IT Skills Online

Access To Business Poster

If you or someone you know is looking to improve their IT skills to help them get back into work or startup their own business, Access To Business have some online programs that might be of interest to you or them.

If you’re reading this and think you know someone who would benefit from the courses below, but the don’t have any way to get online at the moment, or are not confident getting online, then contact us and we might be able to help them.

Basic Computer Skills

If you need help with the first steps to being online (turning a computer, phone or tablet on, getting connected, setting up an email account and so on) then the Future Digital Inclusion – Learn My way course is for you.

It’s module based and takes you through every step at your own pace and in a way you can understand and learn from.

Becoming More Confident Accenture Project

This project is aimed two groups of people: 

  1. Those with a current employment history (currently in work or have previously worked) including:
    • People aged 25+ years (i.e. not first-time job seekers) interested in building their digital confidence and capability – ready for future job opportunities, and less vulnerable in a digital world.
    • Helping people with low digital skills to build their digital skills and confidence to achieve their personal goals
    • Providing skills training for enterprise or employment
    • Supporting job-seekers 25+ years
    • Supporting people in full-time or part-time work to improve their job prospects.
  2. Young people:
    1. Skills to Succeed Academy – aimed at people aged 16-24 but also relevant for 25+ years
    2. Digital Skills online training programme – a partnership with Futurelearn
    3. Use of existing or new resources, including free online courses through Learn My Way.

Apps & Services – Make IT Happen

There are many modules here designed to teach you how to best use common apps and services such as the many Google services (GMail, Calendar, Docs…) Microsoft services (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint…) Photography, Online design tools (Canva) and more.

HMRC

And if you’re after help with Child Tax Credits, Working Tax Credit, PAYE, VAT, National Insurance, JRS (Job Retention Scheme), Tax Returns and Furloughing, the HMRC Sessions are an excellent place to get the information you need.

How do I access the courses?

Simple, just call or email Jim Brennan or Simon Moore at Access To Business and they’ll get you sorted with log in details.

TinsleyNET IT for startup businesses

#WeCanHelp

If you need help getting started with technology, remember that we offer a range of services for new businesses, taking care of your IT needs so you can concentrate on what you do best.

We can sort out your IT needs with equipment, websites, email accounts, domain names and everything else IT related, that you might need to help your business flourish.

Video Messaging

Videocall

It’s an unprecedented time, with people all around the world becoming isolated in their homes, we look at some of the best video communication platforms to make your isolation or social distancing a little less solitary.

WhatsApp

https://www.whatsapp.com/

Whatsapp Group Call 15330137687621

WhatsApp is probably the most popular messaging app in use. Supporting voice and video calls, group chats and file sharing it protects your communications with end-to-end encryption and is available on all platforms and the web.

Accounts on WhatsApp are free and tied to your mobile number, so no need to sign up with an email account. But this does mean you need a smartphone before you can cign up for it.

Group chats can include up to 256 people, enough for even the largest family, but video calls are limited to 4 people

You can contact us on WhatsApp here tinsleyNET

Skype

https://www.skype.com/en/

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Probably one of the better known, and longest running video platforms, Skype is a goto app for many.

It’s a multi-platform service, meaning that no matter what type of phone, tablet or PC you have, you can get skype on it.

You can talk to upto 25 users at a time on the free version of Skype, ideal for setting up a family group, and you can use other features, such as remote screen sharing, messaging, Microsoft Teams (a business tool for managing meetings) and calling non-skype users via landline and mobile networks.

To access skype, the basic version is free but you’ll need a Microsoft account. If you’re on Windows 10 you can use the same account that you log into Windows with (assuming you’re not using a local only account)

Skype has been criticised in the past for it’s security, it’s been suggested that Microsoft have allowed government agencies access to ‘secure’ messages on skype. This might be something to be aware of if you’re using Skype for business, but for family communications, it’s really not an issue.

Contact us on skype: tinsleyNET

FaceTime

https://support.apple.com/

Macos Catalina Facetime Hero1

Apple’s facetime is one of the most used video messaging apps, which is great if all your family are embedded into the Apple ecosystem, but no use to anyone not investing into Apple.

The app is limited to only video and voice calling between other Apple facetime devices, and it’s limited to 32 users in a video conversation.

There’s no additional accounts or setup required to use Facetime, and other than needing an Apple account and Apple hardware, there’s no other fees or requirements.

Google Duo

https://duo.google.com/about/

Be Together1

Like FaceTime, Google’s Duo app is built around video calling only. But unlike Facetime, it’s not limited to just one platform.

Duo is accessible from Android, Apple, smart devices and from PC’s via the web, and allows conversations with upto 8 users at once.

Features like Knock Knock allow you to see the video of calling before you answer, video messenger allows you to send video clips or leave video clips if the call is not answered.

Security is achieved by end-to-end encryption. and extra features include AI overlays, meaning you can do funny things like draw a hat on your head that stays there as you move your head around, a bit like the well known overlays used on snapchat.

You can contact us on Duo here: https://duo.google.com/ or open your Duo app dial 07825650122

Due now supports up to 12 users in a call

“We are grateful that Duo is helping users see their loved ones all around the world. We recognize group calling is particularly critical right now. We have increased group calling from 8 participants to 12 effective today. More to come. #AllInThisTogether #COVID19”

Sanaz, Sr. Director of Product & Design at Google, March 2020
Tweet: https://twitter.com/sanazahari/status/1243397017868460033

Jitsi

https://jitsi.org/

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Not a well known service, but Jitsi is making itself known in areas where security is essential. The video and audio calling software is encrypted end-to-end and the same security can be used to encrypt messages on the platform.

