilde key above Tab) will switch between windows in your current application.
Kerio Connect - Business Class Email
05/16/16
Kerio Connect Offers Features, Function and Reliability in an Affordable Mail Server
The days before email became essential to doing business seem like a theme for a documentary on the History Channel. Gone are the days when businesses relied solely on snail mail and phone calls to communicate. Email is a critical component to business success and the ability for your mail server to multitask is just as important. Ask yourself a few questions to determine if your email server is adequately meeting your current needs.
- Can you synchronize email messages between your phone and computer?
- Is the endless barrage of spam making it hard to find the real messages sent to you?
- Can you see and update the same list of contacts on your phone and your computer?
- Are you able to send and receive meeting invites that sync with your calendar?
- Can you easily set an out-of-office message and schedule it to turn on and off by itself?
Helpful Hints & Hacks Part 2
04/13/16
Last month we offered some tips and tricks to help you get the most from your Mac and Apple devices. This month we’re adding to the list with part two of what will be a continuing series of insider information and easy Mac hacks you may find useful. For all your Mac and Apple needs, contact CranstonIT at 888-813-5558 or send an email to support@cranstonIT.com.
Rip Music from Video Files
Sometimes you just want the killer beats without the video that goes along with it. Your Mac has built-in tools that let you extract the audio from a movie clip or video so you can listen to it on your iPod or iPhone. Just open the clip in QuickTime Player (in the Applications list in Finder), then click File > Export and select Audio Only from the Format drop-down list. This will create an .m4a file that you can use with all Apple devices and computers. You can then import it into iTunes by double- clicking the new file.
Maximize Teamwork and Efficiency with Soonr
04/13/16
It’s not news that teamwork is essential to business success. You’re only as strong as your weakest link and all that jazz. To keep your team functioning at highest capacity, they need to be able to collaborate efficiently; however, workplace collaboration can be a real challenge for businesses with employees who work remotely or from different office locations. Even if all your staff works in the same building and on the same floor of that building, ensuring that each person is working with the most current version of any particular file or project can seem like a juggling act with updates flying fast and furious, usually via email . The result is multiple versions of the same project in various stages of update -- in other words, a big mess. This is where a file management and document sharing tool like Soonr can help.
Read More...Helpful Hints & Hacks for getting the most from your Mac
03/17/16
Just when you think you know all there is to know about using the features of your Mac OS, a new operating system is released with more options and enhancements. Never fear, the CranstonIT gurus are here to shine the light on a few tips and tricks that may have flown in under your radar. The list below is just the tip of the iceberg. We can help you become the master of your Mac and all of your Apple devices. Not ready to jump up to expert level? No problem, we’ll get you set up and take care of the hard stuff, too. Contact us at 888-813-5558 or send an email to support@cranstonIT.com to learn more.
Add Your John Hancock to Documents (Hurry! Do this before cursive writing becomes extinct.)
In OS X 10.7, Preview gained the ability to add your signature to documents. To get started, go to the Signatures tab in Preview's preferences and then click the +. Now, sign your name in black ink on a small piece of white paper and hold it up to your Mac's webcam. Line it up and click Accept (making sure the 'Save this signature' option is checked if you want to use it in the future). Next, open a document you want to sign, pop up the Edit Toolbar and click the signature icon (it looks like an S on a line next to a tiny x). Draw a box to add your signature on the form. You can scale and reposition it afterwards, too.
Updates to Apple Maps Make Getting Around a Little Easier
03/17/16
First up is turn-by-turn spoken instructions. Say you’re in New York City for business and you need to get from your hotel in Midtown to a client’s office in the Financial District. Traffic is horrible and the cab driver lets you off a few blocks from your destination. With turn-by-turn instructions, voice commands offer navigational instructions enabling you to keep your eyes up instead of on your phone and avoid running into the teeming masses traversing the city sidewalks. This is even more helpful while driving, when keeping your eyes on the road, and not on your phone, is critical. With 3D views that change as you change direction, it’s kind of like holding a bit of virtual reality in your hand. Read More...
AirDrop - Magical Sharing from your mobile device and computer
01/14/16
Though the skit was comical in nature, the concept that information can be shared simply by touching an object was kind of cool. Maybe that’s what the creators of the AirDrop had in mind when they came up with this file and content sharing app for devices using iOS 7 or later and Macs with OS X Yosemite or later. AirDrop lets you share photos, files, web sites, contacts, and more with other Apple devices nearby. No need for email or text message attachments, with this app all you have to do is press Share. Read More...
Protect Yourself from Nebbiness on Public Networks with Cloak
12/15/15
In Pittsburgh we have a term we use to describe nosey neighbors, friends, in-laws, and even pets. They’re all “nebby” if they can’t keep their nose out of our business. Most of the time, nebbiness is relatively innocent, but when hackers get nebby, we need to do whatever it takes to protect our privacy.
Did you know that every time you use a public network – in a coffee shop, hotel, airport – you’re making your activities and personal information available to everyone else on that network? While most people don’t have the knowledge or interest in accessing this information, hackers do.
Xero Accounting Software - Quickbooks Alternative
12/15/15
Inevitably, this conversation leads to them asking about what we use in our offices, because if it works for us, then surely it will work for them. While we can’t guarantee that perfect match 100% of the time, quite often it is true.
We think this applies to Xero accounting software. It’s what we use at CranstonIT and we have an expert available to set it up for you and train you how to use it.
Read More...
Pulling the Curtains on Your Electronic Window
11/13/15
Everyone wants to be liked. We want others to appreciate who we are, what we do, and what we’ve accomplished. We want them to want to get to know us and to learn what makes us tick. It’s basic human nature.
Today is your lucky day! There are more people than you can possibly imagine who want to know everything about you and are willing to pay for this information. They’re just not willing to pay you. And you’ll never actually meet them, either.
Have you ever noticed that immediately after shopping online for area rugs, you start to see rug ads in the margins of the web pages you visit or in the ads that appear in your Facebook timeline? Spyware and trackers are used by many companies as a marketing tool. It’s a form of adware that tracks your internet browsing habits and uses this data to deliver in-page ads targeted specifically to you. Read More...
Today is your lucky day! There are more people than you can possibly imagine who want to know everything about you and are willing to pay for this information. They’re just not willing to pay you. And you’ll never actually meet them, either.
Have you ever noticed that immediately after shopping online for area rugs, you start to see rug ads in the margins of the web pages you visit or in the ads that appear in your Facebook timeline? Spyware and trackers are used by many companies as a marketing tool. It’s a form of adware that tracks your internet browsing habits and uses this data to deliver in-page ads targeted specifically to you. Read More...
Be Ware of Ominous Pop Up Warnings in Your Browser
11/13/15
Scammers are a clever bunch. They capitalize on fear and lack of knowledge. Unfortunately, when it comes to understanding the complicated inner workings of computers and software, many of us have those traits in spades. It’s not that we’re ignorant, but technology is constantly changing. Unless you’re actively studying or working in the field of computer technology, it’s just plain hard to keep up with these changes. The scammers, however, seem to have no problems with this.
