Happy New Year from ACE Computer Support!

Well Christmas 2015 has been and gone, and for many, it is now back to work!

ACE Computer Support has had a fantastic 2015, working with valued clients and suppliers, and building upon our social media presence.

2015 has also seen the introduction of our new, responsive (Google-Friendly) website and weekly Blog that has been very well-received by many of you on Twitter and Facebook. Thank you to everyone who has supported our efforts in this area, we are glad that you have enjoyed our work and shared it with your followers and friends.

In 2015, we worked tirelessly supporting individuals and businesses in the Shropshire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands areas, providing Computer Maintenance & Repair, Server Installation & Repair, Support Contracts and much more.

Business support contract clients also enjoyed unlimited access to our help desk, free of charge telephone, email & remote access computer support, reduced call out rates for onsite visits, our famous guaranteed four hour response time and free consultation and advice on all hardware, software and other IT issues.

Of course, we intend to keep up the good work in 2016 and keep on building upon our excellent 

reputation!

Happy New Year from ACE Computer Support!

We would like to wish everyone a fun-filled New Year’s Eve, a relaxing New Year’s Day and a very happy 2016!

Happy Christmas from ACE Computer Support

The time is nearly here for us all to unwind and take a well-deserved break with friends and family and enjoy the Christmas festivities!

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our customers, Facebook friends, Twitter followers, suppliers and everyone that we work alongside a very Happy Christmas and New Year – here’s to a healthy and prosperous 2016 for us all!

ACE Computer Support Christmas and New Year Opening Times

If you need us during the festive season, here are our opening hours:

Thursday 24^th December (Xmas Eve) –  9:00am- 12pm

Friday 25^th December (Xmas Day) – Closed

Saturday 26^th December (Boxing Day)-  Closed

Sunday 27^th December – Closed

Monday 28^th December (Bank Holiday) – Closed

Tuesday 29^th December – 9:00am – 5pm

Wednesday 30^th December – 9:00am – 5pm

Thursday 31^st December – 9:00am – 5pm

During our opening hours, you can reach us on 01902 375 304 or alternatively, click here and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Once again, the team at ACE Computer Support wishes everyone the very best for Christmas 2015!

Don’t Buy a New PC or Laptop if ACE Computer Support can fix it!

In what some would say is a throw-away society, many people go out and buy a new PC or laptop when problems occur.

ACE Computer Support specialise in computer & laptop repair in the Wolverhampton, Telford & Bridgnorth areas.

We pride ourselves in our ability to fix any PC, Mac or laptop problem; we can help with anything from broken motherboards and hard drives to problematic keyboards, non-functioning power supplies and even smashed screens!

Our high-tech art workshop is based in Albrighton, where our trained engineers deal with every sort of computer issue for businesses and home users throughout Shropshire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands.

Desktop computer repairs

Let our skilled engineers troubleshoot your problems, replacing any faulty components and get you back up and running as soon as possible!

Laptop computer repairs

Again, our engineers can deal with broken screens, faulty power supplies and even non-functioning trackpads – in fact, we fix problems like this every day.

Whatever your laptop computer problem may be, give ACE Computer Support a call on 01902 375 304 before you rush out and buy a new one – we will save you time, hassle and money!

Could Parents’ lack of coding knowledge be damaging their children’s career prospects?

In a survey by campaign group Code.org, parents have been warned that their lack of computer knowledge could hinder their children’s future career prospects.

The report came from research of over 1000 parents, whereby it was revealed that more than two fifths of respondents didn’t know what coding meant and four out of parents could not code.

Code.org is calling for more participation in computer science education, and is hoping that up to 10 million people will take part in a 7 day initiative to help understanding of the subject.

Avid Larizadeh, spokeswoman for Code.org, said;

"Coding is now a key part of the UK curriculum but this is only half the challenge. We know how influential and important parents are to our kids' education and their career choices and we need them to be fully on board with coding too.

"Whether they become a vet or an engineer or fashion designer, coding and the digital world will be central to our kids' future and it's important that we encourage and help them to build up these skills in a fun and engaging way.

