CloudNett

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Microsoft have rolled out an improved Sticky Notes experience - and it’s a big win for productivity. Sticky Notes now integrates seamlessly with OneNote, keeping all your notes and ideas in one place. The new version of Sticky Notes makes it easier than ever to jot down your thoughts. You can make a note or take a screenshot with just one click. Sticky Notes will even automatically save the source information of the app or window you’re working in, so it’s easy to reference later. Whether it’s a project update, an important idea, or just a quick reminder, Sticky Notes can help you and your team work smarter. Widgets like this are incredibly useful for businesses. They help teams stay organized and streamline workflows by making essential tools easily accessible. You can pin Sticky Notes to your taskbar for quick access or launch it with a keyboard shortcut (Win + Alt + S). It’s also available via OneNote on Android and iOS, so your notes are always within reach whether you’re at your desk or not. If you’re looking for a simple, effective way to boost productivity, the new Sticky Notes is definitely worth exploring. Do you already use Sticky Notes to stay organized in your business? #Windows #StickyNotes #OneNote

Today marks the anniversary of a real trailblazer in the world of business tech. On January 2, 1979, Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston founded Software Arts, the company behind the very first spreadsheet software: VisiCalc. Heard of it? It was a groundbreaking tool that helped to transform the personal computer from a fun gadget into an essential business device. VisiCalc gave businesses a way to calculate budgets, track finances, and manage data right from their desktops. For the first time, complex calculations didn’t require an entire accounting department - just a PC and a copy of the software. It’s fair to say that VisiCalc laid the foundation for the likes of Microsoft Excel, which is now used daily by many businesses. For business owners, this innovation was more than a calculation tool; it was a mindset shift. It shows how technology can help us work faster, smarter, and more efficiently. As we begin to embrace AI and automation, it’s worth remembering how simple tools like spreadsheets have paved the way for everything we do in business today. Would you have tried out VisiCalc when it was first released? What spreadsheet software do you use in your business today? #TechHistory #Innovation #VisiCalc

Happy new year. Today I have some good news from Windows 11 and Microsoft 365: Microsoft are introducing rebootless updates for security patches. These updates, known as “hotpatches", let you install important security updates without needing to restart your device. That means less disruption for your team and immediate protection against potential threats. Traditionally, applying security patches meant scheduling updates and restarting systems. This could cause you to put off updates until a more convenient time, and that could leave your business vulnerable. With hotpatching, updates are applied instantly, with no need to reboot your computer. So, now there’s no reason not to stay updated. Security should be a priority for every business, and this update makes it easier to stay protected while keeping everything running smoothly. It’s great to see tools like this making life simpler for businesses of all sizes. Will this be a time-saver for you and your team in 2025? #HotPatching #Updates #Windows11