One popular way these internet scumbags attempt to lure us into their evil web is to plant an ominous warning that pops up on our monitor foretelling of grave danger ahead if we don’t act fast.
“Warning!” it says. “Your computer has a malicious virus.”
The message is almost always accompanied by a tech support phone number. Call this number and they are only too happy to bill your credit card a hefty sum. Read More...
One popular way these internet scumbags attempt to lure us into their evil web is to plant an ominous warning that pops up on our monitor foretelling of grave danger ahead if we don’t act fast.
“Warning!” it says. “Your computer has a malicious virus.”
The message is almost always accompanied by a tech support phone number. Call this number and they are only too happy to bill your credit card a hefty sum. Read More...
How to Make Your Electronic Life Easier
11/13/15
Life is hard work. Maintaining your home and yard; shuttling the kids to appointments and activities; working; paying bills; honey-do lists. It’s exhausting. Do you really want to add managing your family’s Apple IDs, software updates, backups, and home networking issues to your project list?
Do yourself a favor and let CIT@Home take care of your Apple support issues for you. No more trying to figure out which devices are updated, why your son’s iPhone won’t connect to your home network, or how to load all your songs, photos and contacts onto a new device. We’ll take care of that for you.
If you have a problem or issue with your Apple products, we’ll fix it. If you have a question, we’ll answer it. If you’re confused, we’ll clarify it. And if you’re just tired of all of it, we’ll take over and do it for you. It’s that simple.
Make your life easier. Our flat rate pricing gives you unlimited support for an entire year.
Because not everything in life should be hard work.
Contact Cranston IT at (888) 813-5558 and sign up for CIT@Home today. Read More...
Do yourself a favor and let CIT@Home take care of your Apple support issues for you. No more trying to figure out which devices are updated, why your son’s iPhone won’t connect to your home network, or how to load all your songs, photos and contacts onto a new device. We’ll take care of that for you.
If you have a problem or issue with your Apple products, we’ll fix it. If you have a question, we’ll answer it. If you’re confused, we’ll clarify it. And if you’re just tired of all of it, we’ll take over and do it for you. It’s that simple.
Make your life easier. Our flat rate pricing gives you unlimited support for an entire year.
Because not everything in life should be hard work.
Contact Cranston IT at (888) 813-5558 and sign up for CIT@Home today. Read More...
Apple Gets Into the Groove with New Music Service
09/10/15
iTunes users know they have virtually an entire world of music available at their fingertips. Think of just about any artist and song and it’s likely you can find, purchase, and download it to your device from the iTunes store. From there you can create music playlists to suit your mood or activity.
But what if you want to be a little more spontaneous than that and listen to something new based on your preferences and tastes? What if you didn’t have to purchase songs individually, but could access a music library of over 30 million (yes, million) tunes and stream music with help from your own personal music concierge? These “what if” scenarios are what Apple offers with its new Apple Music service. Read More...
Collaborate Like a Pro and Save Money
08/13/15
Promotion extended till September 30th, 2015
If you’ve been struggling to find a simple way for your staff, consultants, clients, vendors, and anyone else who makes up your team to collaborate on projects and easily communicate status updates, assignments, changes and revisions, Samepage is the way to go. This multi-use tool puts all of your project’s components in one place, lets you assign tasks, and makes it easy for your team’s players to communicate without the need for multiple file sharing, messaging, and project management programs.
Read More...
OS X El Capitan Proves What’s On the Inside Is Important
08/13/15
You know the old saying. It’s not what’s on the outside, but what’s on the inside that’s important. This seems to be the case with Apple’s OS X El Capitan, coming to a Mac near you this fall. Named after a famous rock formation in Yosemite National Park, El Capitan features system improvements and refinements to its predecessor Yosemite which was more about visual changes to the look and feel, making OS X resemble iOS more closely. With El Capitan, Apple stays with the same look and focuses instead on system and performance improvements.While Apple products have always been known for being easy to use, El Capitan is touted to offer a smarter and simpler way to access apps and do all the things you normally do on your Mac, such as check email and your favorite web sites, take notes, and search for information. One of the more notable improvements is its launch speed of up to 1.4x faster for apps and 2x faster in switching between open apps. Apple also improved performance of individual apps with Mail, Preview and Photo all receiving significant speed enhancements. Read More...
iCloud Photo Library Lets You Sync, Save Across Multiple Devices
06/30/15
Drowning in spam? Here’s how to send those spammers running.
06/30/15
Spam, or unsolicited emails sent to a large number of recipients, is an unfortunate byproduct of our online activity. Anytime you share your email address, you increase your chances of receiving spam. This includes posts made to online forums or web sites, online order forms that require an email address, web site registrations, job inquiries, blog subscriptions, and even emails sent to friends. Some companies share your information with partner vendors, while others sell it to the highest bidder. Even if you only share your address with a select few, if your friend’s account is hacked, the spammers gain access to their address book.
It’s easy enough to stop legitimate spam received from companies you know. Simply click the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email to be removed from the mailing list. This will either unsubscribe you immediately or take you to a preferences page where you can unsubscribe altogether or limit the number and frequency of emails you receive. Marking this type of message as “Junk” often doesn't work well because businesses try very hard to craft messages that ensure their emails do not end up in a Junk folder. Read More...
Protect Your Computer and Save Money with this Special Sale on a UPS
05/13/15
Spring is here and in Pittsburgh that means thunderstorms and lightning strikes. Storms always bring an increased chance of power outages and power surges. Both of these cause problems with your computers and network hardware. Whether it’s the inconvenience of losing unsaved work, having your internet go out when you are under deadline or having the hard drive fail on your computer, power issues are bad news for computers.
Fortunately, there is an easy way to protect yourself against these types of issues. Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) are a surge protector and battery backup in one. When storms rage around you, you can keep working since your computer system is safe. At CranstonIT, we believe that UPS systems are an important part your computer network both at the office and home. A UPS system is a relatively simple piece of hardware and having the “newest” version really isn’t any different than having an “old” version except that you get to pay more. The important part of a UPS is its battery. You need a good quality battery that is less then three years old.
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Fortunately, there is an easy way to protect yourself against these types of issues. Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) are a surge protector and battery backup in one. When storms rage around you, you can keep working since your computer system is safe. At CranstonIT, we believe that UPS systems are an important part your computer network both at the office and home. A UPS system is a relatively simple piece of hardware and having the “newest” version really isn’t any different than having an “old” version except that you get to pay more. The important part of a UPS is its battery. You need a good quality battery that is less then three years old.
Read More...The New MacBook - Reinventing the Laptop
05/12/15
The laptop is essential to many Apple users. While all laptops are focused on the ease of transportation, Apple’s new Macbook takes the idea of portability, along with power, to a new level. With the design of the new Macbook, Apple challenged themselves to create the thinest and lightest laptop while still keeping every component full size. The latest addition to the laptop line-up is only 13.1 mm thick and weighs a mere 2 pounds, all while maintaining a 12” retina display screen size.