"If we don't, they will be in danger of missing out on the huge number of opportunities out there for them, and with digital skills set to add billions to the UK economy in the next few years, the price could be huge."

You can find out more at Code.org, including details of its “Hour of Code for every student” scheme and how to take the “Diversity Pledge” for its “Every student in every school should have the opportunity to learn computer science” campaign.

There are also child and adult-friendly coding games and exercises on the Code.org website, making it fun for everyone to join in.

What do you think about parents and their understanding of computer coding – is it crucial for the next generation’s career prospects? Or is it something that schools should undertake as their responsibility?

If you are a parent who can code, are you passing on your knowledge (or planning to) to your children? Or if you are a parent who can’t code, are you willing to learn new skills to help your youngsters?

Let us know your thoughts and join in the conversation at @ACEComputerSup!

10% Market Share Milestone for Windows 10

Microsoft’s latest operating system, Windows 10, is continuing to grow at a very steady pace, attracting more users with every passing day.

In fact, now, Windows 10 has reached the 10% Market Share mark, according to statistics from Microsoft. Even though its findings are in-house, third party sources reveal very similar findings.

For instance, StatCounter data shows that Windows 10 has reached 10% market share for the first time since its launch — this makes it the third most used OS (operating system) in the world.

In the last four months, Windows 10 has overtaken Windows XP and Mac OS X and is starting to move in on the gap with Windows 7, which is still the market leader of desktop OS’s around the globe.

This is all good news for Microssoft, given the Windows XP scenario that lies ahead of the 2020 support date end that is scheduled for Windows 7; the leading system has now dipped below the 50% market share mark for the first time.

What do you think about Windows 10? Have you installed it and if so, are you enjoying it? Are you hesitant and if so, why?  After four months, it certainly looks good so far!

Let us know your thoughts and experiences of Windows 10 @AceComputerSup - join the conversation!

In the meantime, if you have any software upgrade, hardware, networking or any other computer requirements in the West Midlands, Shropshire or Staffordshire areas then please contact us to see how we can help your business on 01902 375304 today!

Is your website Google friendly?

If you are throwing tons of money into pay per click advertising, and it is working for you, that’s great.

But it is possible to get your website to the front pages by clever design, content and behind-the-scenes words and phrases that are inputted for Google to recognise when trawling websites to decide how they rank. It may take some time and dedication, but it truly is possible.

Back in April, Google changed their search algorithm to focus on websites that were mobile friendly, tablet friendly & by indexing apps. Now, it’s just not good enough to have a website that looks good on desktop computers and laptops – your website has to look just as good (by Google’s strict guidelines) on all devices.

A lot of companies didn’t prepare awfully well for the change in algorithm and as a result, lost business. Google announced before the change that it would have a “significant impact” in mobile search results across the globe, following on from its mobile ranking demotion algorithm back in 2013.

If your company has suffered, this is probably because of a lack of knowledge about the changes or bad advice from your website design company.

The good news is that it’s not too late to fix it! ACE Computer Support offer a number of competitive website solutions to get your site up and running in a Google-Friendly, modern way.

We also offer social media ghost-writing services, blog and content packages, and we aim to optimise all websites and social media platforms in the most Google-Friendly way possible.

So, don’t get lost in the crowd or spend £1000’s on PPC advertising forever – get your website kick-started for 2016 with ACE!

Give us a call for an initial chat about your requirements on 01902 375304 or info@acecomputersupport.co.uk – every client has different requirements and this is what we understand totally. We are here to take the hassle out of website design, build and optimisation, all at a competitive cost! 

First major update for Microsoft Windows 10

Microsoft has released its first big update to Windows 10 since its launch in July.

Executive Vice President of the Windows and Devices Group, Terry Myerson, announced on the official Windows 10 blog last week that “Microsoft’s first major update to Windows 10 is now available for PCs and tablets.”

He said that the update will mean improvements in areas to include thousands of partners when updating their applications and device drivers for optimum Windows 10 compatibility. Windows 10 will also soon be rolled out to selected mobile phones and Xbox One in the near future.