There’s no limit on the number of participants in a group conversation, other than what your internet/hardware can cope with.

There’s no need to sign up for an account, simply head over to jitsi, start a conversation and then send the link out to others for them to join.

There are apps available for Windows and MacOS, but the focus appears to be around the web browser client, that means that accessing the service from a mobile device could be slightly tricky.

Zoom

https://zoom.us

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Zoom came from the minds behind Cisco, so as you’d expect it’s robust and reliable, and has security built into the platform from the start. Used extensively in business pre Microsoft Teams, it became the video conferencing platform of choice for celebs in 2019.

During the Covid-19 outbreak, Zoom has seen it’s user base increase significantly, not only for education and business, but also in a friends and family use.

The basic free account will allow you to chat to upto 100 users for 40 minutes, for more users or a longer chat, you’ll need a paid subscription (£11.99/month/user for the Pro)

You can contact us on Zoom, start a new meeting and click invite, then send the invite to it@tinsleynet.co.uk

Spike

https://www.spikenow.com/

Groups1

A less known client here, Spike is more business orientated. It brings together email, messaging, video calls and documents sharing.

Available on all platforms, the personal accounts are free as long as you’re using a recognised free email account (yahoo, gmail, hotmail etc). The limit on the free account is 10 group chats.

Facebook

https://www.messenger.com/

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Facebook offer two platforms here, Messenger and Portal (the one that’s being advertised on TV a lot)

The problem with Portal is that you need to invest entirely in the portal system, that is you and the people you’re talking to need the portal hardware. And Facebook don’t have a great reputation for seeing a project through, so there’s no guarantee that in a years time Portal is still around, then the hardware you bought will be redundant.

The ‘free’ alternative is Messenger, built into the Facebook platform and then spawned as a seperate app, it can be accessed via the web or via dedicated apps on Apple and Android.

You can have upto 50 users in a video call, but they all need to have Facebook profiles.

Facebook does not have the best reputation for data security, so that’s something to keep in mind.

Contact us on Facebook messenger: m.me/tinsleyNET

Google Hangouts

https://hangouts.google.com

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Hangouts has been around since the early days of video and messaging apps. It is a solid app built for mobile and website but lacked the advertising needed to push it forwards.

Google moved it towards a more business based app when Due and Allo were released, but it’s still available on a wide range of platforms, including Apple, Android, Chrome, Microsoft and Linux.

Hangouts supports video and voice calling, and text messaging. Group calling can include up to 10 users, and users can share their desktop screens so you can do remote support.

You can contact us on Hangouts, open your hangouts app and dial +447825650122

WeChat

https://www.wechat.com/

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The Chinese based chat app is widely used in China and is making it’s way into other countries via the much younger generations.

Video message groups can support upto 9 users. It’s popularity is based around the added features, including AI add ons, games and other in-app purchases.

The security of messages on Wechat has been questioned several times, with no clear response from the developers.

Others

There are plenty of other messaging apps that can keep you and your family in contact, feel free to add your own suggestions below.

tinsleyNET IT Servces Consultants #WeCanHelp

#WeCanHelp

If you need help on choosing a messaging app, you can contact us below or head over to our FREE IT SUPPORT facebook group to get advice from other users, click the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/tinsleyNET/

Windows 10 updates stop in January 2020

tinsleyNET #WeCanHelp

Microsoft will be ending support for Windows 7 on 14th January 2020, but there is still a way to get a free upgrade to Windows 10 before then.

Windows 7

Windows 7 will stop receiving support and updates on January 14th 2020 and Microsoft is encouraging users to upgrade to Windows 10 in order to keep their devices secure.

The free upgrade to Windows 10 offered to users of Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 ran from July 2015 through until July 2016.

Since then, users of Windows 7 and 8.1 with accessibility tools enabled were able to get the free upgrade until about a year ago.

The only advertised upgrade options available now are to buy a licence for Windows 10, or buy a new machine with Windows 10 installed and licenced.

Workaround

But it appears that the free upgrade tool from Microsoft is still functional, with one user reporting that they have successfully upgraded their Windows 7 Pro machine to Windows 10 Pro.

This upgrade is not available to Windows Enterprise users.

To get the upgrade tool, visit the Microsoft Windows 10 Download Page and click the Download tool now button.

On the next screen, choose Upgrade This PC Now and follow the on-screen prompts.

This is the Official Microsoft Update Tool, don’t use any other tools for this as the security of the copy of Windows you receive would not be guaranteed.

tinsleyNET IT Servces Consultants #WeCanHelp

#WeCanHelp

How we can help

and more

If you need any help keeping your computers up-to-date and secure, #WeCanHelp. From pay-as-you go support, to in-house management and regular security maintenance we can make sure your IT systems are kept secure and optimised.

WannaCry : Massive Global Malware Attack

tinsleyNET Security Services

Malware attack infects PC’s globally

You have probably heard on the news that millions of computers around the world have been infected with a piece of ransomware, have you checked if your home and business PC’s are protected? Read more

Get Windows 10

tinsleyNET #WeCanHelp

(How To) Get Windows 10

Users of Microsoft Windows 7 & 8 will start to notice a new icon in their system tray with the slanted Windows logo informing them of the opportunity to upgrade to Windows 10. No, it’s not a virus or malware, it’s a genuine offer from Microsoft.

Anyone currently using a genuine Windows 7 (with SP1) or 8.1 PC or on Windows Phone 8.1 will have the opportunity to upgrade, for free, to Windows 10 when it is released in July this year. Read more