While the size and power of the new Macbook is astonishing enough, there are also several new features and enhancements that make the Macbook an engineering marvel. Apple’s redesign of the Macbook started with the full-size keyboard. Focusing on this idea, the laptop is exactly the length of its keyboard and features new technology that makes typing more responsive as well as accurate. The 12” retina display features edge-to-edge glass, 2304x1440 resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio, and is much more energy efficient. Read More...
While the size and power of the new Macbook is astonishing enough, there are also several new features and enhancements that make the Macbook an engineering marvel. Apple’s redesign of the Macbook started with the full-size keyboard. Focusing on this idea, the laptop is exactly the length of its keyboard and features new technology that makes typing more responsive as well as accurate. The 12” retina display features edge-to-edge glass, 2304x1440 resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio, and is much more energy efficient. Read More...
Clean Malware Off Your Computer with Adware Medic
04/07/15
For years Macs have been more resistant to getting computer viruses and other types of malware then their Windows counterparts. While this is generally still true, it is possible to have malware installed on a Mac. The most common way for this to occur is for a program to be disguised as something else so the user thinks that are installing one piece of software but they are really installing software that is bad for their computer. For example, an update to Adobe Flash is needed so a user does a google search for Flash. They click on a link for the Flash update but instead of it being a link from Adobe’s website it’s a link to another site. The user downloads the software and gives permission for it to be installed. Flash might be updated but other software is also installed at the same time. Read More...
Onsite and Offsite Backups - What You Need to Know
04/07/15
Backing up your computers is something that we all know we should do, but the bevy of options makes the task of backing up your data a daunting one. Breaking down the different options is the best way to ensure that your data is secure. The internet is packed full of information on backing up, but once sifted through, there are two main options: offsite or onsite?
Offsite:
Offsite means that data is backed up over the internet to a datacenter. CrashPlan is the service we use and recommend that allows you to back up all of your user data offsite in one convenient place. Through CrashPlan, you can backup any file, no matter what the type or size and with the 448-bit encryption all your files will be safe. Using technology that silently works in the background, you won’t even know when CrashPlan is backing up your data. CrashPlan keeps “digital snapshots” of your files, so you can look at specific versions of your files from any time. CrashPlan also keeps copies of all of your erased files, so all of your deleted data is still only a click away. Read More...
Offsite:
Offsite means that data is backed up over the internet to a datacenter. CrashPlan is the service we use and recommend that allows you to back up all of your user data offsite in one convenient place. Through CrashPlan, you can backup any file, no matter what the type or size and with the 448-bit encryption all your files will be safe. Using technology that silently works in the background, you won’t even know when CrashPlan is backing up your data. CrashPlan keeps “digital snapshots” of your files, so you can look at specific versions of your files from any time. CrashPlan also keeps copies of all of your erased files, so all of your deleted data is still only a click away. Read More...
Slack: Redefining Business Team Communication
02/24/15
Team based communication in business is an often overlooked function in today’s business environment. Obviously, there are lots of ways to communicate: email, instant messages, phone, VOIP, online forums, but all them lack key features that make team based communication effective. Slack is a new cloud based communication service that allows teams to communicate easily and efficiently all in one place. While barely a year old with already 500,000 daily users, Slack has single handily revolutionized the way businesses are communicating. So what is Slack’s magic and how can it transform your team’s communication? Read More...
Acorn: A Great Photoshop Alternative
02/24/15
For years Photoshop has been the king of photo editing apps. Its professional feature set has the notorious reputation of being complex and hard to navigate. Often these pro features are more than the average user needs and licensing costs a small fortune. It’s difficult to find an alternative that has a range of features without breaking the bank or causing frustration. Acorn is a Photoshop alternative that claims to be designed “for humans”. With a significantly smaller price tag and a large variety of features, Acorn will turn you into a photo editing pro with an easy to handle price! Read More...
LibreOffice: A Free Alternative to Microsoft Office
01/15/15
For decades, Microsoft Office has been the king of software productivity suites. The issue is that Microsoft Office is expensive and, even worse, on Mac it often doesn’t run well. Apple offers it own version of Office (Pages, Numbers & Keynote). These are great Apps, but they use their own proprietary file format so sharing files with non Mac users can be a pain. Apple’s newest versions of these apps also use a file format that is actually a folder of items masquerading as a file. If you try to sync these files with online file sharing services like DropBox or Soonr, you quickly discover it can’t be easily done.
Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a software solution, that ran great on Mac, could open, edit and create files that were seamlessly compatible with Microsoft Office and didn’t cost a small fortune? LibreOffice is a solution to the office suite dilemma that not only provides all these features, but it’s also free. You can create “Word” documents, “Excel” spreadsheets, “PowerPoint” presentations and more all without paying a dime! Read More...
Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a software solution, that ran great on Mac, could open, edit and create files that were seamlessly compatible with Microsoft Office and didn’t cost a small fortune? LibreOffice is a solution to the office suite dilemma that not only provides all these features, but it’s also free. You can create “Word” documents, “Excel” spreadsheets, “PowerPoint” presentations and more all without paying a dime! Read More...
Exploring Apple Messages App
12/18/14
Text messaging has become one of the most important ways we communicate with each other. With Apple users, iMessage has quickly become just as important. When you’re using your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, or even your Mac, you gain access to a variety of features that make texting your friends and family quicker, easier, and more personal. When using iMessage to text another Apple user, or just sending a regular SMS, the handy features of Apple’s Messages App make it a joy! Read More...
AirMail 2.0 an alternative to Apple Mail
12/18/14
Email is an integral part of most people’s lives. It’s how we communicate with each other in both the professional world and on a more personal level. When using email on your Mac, most of us use the “Mail” application, but did you know that there are other email client options? Airmail is a email client that enhances the user experience while making the emailing process more fluid and intuitive. Read More...
CIT Alert Now Available from Cranston IT
11/22/14
Cranston IT understands that a working computer is vitally important to you. We also understand that any interruption in being able to use your computer costs you time and money. Here at Cranston IT, we have a solution to help detect common problems early and solve them as quickly as possible. With the CIT Alert system, you can take the worry out of your everyday operations.
CIT Alert (CITA) is a program available to our customers that use Mac computers. This program’s main purpose is to catch a problem quickly when it occurs. Once installed on a computer, CITA conducts hourly checks to ensure everything is running smoothly. During these hourly checks, any warning signs that indicate that vital software or hardware are failing are inspected. Read More...
CIT Alert (CITA) is a program available to our customers that use Mac computers. This program’s main purpose is to catch a problem quickly when it occurs. Once installed on a computer, CITA conducts hourly checks to ensure everything is running smoothly. During these hourly checks, any warning signs that indicate that vital software or hardware are failing are inspected. Read More...
SSL Poodle Bug
11/22/14
One of the advantages to being an Apple user is the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you are protected against the viruses that plague many other machines. While Macs are far safer than most other computers, they are still susceptible to some problems. The SSL POODLE bug is a flaw in encryption software that can allow a hacker to monitor the encrypted information that is sent over a network between your browser and secure sites. This means that sensitive information such as account information that you send encrypted over the internet could be seen and gathered by others. While the SSL POODLE bug may seem scary, it really only poses a threat when using public wifi networks. Often hackers create fake public wifi networks at places like coffee shops or restaurants. When logged into these networks, hackers can gain access to the information sent via your browser. Read More...