Microsoft Cortana

The new Windows assistant now supports a stylus for handwriting – users will be able to use the Cortana notebook to take down notes and it will also recognise email addresses, addresses and phone numbers.

Microsoft Edge

The new Windows 10 browser that is available offers the user a tab preview as well as enhanced security and performance. It is now possible to hover over open tabs and preview the content. Microsoft Edge will also synchronise your Reading lists and Favourites across your PC, tablet, Laptop and any other devices that are running Windows 10.

Microsoft will enable companies and enterprises to migrate to Windows 10 for a unified experience across mobile, tablet, PC and Cloud.

Increased Microsoft Performance

The boot time in Windows 10 is a third faster than Windows 7 when running on the same system.

Microsoft Credential Guard

Windows 10 offers additional security with its Credential Guard, safeguarding credentials within a virtual hardware-based environment.

Device Guard uses Trusted Boot to stop hackers and intruders from installing malware; Windows Defender continues to offer a free of charge anti-malware service.

Should I change to Windows 10?

What are your experiences of Windows 10 – have you changed over? Have you got any worries about changing that are stopping you?

If you have made the change, what do you think? We would love to hear your feedback; why not let us know @AceComputerSup!

New Microsoft tools added to report spam Windows Store reviews

There are always plenty of reviews when you are browsing the Windows Store, but many of them are spam or irrelevant reviews that are distracting and do not add to the conversation. Microsoft has now decided to try and resolve this issue and make life easier for developers to report these problematic reviews.

WinBeta reported that developers can now report dubious reviews to the Windows Store support team. Any offending reviews can then be removed if they are in violation of store policies. There is also new anti-spam tech in place that will “detect and remove a large majority of the spam reviews.”

In addition, developers can now reply to reviewer’s comments directly, which is a feature that Microsoft added in 2014, WinBeta also noted.

If the two measures are implemented properly, it should make a huge difference when it comes to controlling Windows Store spam, meaning that reviews will be more useful for users who actually want to figure out whether an app is worth buying or downloading.

Keep up to date with all of the latest news by following ACE Computer Support on Twitter or follow us on Facebook!

In the meantime, remember that we are on hand to help with any computer or laptop problems that you may be experiencing, and are also the number one choice for homes and businesses in Shropshire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands for general IT support.

You can contact us on 01902 375 304 or via the website contact page!

ACE Computer Support 5 Point Customer Promise

At ACE, we understand that businesses need fully-functioning and efficient IT systems.

After all, they are the beating heart of most companies; poorly-managed computer problems can result in loss of time and ultimately, money.

Business Support Contracts

At the very core of what we do is customer commitment – as such, we have five simple promises to each and every client in Shropshire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands.

ACE Computer Support 5 Point Customer Promise

Clients receive:

1.       Unlimited access to our expert help desk

2.       Free of charge email, telephone & remote access support

3.       Discounted call-out rates for site visits

4.       A guaranteed four hour response time in the event of any problems

5.       Free of charge consultation and advice on hardware, software and any other IT issues

Whatever your IT requirements, if you are a small to medium size business in Shropshire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands, we are dedicated to ensuring that your business runs as smoothly as possible.

For more information, or for a free initial consultation please call 01902 375 304 today!

Is your business computer system safe from Hackers?

You may feel that your business data is secure – but is it really safe from hackers?

In the same week that a 15-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the TalkTalk hacking scandal, is may be wise to seek advice from ACE Computer Support to make sure that information stored on your company’s computer systems is as safe as possible.

Last week, the broadband and telephone services giant, TalkTalk, suffered a "significant and sustained cyber-attack", with bank details and personal information being potentially accessed.

With over four million customers in the UK, that’s a lot of information – Talk Talk said that it didn’t know how much customer information had been encrypted.

Business leaders have been calling for urgent action to tackle cyber-crime as a result of the TalkTalk incident; hacking is certainly something should be taken seriously as this recent debacle proves.

Backing up computer data is also crucial for every business, however large or small - the loss of vital systems and data can be fatal, sometimes even resulting in closure.