Custom Business Solutions
10/25/14
As a small business ourselves, we at Cranston IT understand that there are lots of challenges that the modern small business face. You may need to be able to access your important data from different locations such as your office, warehouse, production floor or on the road. It is often critical that your information stays up to date or you may need to create a workflow process that employees can follow. Maybe you’re looking to make the transition from working on paper to electronically or perhaps you are trying to eliminate double entries of data. Whatever problem your business is looking to overcome, we at Cranston IT have a solution. Read More...
iCloud Family Sharing Review
10/25/14
We use our Apple devices for everything. From watching movies, listening to music, staying organized with calendars and reminders, and keeping connected; our Apple devices are powerful tools. Often there is a need to share all of this important information with those who are the most important to us, our families. iOS 8 has created a solution that will change the way you and your family interact digitally, Family Share. Family Share lets you sync up to six individual Apple IDs and share App Store purchases, photos, calendars, and much more. Read More...
Protecting Against Malware on OS X
10/25/14
One of the advantages that Apple computers offer over Microsoft is their resistance to viruses and other software that can have potentially devastating affects on your computer. While your computer may not be in imminent danger, there is potential for annoying programs such as adware and malware to affect the function of your machine. Malware is software that is installed on your computer and written to do harm like steal or erase data. Adware does not have such damaging consequences, but once installed it can be very annoying by causing popup windows with ads to appear continually on your computer, often trying to get you to purchase software to remove the ads it’s causing. In addition, these popup windows can cause your computer to run more slowly. Read More...
Create Your Own eBooks with iBooks Author
08/20/14
Apple is known for designing platforms which enable people to fulfill their creative potential. Whether it’s using Pages, GarageBand, or iPhoto, Apple developed their products around enabling creativity along with productivity since their conception. iBook Author is a free mac application that further promotes the creative spirit allowing users to write, format, and sell their ebooks on the iBooks app. Read More...
Samepage - Online Collaboration for your Business
06/17/14
In a electronic age where fast pace business environments have become the norm, using services such as file sharing, tasks lists, and instant messaging has taken over the way we collaborate. Often, we have different programs or services that is being used to fulfill these different needs which can lead to losing data, or at best managing many windows. Samepage.io is a unique website that allows you to collaborate in all the ways you did before, just in one convenient location. Read More...
Apple Announces OS X Yosemite
06/17/14
Nothing gets the tech world buzzing like the annual World Wide Developers Conference and with it comes many exciting announcements from Apple. This week Apple announced their new operating system for Mac, Yosemite, which will be released to download sometime this fall. In typical Apple fashion, Yosemite offers a slew of new and exciting features that are sure to revolutionize the way we interact with Macs and mobile devices. Handoff, iCloud Drive, and notifications are just three of the innovative new features Yosemite has to offer. Read More...
Mavericks Feature: Dictation - Hands Free Typing
05/20/14
What if I told you that I’m typing this sentence using nothing but my voice? Well, I’m actually using my voice and the handy new dictation feature that comes with the Mavericks operating system. With the many amazing new features that Mavericks offers, its easy to over look some of the less showy improvements. Dictation and Enhanced Dictation are two truly remarkable innovations that will change the way you type. Read More...
Daylite 5 Released - CRM made for OS X
05/20/14
When it comes to an Apple based business management software, it’s no secret that Daylite is one of the best. Recently Daylite released its newest version, Daylite 5, that takes an already great product and makes it more valuable. Read More...
Stolen MacBook Returned Using Find My iPhone
04/16/14
“Where’s the laptop?” That was the haunting question one of our own employees, Kelsey Lewis, was asking after her apartment was broken into one night during a recent visit to Thailand. While she was out, burglars had gotten away with a MacBook Air and iPad. After confirming that they had been stolen, she didn't panic, instead she turned to Find My iPhone. Read More...
DuckDuckGo Search Engine Review
03/28/14
We use google for everything. From finding restaurant reviews, to questions on current events, and settling arguments between friends, Google has become our lifeline. From time-to-time we all Google things we want to keep private, and clearing the search history removes all previous search results, right? Unfortunately, no. Your searched history is tracked and compiled into a profile that can be sold. Not only can unique information about you be bought, but Google also keeps track of all your search history, which can be legally requested. Is all of this data collections a little alarming? Don’t panic, use DuckDuckGo.com Read More...
Recover Your Lost Data w/ Gillware
02/17/14
It’s a mantra here at Cranston IT. Backup, backup, and then backup again. We know we sound like a broken record. Why do we advise this time and time again? Well, sadly, if you don’t back up then when that inevitable glitch, user error or hardware failure occurs you’re going to have a problem. Sometimes it’s going to be a major problem.
If that crash does occur and you realize you didn’t back up your data, then what? There are still recovery options available through professional data recovery services. These services can be expensive but if your critical data is on a failed drive, it can be well worth the price of recovery. Read More...
If that crash does occur and you realize you didn’t back up your data, then what? There are still recovery options available through professional data recovery services. These services can be expensive but if your critical data is on a failed drive, it can be well worth the price of recovery. Read More...
Expand your mind with iTunes U
02/17/14
Learning is a lifetime pursuit that doesn’t stop at the end of our college careers. However, with lives that are busy, finding the time to take a class or attend a seminar may seem impossible. Apple’s application, iTunes U, is a great tool that will help you expand your mind while making it easy, fun and free! Read More...
Introducing Watchman Monitoring for Contract Customers
01/24/14
There's no question that the information stored on your computer is of the utmost importance. Often your life is greatly affected when your computer is out of commission, no matter the duration of time. Here at Cranston IT, making sure that you have as few problems as possible and ensuring that the problems that do arise are solved quickly is our main goal. We’re always trying to give you “peace of mind” when it comes to your Apple products and with our new program, Watchman Monitoring, you can be even more worry free.
Watchman Monitoring is a new program available to all our residential and business customers using Macs. The program operates under a simple idea: catch a problem quickly when it occurs, and that’s exactly what Watchman Monitoring does. We install the Watchman program on your computer and it runs hourly checks to ensure that everything is running smoothly. Read More...
Watchman Monitoring is a new program available to all our residential and business customers using Macs. The program operates under a simple idea: catch a problem quickly when it occurs, and that’s exactly what Watchman Monitoring does. We install the Watchman program on your computer and it runs hourly checks to ensure that everything is running smoothly. Read More...
1Password - Effective Password Management
01/24/14
In a growing online world, passwords are required for everything. From email, to e-commerce sites, and online banking, we’re bogged down with tons of passwords to commit to memory. Unfortunately, this often leads to using the same password for multiple sites along with passwords that aren’t always as strong as they should be. There is a solution. 1Password is an application for your Mac, iPad, and iPhone, that not only remembers all of your passwords for you, but also generates secure ones that will help protect your accounts from getting hacked. Read More...
The New Mac Pro - An Efficient Powerhouse
01/24/14
The first word that comes to mind when looking at Apple’s new Mac Pro is efficient. The small cylinder is just a fraction of the size of Apple’s previous model, but blows its predecessors out of the water. Apple enthusiasts have long awaited an upgrade to the Mac Pro towers, and with an overhaul of design and amazing processing power, the sleek, black cylinder is completely unrecognizable.
The new Mac Pro truly is the picture of efficiency. Weighing in at 11 pounds and only 9.9 inches high, the large bulky towers are a thing of the past. Not only is it much smaller, but also amazingly quiet. The new design vents warm air out the top of the cylinder, making it virtually silent. Much like the Mac Mini when it comes to stealth, the Mac Pro’s fans won’t disturb you. Read More...
The new Mac Pro truly is the picture of efficiency. Weighing in at 11 pounds and only 9.9 inches high, the large bulky towers are a thing of the past. Not only is it much smaller, but also amazingly quiet. The new design vents warm air out the top of the cylinder, making it virtually silent. Much like the Mac Mini when it comes to stealth, the Mac Pro’s fans won’t disturb you. Read More...
FileMaker 13 - A Step Forward in Business Management
12/17/13
Filemaker has been our go-to database solution for years. It’s great for custom building a business software solution for managing your business. If you need software to run your business but can’t find any pre-packaged software that suits your needs, a FileMaker database may be your solution. It’s cross platform and will work on Mac, PC and iOS.
FileMaker just released FileMaker 13. This new version introduces Web Direct. It’s now possible to get the full FileMaker experience through a web browser. That means that FileMaker can now be accessed directly from a web browser on your desktop or laptop. The FileMaker software no longer has to be installed on a computer. The connection is direct to the live database. Changes are immediately available just like you were working in the FileMaker Pro application. Read More...
FileMaker just released FileMaker 13. This new version introduces Web Direct. It’s now possible to get the full FileMaker experience through a web browser. That means that FileMaker can now be accessed directly from a web browser on your desktop or laptop. The FileMaker software no longer has to be installed on a computer. The connection is direct to the live database. Changes are immediately available just like you were working in the FileMaker Pro application. Read More...
The New iWork 2013
12/17/13
There’s both good and bad news with the new versions of Pages, Keynote and Numbers that have been released under the iWork 2013 umbrella. Fortunately, there is quite a bit more good than bad.
The good news is that these iWork apps have become iOS compatible and using iCloud they can be worked on using a web browser from any device. It brings flexibility and portability for people who are collaborating on a document, presentation or spreadsheet and for users who happen to work on various devices.
Another great feature of iWork 2013 is that comes free when you purchase a new computer or iOS device. That means you can get the revamped versions of Pages, Numbers and Keynote at no cost to you. If you aren’t in the market for a new computer you can purchase the new version for just $19.99 per application. While the no or low cost of the iWork 2013 apps is attractive, there are some problems. To make iWork accessible cross platform (Mac, iOS and the web), they had to simplify the apps a bit. Along with that simplification came a few glitches and some missing features. Read More...
The good news is that these iWork apps have become iOS compatible and using iCloud they can be worked on using a web browser from any device. It brings flexibility and portability for people who are collaborating on a document, presentation or spreadsheet and for users who happen to work on various devices.
Another great feature of iWork 2013 is that comes free when you purchase a new computer or iOS device. That means you can get the revamped versions of Pages, Numbers and Keynote at no cost to you. If you aren’t in the market for a new computer you can purchase the new version for just $19.99 per application. While the no or low cost of the iWork 2013 apps is attractive, there are some problems. To make iWork accessible cross platform (Mac, iOS and the web), they had to simplify the apps a bit. Along with that simplification came a few glitches and some missing features. Read More...
OS X 10.9 Mavericks Finder Features
11/15/13
The newest Mac operating system has arrived. Mavericks may not look much different on the surface, but it actually brings some significant improvements including several useful new tools and an improved version of Safari. Mavericks has introduced some quiet, yet powerful, changes under the hood. With memory compressing, app napping and timing coalescing, your Mac will run more efficiently, use less power and have a longer battery life.
You will see some of the useful new Mavericks features in Finder. The most notable one is the tabbing feature, which can be used much like having multiple tabs open in an internet browser. These Finder tabs can be set up various ways within a window and files can be dropped and dragged right into the various tabbed locations. This helps you organize your files in a more visual way.
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You will see some of the useful new Mavericks features in Finder. The most notable one is the tabbing feature, which can be used much like having multiple tabs open in an internet browser. These Finder tabs can be set up various ways within a window and files can be dropped and dragged right into the various tabbed locations. This helps you organize your files in a more visual way.
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Backup. Now. Before It's Too Late
10/21/13
Backing up your data is not an option. It’s a necessity. Computer crashes and server glitches are inevitable. They will happen, trust us on this. We know. What is not inevitable is data loss. Your data can be protected. It can also be restored quickly and efficiently.
Our professional data backup service safeguards your data up to the minute. It’s automatic and continuous, and we securely store your data on enterprise-grade servers at off-site data centers. Read More...
Our professional data backup service safeguards your data up to the minute. It’s automatic and continuous, and we securely store your data on enterprise-grade servers at off-site data centers. Read More...
AppCleaner - Easily Remove Apps You Don't Need
10/21/13
Need to clean up your Mac? Of course, there’s an app for that. The free AppCleaner app takes the basic uninstall process a few levels deeper.
Why do you need this? When you uninstall an application on your Mac, there’s actually quite a bit of clutter left behind. That’s where AppCleaner comes into play. AppCleaner removes the extra clutter in places like the library, application support and cache files. It even finds widgets and plug-ins that may be associated with an unwanted application. These are all places and files you likely wouldn’t have even known existed, let alone thought you had to clean. Read More...
Why do you need this? When you uninstall an application on your Mac, there’s actually quite a bit of clutter left behind. That’s where AppCleaner comes into play. AppCleaner removes the extra clutter in places like the library, application support and cache files. It even finds widgets and plug-ins that may be associated with an unwanted application. These are all places and files you likely wouldn’t have even known existed, let alone thought you had to clean. Read More...
FileMaker Databases for your Business
09/13/13
It’s a competitive world. That means businesses must be as efficient and productive as possible. This is especially true for small businesses. Often businesses cannot find a pre-made software program that works the way their business operates. That’s when a custom built database can help you take your business to the next level of automation and efficiency.
We recommend FileMaker Pro. This database software has been an industry leader for small and medium size businesses for over 20 years. It’s cross platform and data can be accessed from your Mac, Windows PC, web browser or iOS Device. Multiple users can access the database simultaneously from anywhere there is an internet connection. Read More...
We recommend FileMaker Pro. This database software has been an industry leader for small and medium size businesses for over 20 years. It’s cross platform and data can be accessed from your Mac, Windows PC, web browser or iOS Device. Multiple users can access the database simultaneously from anywhere there is an internet connection. Read More...