To find out more about ACE’s Computer Support’s Fully Automated Data Backup, or for a free of charge computer system and data security consultation, call ACE Computer Support today on 01902 375304!

Windows 10 Review

If you are being prompted to upgrade to Windows 10 and are unsure about whether to do so, it makes sense to understand the changes to the system and also to consider carefully whether the transformation will suit you.

Windows 10 is free of charge for most people and it offers plenty of new features. From our corner, we think that the new Start menu, new apps, Edge browser and Cortana make Windows 10 the best version to date.

In terms of features, Windows 10 is very much like a refreshed and improved Windows 7. It's tough, easy to use and don’t forget – it’s free.

Pros and Cons of Windows 10

Windows 10 Pros:

·         We love the useful Action Centre features

·         The Start menu is top-notch

·         The Universal apps are much better quality

·         The Settings app is a Control Panel replacement at last

·         Sorry to say it again, but it’s free to most!

Windows 10 Cons:

·         Some Windows 8.1 users will miss some of the elements

·         If you can’t upgrade for free, Windows 10 is expensive

·         There are questions as to whether developers will welcome the Universal apps

Should I upgrade to Windows 10?

Now that Microsoft has realised that people can choose other operating systems, it's allowing apps from other platforms to be easily ported to Windows.

Windows 10 is now not just operating system for PCs - it will also run on the ARM platform for smartphones and smaller tablets. Windows 10 is also planning to run on phones with a new version of the Windows Phone, although but it's not that clear if it will be branded as the 'Windows 10' phone at this stage.

Although many consider that Windows 10 is a finished product, Microsoft is committed ongoing development of the OS – who knows where this could take it!

As to the question of whether you should upgrade to Windows 10 well, of course, this is your choice, but do hope that we have helped you make that decision. Let us know your thoughts on Twitter @ACECompSup – we would love to hear your comments!

Home IT Support for Shropshire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands

It’s not just businesses that rely on computers – these days, individuals rely on their PCs to access the internet for many reasons.

Whether it’s the online shop, catching up with friends and staying in touch via social media, or for general research and internet shopping, it is very problematic when computers break down.

Many individuals also use their home computers for work purposes, meaning that PC problems can prove costly.

Home computer support

ACE Computer Support offers full a full range of computer support services for home users in Wolverhampton, Telford & Bridgnorth.

Our affordable service is also super-reliable, meaning that if you encounter any problems with your home computer, we are on hand to get you up and running in no time!

·         Software and Hardware problem-solving

·         Removing computer viruses

·         Setting up emails & troubleshooting problems

·         Setting up wireless networks

·         Computer data backup assistance

·         Laptop computer and PC repairs

·         Hardware installation and procurement

·         General computer training

Whatever your computer problem is at home, our skilled technicians are here to fix it and also provide advice.

Call 01902 375 304 today if you need our services – ACE Computer Support is ready to provide help whenever you may need it!

5 top tips for your business social media strategy

Social media isn’t going anywhere – it is how 1000s of people communicate and stay in touch with each other across the globe every day. This means that no business can afford to ignore it.

Yes, it may be time consuming but in the long run, it will pay dividends. And here are five reasons why:

Firstly, have a think about what your goals are before planning out your social media marketing strategy.

If your business has weaknesses, could social media help you strengthen them? And your business strengths could really shine through.

1. Be specific

Ensure that the area of business that you want to develop is precise – this will enable you to plan out what platforms will get the message across and to what audience.

2. Assign job roles     

                               

Don’t leave your strategy to chance! Make sure that someone is assigned to each role and sticks to your planned timetable of updates, shares and other activities.

3. Be Realistic

Think about your budget and time and be realistic about what you will achieve from your efforts. A lot of the time, social media is about branding and helping with your SEO – very often, paid advertising on certain platforms will gain business but in general, people don’t like to be ‘sold to’.

4. Add website content

Every website needs to be updated regularly with relevant, well-written content. This content can be shared across the social media channels to help draw traffic to your website. Make sure that all of your updates are good quality and consistent.

5. Monitor your performance

You need to be able to monitor your social media strategy progress.