Integrate Google Maps into your FileMaker database
08/23/13
We have numerous clients using FileMaker Pro databases to manage their business. Sometimes these databases are used to schedule crews and salesmen. Being able to visualize where your crews or salesmen are going is a huge asset in a scheduler’s arsenal. We are able to integrate Google Maps directly into your FileMaker database to help you see where your employees are.
With the integration of ProMaps, the locations of your projects, contacts or any other needed address records are beautifully displayed so that you can keep track of all that is going on in your company’s business abroad. Mapping also allows scheduler’s to see exactly where crews and salesmen are at any given time, allowing them to easily add in additional appointments. Read More...
With the integration of ProMaps, the locations of your projects, contacts or any other needed address records are beautifully displayed so that you can keep track of all that is going on in your company’s business abroad. Mapping also allows scheduler’s to see exactly where crews and salesmen are at any given time, allowing them to easily add in additional appointments. Read More...
OSX Mac - Drag 'n Drop Printing from your Dock
08/23/13
Have you ever wanted to print out a quick copy of a file? You have to find the file, open the program, open the file and then print the file. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could print a file without having to go through all those steps? With this pro tip you can make printing documents as easy as “drag and drop”.
When you’re printing, the printer icon appears in your dock, but after the job is completed the icon disappears. We need the printer icon to stay in the dock, even when the printer is not being used. Follow these steps to add the printer to your dock. Read More...
When you’re printing, the printer icon appears in your dock, but after the job is completed the icon disappears. We need the printer icon to stay in the dock, even when the printer is not being used. Follow these steps to add the printer to your dock. Read More...
OS X 10.9 Mavericks Overview
07/17/13
The latest Mac operating system may not have a feline name, but OS X Mavericks is a more ferocious and efficient operating system than it’s predecessors.
One of our favorite Mavericks features is the Maps app. It’s smooth and responsive with very crisp and detailed text. It has a realistic 3D feature called Flyover that gives an eagle eye’s view of certain cities.
Maps provides information like phone numbers, photos and Yelp reviews on local points of interest, and Maps offers point-to-point directions, live traffic conditions, and alternate routes. Not surprisingly, Maps is smoothly integrated with OS X and can be linked to your Mail, Contacts and Calendar apps. Read More...
One of our favorite Mavericks features is the Maps app. It’s smooth and responsive with very crisp and detailed text. It has a realistic 3D feature called Flyover that gives an eagle eye’s view of certain cities.
Maps provides information like phone numbers, photos and Yelp reviews on local points of interest, and Maps offers point-to-point directions, live traffic conditions, and alternate routes. Not surprisingly, Maps is smoothly integrated with OS X and can be linked to your Mail, Contacts and Calendar apps. Read More...
Kerio Connect: New Webmail & Tutorial Videos
05/23/13
As many of you already know, Kerio Connect is an ideal solution for businesses that need a reliable yet affordable alternative to Microsoft Exchange. This powerful mail server provides email, shared calendars and contact management to most email clients, web browsers and mobile devices. It also has integrated anti-virus, multiple layers of spam control, built-in archiving, automated backup and an easy Web Administration interface.
It is completely cross platform and works on Macs, PCs and mobile devices. This means everything is integrated even if Windows users are using Outlook and Mac users are using Apple Mail, Address Book or iCal. Kerio Connect can be run on your own internal server or hosted by CranstonIT in the cloud. Read More...
It is completely cross platform and works on Macs, PCs and mobile devices. This means everything is integrated even if Windows users are using Outlook and Mac users are using Apple Mail, Address Book or iCal. Kerio Connect can be run on your own internal server or hosted by CranstonIT in the cloud. Read More...
Stop Computer Theft
05/23/13
Laptop theft is on the rise. Sadly, the majority of stolen laptops are never found. As you can guess, the ever-popular Macs are one of the prime targets.
How do you protect yourself? The most important actions must be taken before your laptop is ever stolen.
First, think about your data. For many of you, your data is more valuable than the computer itself. So, you must frequently backup to an external hard drive or a cloud based service like ClouDox. This helps ensure that your data is backed up and can be restored if needed. Read More...
How do you protect yourself? The most important actions must be taken before your laptop is ever stolen.
First, think about your data. For many of you, your data is more valuable than the computer itself. So, you must frequently backup to an external hard drive or a cloud based service like ClouDox. This helps ensure that your data is backed up and can be restored if needed. Read More...
Sharing Moments with PhotoStream
04/22/13
Photo Stream is one of the innovative features Apple has cleverly built into it’s products. With the help of this handy feature, you can seamlessly view all of your latest snap shots on any one of your devices, no matter if they were taken with your iPhone, iPad, or stored on your desktop. Enable Photo Stream in your device settings, allowing your pictures to upload to your Photo Stream automatically. Maybe one of the of most exciting features of Photo Stream, is that it allows you to easily share your photos with your family and friends. Read More...
Managing Your Mail
03/15/13
Confused by email mailboxes and storage options in Apple Mail? It’s actually pretty simple. You can keep your email in three different places: on the server, in local mailboxes in Mail, or in a saved archive on your computer. Where you choose to store your messages will depend on how easily you need to be able to access them, how important they are, and how long you want to keep them. Read More...
iTunes gets a Makeover
01/16/13
Apple’s newest version of iTunes has a whole new look and several slick new features. The most noticeable change is the user interface. The old list browser has been replaced with a cleaner and more intuitive interface, which defaults to a view called Albums. It shows the contents of your entire library as album snapshots. This is a huge improvement because it allows you to drill down on a particular album or video without having to return to the old list screen time and time again.
You can also view your iTunes library content by Songs, Artists, Genres, Videos or Playlists. If you really liked the old list view, use the Songs tab. You’ll see an alphabetical list of your library there that is very similar to the previous version of iTunes. Read More...
You can also view your iTunes library content by Songs, Artists, Genres, Videos or Playlists. If you really liked the old list view, use the Songs tab. You’ll see an alphabetical list of your library there that is very similar to the previous version of iTunes. Read More...
What You Want, When You Want It: Apple TV
12/19/12
Apple TV is one of the simplest and most useful products that Apple offers. Yet, it’s one of the least understood. What is Apple TV? It’s a useful little converter box that lets you stream movies, television shows and content from your computer or iPad right to your existing HD television screen. It’s also much more affordable than you might think, selling for $99.
The third generation of Apple TV is a small black box that measures a little under four inches on each side. It can handle 1080p video and has an additional wireless antenna for improved WiFi reception.
Apple TV can stream much more than you might think. It’s set up to seamlessly stream HD movies and TV shows from iTunes, the entire Netflix streaming catalog, Hulu Plus shows, live professional sports games and more. Read More...
The third generation of Apple TV is a small black box that measures a little under four inches on each side. It can handle 1080p video and has an additional wireless antenna for improved WiFi reception.
Apple TV can stream much more than you might think. It’s set up to seamlessly stream HD movies and TV shows from iTunes, the entire Netflix streaming catalog, Hulu Plus shows, live professional sports games and more. Read More...
Making Life Easier w/ Reminders in OS X Mt. Lion
12/18/12
A basic review over the features and capabilities of Reminders. Reminders is an easy to use yet powerful tool for accomplishing tasks, and it comes with MacOSX Mountain Lion.
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Resolving Dropped WiFi Connections on Mac OS X
12/13/12
Having problems with you WiFi connection? Check out this video for some settings you can change on your Mac to help improve your wireless connection.
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New & Improved CRM Software for Business - Daylite 4
11/19/12
MarketCircle has unveiled a new version of Daylite, the CRM (Client Record Management) solution that small and medium sized businesses rely on to manage their customer information. Daylite has always been a very good product. The improvements to the new version, Daylite 4, are significant and in our opinion move this piece of CRM software into a “must own” category for companies that need to manage customers and sales processes. Read More...
The New Slim iMac
11/19/12
We are happy to welcome the newest addition to the Apple family. The new iMac has arrived and it comes with some impressive new features.
What you’ll first notice about this sleek new model is its size. It’s almost a full inch slimmer and up to eight pounds lighter than any other iMac. Apple also re-engineered the display. The result is up to 75% less glare, a sharper screen image, and more vibrant colors.
It may be slim, but it’s also a powerhouse. It comes with the latest OS X Mountain Lion operating system and impressive performance technology. It’s extremely fast thanks to Core i5 or i7 processors and the latest Nvidia graphics processing. It also comes with up to 3TB of storage and a Fusion Drive option that adds 128GB of flash storage to the hard drive. The iMac dynamically manages the memory, shifting less used programs to the hard drive, reserving the faster flash memory for the most often used apps. The result? Faster day-to-day performance. Read More...
What you’ll first notice about this sleek new model is its size. It’s almost a full inch slimmer and up to eight pounds lighter than any other iMac. Apple also re-engineered the display. The result is up to 75% less glare, a sharper screen image, and more vibrant colors.
It may be slim, but it’s also a powerhouse. It comes with the latest OS X Mountain Lion operating system and impressive performance technology. It’s extremely fast thanks to Core i5 or i7 processors and the latest Nvidia graphics processing. It also comes with up to 3TB of storage and a Fusion Drive option that adds 128GB of flash storage to the hard drive. The iMac dynamically manages the memory, shifting less used programs to the hard drive, reserving the faster flash memory for the most often used apps. The result? Faster day-to-day performance. Read More...
Using Mountain Lion's Mail VIP Folders (Tutorial with Video)
10/19/12
Have a VIP in your life? With Apple’s newest operating system, Mountain Lion, you can automatically keep copies of that person’s messages in a SmartFolder in your Mail program. This will eliminate the need to search multiple folders for specific messages you may need in the future. It also eliminates the need to manually drag messages into folders. Read More...
Unlocking the Power of Preview (Tutorial with Video)
09/18/12
Preview has always been a useful program for reading PDFs, viewing graphics, and running slide shows. Now Apple has taken this program a huge step forward giving you the power to enhance, edit, and modify images and PDFs, all without a separate image editor or PDF tool.
The new Preview is part of the Mountain Lion OS X 10.8 operating system. The following are some of the most exciting new features of Preview. Read More...
The new Preview is part of the Mountain Lion OS X 10.8 operating system. The following are some of the most exciting new features of Preview. Read More...
Keeping your Mac Safe with Mountain Lion's Gatekeeper
09/05/12
Accidentally downloading malicious software can cause countless problems on your Mac. That’s why the Mountain Lion operating system includes a new Gatekeeper feature. It helps protect you from inadvertently downloading software that may look safe, but will actually damage or steal your data. Read More...
Mountain Lion Notification Center (Tutorial with Video)
08/17/12
One of the new features of the Mountain Lion operating system is the Notification Center. What are notifications? They are quick notes that appear on your screen alerting you to activity in your other apps. They are a lot like the notifications that you may have seen on an iPad or iPhone.
Depending on your preferences, notifications will scroll across your screen like a banner or pop up as an alert.
You can view all of your notifications, including ones you may have missed, by visiting the Notification Center. A two-finger swipe from right to left will get you to the Notification Center. You can also get to it by clicking the menubar icon in the upper right of the menubar.
Notifications are fully customizable and easily managed. That means you can choose which notifications appear, how often, how they look and how they sound.
To manage each of your notifications go to the Apple icon and choose Notification Center and System Preferences, or you could just click on the gear symbol at the bottom of the Notification Center.
You can specify whether notifications appear as Banners or Alerts. Banners appear and disappear on their own. Alerts stay on your screen until you take an action. Read More...
Depending on your preferences, notifications will scroll across your screen like a banner or pop up as an alert.
You can view all of your notifications, including ones you may have missed, by visiting the Notification Center. A two-finger swipe from right to left will get you to the Notification Center. You can also get to it by clicking the menubar icon in the upper right of the menubar.
Notifications are fully customizable and easily managed. That means you can choose which notifications appear, how often, how they look and how they sound.
To manage each of your notifications go to the Apple icon and choose Notification Center and System Preferences, or you could just click on the gear symbol at the bottom of the Notification Center.
You can specify whether notifications appear as Banners or Alerts. Banners appear and disappear on their own. Alerts stay on your screen until you take an action. Read More...
AirDrop Filesharing - Tutorial Video
08/10/12
AirDrop is an easy way to securely share files with other nearby Mac users. It’s Wi-Fi based, so there’s no need to change your network settings. You simply drag and drop your files to other AirDrop users. Read More...
Working with Full Screen Apps in Mac OS Lion
01/29/12
The OS X Lion operating system gives you an option to work in full-screen with most applications. This is useful when you need to focus on one task without distraction.
To get to full-screen mode, click on the double-ended arrow in the upper right corner of your screen. That app will then fill your entire screen so that's all that you will see. Read More...
To get to full-screen mode, click on the double-ended arrow in the upper right corner of your screen. That app will then fill your entire screen so that's all that you will see. Read More...
Lion Feature Spotlight: Multi-Touch Gestures
09/30/11
Multi-Touch gestures are one of the most exciting aspects of Apple’s new operating system, OS X Lion. With simple two and three finger trackpad swipes you can navigate through open applications with ease.
It takes less than five minutes to learn these new gestures. While you’re getting the hang of it you can still use the traditional scroll bar that is hidden on the side of every screen.
There are three basic multi-touch gestures that you’ll use to drive your Mac. Read More...
It takes less than five minutes to learn these new gestures. While you’re getting the hang of it you can still use the traditional scroll bar that is hidden on the side of every screen.
There are three basic multi-touch gestures that you’ll use to drive your Mac. Read More...
Introducing Kerio Workspace - share & collaborate on great ideas in your business
06/30/11
That’s exactly what Kerio Workspace can do. Personalized to meet your needs, Workspace brings your team together, saving valuable time and resources. It allows team members to focus on a project itself rather than wasting valuable time downloading files, searching email for meeting minutes, or looking through different versions of the same document.
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Upgrade Your Email with Stationary
06/30/11
Make a memorable impression. Using Stationery, a little known feature of Apple Mail, you can create personalized messages like announcements, invitations and greeting cards with a few simple clicks. Read More...