Obviously, good social media management and planning is all about time – it will take a few months for you to start creating a community. When you do, your business should stand out from the crowd - if it is done properly, of course.

If you would like help with your social media management, ACE Computer Support can help – with an expert team and prices from just £50 + VAT per week including regular website content, we can take the planning and the worry away!

For more information or for a free of charge initial consultation, call us today on 01902 375304 or click here and we will get straight back to you!

Does your website do your company justice?

Nowadays, websites aren’t just an afterthought. After all, the first thing that people are likely to do when researching any sort of service provision or company is go straight to the internet.

We know that if a site is poorly designed, it is often likely that potential customers leave the landing page without even investigating further.

If your website is out of date, it doesn’t look good. If it is poorly optimised, they may not find you at all. And if your social media presence is non-existent, it is a sign that your business may not be keeping up with the times.

We also take into account that people are often viewing on devices like smartphones and tablets, so all of our sites are mobile-friendly.

Ace Computer Support provides a bespoke web design and development service for businesses – both small and large – across the West Midlands, Shropshire and Staffordshire. We take the pain and worry out of the design and optimisation, working closely with our clients to make sure that the end result gives the right impression when any prospective customer visits site.

Bespoke Web Design from ACE Computer Support

Whatever your requirements, our skilled team will create a website that delivers your message in the best way possible - every site we build is carefully designed to meet clients’ requirements.

Search Engine Optimisation from ACE Computer Support

We want your website to be found when people search! Search engine optimisation is crucial for getting your website noticed; we make sure that all of the sites we design are search engine friendly, with the right key words and phrases that are required by the customer.

Domain and Website Hosting from ACE Computer Support

If you are looking for a cost-effective and reliable hosting service, then look no further - Ace Computer Support can help. This also brings everything together for our clients and effectively means that everything is kept “under one roof” – and hassle free!

For more information, or for an initial free of charge consultation, call us on 01902 375 304!

Tweet us @ACEComputerSup or follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with all of the latest computer news and updates!

Ace Computer Support Data Backup

Ace Computer Support Data Backup

Ace Computer Support Data Backup 

What would you do if your business lost its data and vital systems? In some cases, this event could prove to be fatal, closing companies completely.

It doesn’t make sense to rely on inefficient - and human dependant - tape technology alone when it comes to the matter of protecting your data.

The Ace Computer Support Data Backup system is fully automated – it is a backup appliance that backs up to its own internal disk system before copying the backup offsite without any human intervention.

It can then restore at LAN speed straight from the local disk in the event of data loss.

Our daily backups are also encrypted and made to internal disks inside the Ace Computer Support appliance.

MSExchange and MSSQL servers are easily protected and Individual mailbox restore protection is also an option for MSExchange. Desktops and notebooks can also be protected, individually or as a whole.

Remote users are also able to securely backup to the appliance that can be restored either remotely or via head office; protected data is replicated automatically to a secure data silo.

Whatever your requirement, ACE Computer Support will keep your company’s data safe and secure – call 01902 375 304 today for your free on-site appraisal!

Tweet us @ACEComputerSup or follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with all of the latest computer news and updates!

Google’s New Look

Google has changed its logo just a few weeks after the company’s restructuring through their new parent company, Alphabet. Incidentally, Google’s new font is “Product Sans” – this is the same font as Alphabet’s.

You can take a look at the officical Google blog announcing the change by clicking here.

Of course, not everyone will like it, but that’s life and something every established business considers carefully before changing. Google wants its new logo and “identity family” to reflect the reality of Google and show users “when the Google magic is working for you, even on the tiniest screens”.

This is understandable given the fact that internet surfing is often carried out on small devices such as smartphones and tablets.

In their blog, Google stated that they had “taken the Google logo and branding, which were originally built for a single desktop browser page, and updated them for a world of seamless computing across an endless number of devices and different kinds of inputs (such as tap, type and talk).

“It doesn’t simply tell you that you’re using Google, but also shows you how Google is working for you. For example, new elements like a colorful Google mic help you identify and interact with Google whether you’re talking, tapping or typing. Meanwhile, we’re bidding adieu to the little blue “g” icon and replacing it with a four-color “G” that matches the logo.”

What do you think of Google’s new image? We would love to hear your comments – why not tweet us @ACEComputerSup or follow us on Facebook and join in the conversation!

Ace Computer Support IT Contract Client Testimonials

There are many reasons why SMEs in the Shropshire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands areas trust Ace Computer Support with their support contracts.

Our experienced team respond rapidly to any problems that may occur and make sure that any down-time is kept to an absolute minimum.

Ace Computer Support customers benefit from:

• Help desk support with unlimited access
• Free of charge email, telephone & remote access support
• Competitive, reduced call out rates when onsite visits are required
• Our unique, guaranteed four hour response time
• Free expert consultation and advice for all software, hardware and any other IT issues

But our testimonials speak for themselves; we pride ourselves in customer retention and referrals from satisfied customers.

Ace Computer Support IT Contract Client Testimonials

Just a few of these are listed below – but we do have lots more that can be viewed by clicking here.

Testimonial from Sue, at Turners Gates ltd:

“Excellent, friendly and reliable service. Always available to provide support. Advice is easy to understand and clearly given. Excellent communication and support network, thank you for all your help.”

Testimonial from S Hardy, at Adroit Utilities Ltd:

“Peter and his team always give 100% and ensure that any IT issues are dealt with effectively and my business can continue.”

Testimonial from Jon Phillips, at Hy-Ten Coseley:

“Great service with friendly and experienced support staff always helpful and patient when explaining things.”

Why not experience the difference today by calling 01902 375 304 for a free of charge initial site audit, which will be followed up with a no-obligation Ace IT support contract quotation based on your individual requirements.

You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter @AceComputerSup to keep in touch with the latest computer news.

How safe is your company’s data?

Following the news of a data breach by Thomson holidays, where personal details of 458 passengers were shared - including home addresses information, telephone numbers and flight dates - it is clear that taking your company’s data protection systems seriously is very important indeed.

After all, if large organisations can make mistakes, smaller businesses and SMEs that do not have fail-safe systems in place could find themselves in the same predicament.

An email that was seen by the BBC showed that the personal details of travellers across the country were shared on 15th August.

Although Thomson has apologised for its "genuine error", they have told customers that they will not be receiving any compensation.

Thomson stated:

"We are aware of an email that was sent in error, which shared a small number of customers' information. The error was identified very quickly and the email was recalled, which was successful in a significant number of cases.

"We would like to apologise to our customers involved and reassure them that we take data security very seriously. We are urgently investigating the matter to ensure this situation will not be repeated."

ACE Computer Support for businesses

At ACE Computer Support, we specialise in helping businesses in the West Midlands, Shropshire and Staffordshire areas make sure that systems are in place to help prevent errors that could ultimately end up with breach of confidential client data.

If you would like a free of charge on-site appraisal, call us today on 01902 375 304 orclick here to make an enquiry online. 

You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter @AceComputerSup to keep in touch with the latest computer news.

Broken Laptop, PC or Mac? We can help!

There is nothing more frustrating than when your computer doesn’t work – these days, companies and individuals rely on their PCs, Macs and laptops daily to conduct business, shop online, interact on social media and much more!

But don’t worry because help is at hand in your local area!

If you need competitive and speedy computer & laptop repair in Wolverhampton, Telford & Bridgnorth, help is at hand from the professionals!

Ace Computer Support will fix your faulty PC, Mac or laptop – any problems, from broken hard drives and motherboards to smashed computer screens, faulty keyboards or no power, can be dealt with quickly and efficiently.

Based in Albrighton, near Wolverhampton, our team of skilled engineers are experienced in fixing computers for home and business users in Shropshire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands.

Be confident that whatever problems you are facing with your computer, Ace Computer Support can put it right – we are able to troubleshoot and replace any faulty components and get you back on your computer in no time at all!

Contact us by clicking here or calling 01902 375 304 if you need help – you can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter @AceComputerSup to keep in touch with the latest computer news.

Google announces controversially named parent company Alphabet

Internet giant Google has announced its new holding company called Alphabet, with the company taking abc.xyz URL, but rather surprisingly, not the associated Twitter handles.