Keep Track of your iPhone, iPad and iPod with Find My iPhone
06/30/11
A missing iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch is more than a lost device. Its also lost personal information. The solution? A free service from Apple called Find My iPhone that can locate a lost or stolen iOS device.
The Find My iPhone service is built right into your iPhone 4, iPad or fourth generation iPod Touch. All you need to do is activate it. Then you can track a lost device from any computer. Read More...
The Find My iPhone service is built right into your iPhone 4, iPad or fourth generation iPod Touch. All you need to do is activate it. Then you can track a lost device from any computer. Read More...
Printing from iPhone / iPad using Airprint Activator
05/31/11
Simple printing. It’s what iPhone and iPad Touch users ask for time and time again. Sending documents back to a computer for printing is time consuming and inconvenient. So, how do you print directly from your mobile device?
With the release of iOS 4.2, Apple gave iPhone and iPad users a way to send their documents directly to any AirPrint enabled printer. That’s a nice practical solution if you happen to have a printer that’s AirPrint capable. But, most of us do not. What if your printer doesn’t have this unique technology? That’s where a clever little free utility called AirPrint Activator becomes your solution.
With one simple download, AirPrint Activator allows you to print to any printer, even those without the built-in AirPrint functionality.
Setup is easy. Just follow the instructions below and within minutes your printer will be ready for iPhone and iPad printing. If you run into installation problems, give us a call. We’d be happy to help you install AirPrint Activator through a remote support session. Read More...
With the release of iOS 4.2, Apple gave iPhone and iPad users a way to send their documents directly to any AirPrint enabled printer. That’s a nice practical solution if you happen to have a printer that’s AirPrint capable. But, most of us do not. What if your printer doesn’t have this unique technology? That’s where a clever little free utility called AirPrint Activator becomes your solution.
With one simple download, AirPrint Activator allows you to print to any printer, even those without the built-in AirPrint functionality.
Setup is easy. Just follow the instructions below and within minutes your printer will be ready for iPhone and iPad printing. If you run into installation problems, give us a call. We’d be happy to help you install AirPrint Activator through a remote support session. Read More...
Understanding Malware and Mac Security
05/30/11
Malware, short for “malicious software”, is a fact of life on the Internet. It can come in any form including viruses, trojans and phishing scams.
One malware scam is specifically targeting Mac users. Hiding behind names like Mac Defender, Mac Protector or Mac Security, this phishing scam convinces people to download harmful software. Read More...
One malware scam is specifically targeting Mac users. Hiding behind names like Mac Defender, Mac Protector or Mac Security, this phishing scam convinces people to download harmful software. Read More...
Drobo RAID
03/16/11
Businesses today need a robust, reliable and cost effective solutions for data storage. We've used many different RAID storage systems over the years and for reliable, economic and easy to manage RAID we've found Drobo to be the best. Watch the video below to learn more about Drobo.
If you have questions about Drobo or data storage contact us today.
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If you have questions about Drobo or data storage contact us today.
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Understanding Backups Part 1: Backup Types
01/12/10
As you know, at Cranston IT we are big believers in backing up data. That’s because sooner or later you will lose data. Either your hard drive will crash, you will accidentally delete some files, your computer will get lost or stolen, or your computers will get caught in a fire, flood, or some other natural or man-made disaster.
It’s a rule. If you have your data in one place, you will eventually lose it. If you have your data in two places, it is unlikely that you will lose it. If you have your data in three places, it is very unlikely that you will lose it. So how many times should backup your data, is simply a question of how critical is your data. Read More...
It’s a rule. If you have your data in one place, you will eventually lose it. If you have your data in two places, it is unlikely that you will lose it. If you have your data in three places, it is very unlikely that you will lose it. So how many times should backup your data, is simply a question of how critical is your data. Read More...
Living with MacSpeech
12/03/09
We've had several clients contact us about MacSpeech - the leader in voice dictation software for the Mac. We decided to go ahead, purchase a copy of the software and see just how well it worked and how easy it was to use. Here is what we found.
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Setup Mac AddressBook to Sync with Kerio Using Exchange
09/03/09
Instead of using Kerio Sync Connector to sync Address Book on the Mac with Kerio you can also use the built-in Exchange Sync feature in Mac OS 10.4 and 10.5. This has the advantage of not having to using the third party software of Kerio Sync Connector to perform the sync but instead uses Apple's built in syncing tool. The biggest downside to this method is that the sync with the server is not as complete. For instance, you cannot sync the picture attached to the Address. Groups, Global Address Lists and resources cannot be synced and the sync frequency cannot be customized. However, if you just want a easy sync of your basic Address Book or you can't use Kerio Sync Connector for some reason this method is for you. Read More...
Importing Contacts into a Kerio Public Contacts Folder
08/14/09
Kerio does not have the ability to do a direct import of contacts into a Contacts folder. It would be nice if there were an import tool that would allow to you to import a text file or vcards, but currently that is not available.
The best way to get a large number of contacts into a Kerio Contacts folder is to use an existing user's account and use Address Book, Outlook or Entourage to sync the contacts to the server and then move the contacts to the appropriate Contacts folder on Kerio. Read More...
The best way to get a large number of contacts into a Kerio Contacts folder is to use an existing user's account and use Address Book, Outlook or Entourage to sync the contacts to the server and then move the contacts to the appropriate Contacts folder on Kerio. Read More...
Connecting Address Book (Mac) to Kerio
08/14/09
With Kerio it is possible to sync your Address Book (AB) with your personal Contacts folders and Public Contacts folders using the Kerio Sync Connector. It's also possible to just search Contacts folders using LDAP without having them in your Address Book. Let's discuss both ways. Read More...
Creating a Shared Contact List in Kerio
08/13/09
With Kerio it's possible to create a directory of Contacts that can be shared throughout the organization. There are several different ways to share Contacts in Kerio, but this way works best for sharing between users accessing Kerio from different sources ( Webmail, AddressBook, Entourage, Outlook ). Read More...
Make your camera a Wi-fi camera
08/06/09
We came across this cool little SD card the other day. It's an memory card for the digital camera with a built in wifi. This means that you can upload your pictures computer without ever having to use a cable to connect the two. Some digital cameras have wifi built into them but a lot of them don't. With a Eye-fi card it doesn't matter, the SD card makes the wireless connection for you.
For a small additional cost, you can also use the Eye-fi card to upload pictures directly to your favorite photo sharing site such as MobileMe, Facebook or Flickr.
Learn more about Eye-fi at http://www.eye.fi/apple/
For a small additional cost, you can also use the Eye-fi card to upload pictures directly to your favorite photo sharing site such as MobileMe, Facebook or Flickr.
Learn more about Eye-fi at http://www.eye.fi/apple/
My favorite Word Processor
07/16/09
In my line of work I use a lot of highly complex and complicated programs. I use everything from Photoshop to Dreamweaver to FinalCut Pro to FileMaker. I love powerful programs, but there is one area in which I have very basic needs - word processing. Read More...