Google will form the main part of the company, but Alphabet will also include a number of other initiatives led by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who are the company's founders. Google shareholders will now become shareholders of Alphabet Inc. but the company will trade on Nasdaq under the old ticker symbols, GOOGL and GOOG.

Larry Page wrote in a blog post;

"Alphabet is mostly a collection of companies. The largest of which, of course, is Google. This newer Google is a bit slimmed down, with the companies that are pretty far afield of our main Internet products contained in Alphabet instead. What do we mean by far afield? Good examples are our health efforts: Life Sciences (that works on the glucose-sensing contact lens), and Calico (focused on longevity).”

Alphabet will be led by Page as CEO of Alphabet and Sundar Pichai will take over as CEO of Google. Pichai joined the corporation back in 2004 and has been involved in the development of Google projects and products including Gmail, Google Maps, Chrome and Chrome OS. He took over the role of Android head in March 2013 from Andy Rubin.

Page continued;

“Fundamentally, we believe this allows us more management scale, as we can run things independently that aren't very related. Alphabet is about businesses prospering through strong leaders and independence.

"In general, our model is to have a strong CEO who runs each business, with Sergey and me in service to them as needed. We will rigorously handle capital allocation and work to make sure each business is executing well. We'll also make sure we have a great CEO for each business, and we'll determine their compensation."

"Sergey and I are seriously in the business of starting new things. Alphabet will also include our X lab, which incubates new efforts like Wing, our drone delivery effort. We are also stoked about growing our investment arms, Ventures and Capital, as part of this new structure.

"We liked the name Alphabet because it means a collection of letters that represent language, one of humanity's most important innovations, and is the core of how we index with Google search!

"We also like that it means alpha-bet (Alpha is investment return above benchmark), which we strive for! I should add that we are not intending for this to be a big consumer brand with related products - the whole point is that Alphabet companies should have independence and develop their own brands."

However, the name Alphabet has caused quite a storm in the world of leasing, as BMW-owned leasing giant, Alphabet International, has announced a statement confirming that “the possibility of any trademark infringement is currently under review”.

We will keep you posted with all developments but in the meantime, if you would like any advice for your business regarding computer issues, or if you would like to arrange for a free site audit, call us on 01902 375304 or click here to contact us via our website!

Has your business got the right IT Support Contract?

For most businesses, having functioning, efficient computer systems is imperative to keeping operations running smoothly. When systems fail, even for a relatively short period of time, it can cause massive disruption and ultimately cost the business money.

Based in Albrighton, near Wolverhampton, Ace Computer Support offers a solution for SMEs who need a cost-effective IT support contract for their business; we cover Shropshire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands.

There are more than fifty businesses that already enjoy the benefits of our quality IT support; each contract is tailor-made to suit our clients’ requirements on a contract basis.

This means that customers have direct access to skilled engineers whenever they need it, saving them the worry and hassle of any potential computer issues.

ACE IT Support customers benefit from:

• Unlimited help desk assistance during business hours
• Free of charge email, remote access and telephone support
• Reduced rates for any onsite visits that may be required
• A 100% guaranteed four hour response time
• An initial free of charge consultation offering advice on all IT, hardware and software issues

Find out more about ACE Computer Support IT Contracts today

Initially, we offer a comprehensive and free of charge site audit of all network and IT equipment; we then provide you with a detailed recommendations report.

Due to the free initial site audit, this allows us to tailor-make each contract to suit our clients’ needs, meaning that we are always able to offer quick and responsive support if the need arises.

To find out more, or arrange for your free site audit, call us today on 01902 375304 or click here to contact us via our website!

Microsoft Windows 10 now launched

Windows 10, which is the biggest update Microsoft has ever made to its software, has now landed in the UK.

Computer users across the country stayed awake last night waiting for the new operating system as Microsoft staggered its release – pre-registered customers got access before new ones. 

Microsoft Windows 10 will work on every Windows device including:

·         Smartphones

·         Tablets

·         Desktop PCs

·         Microsoft Xbox One

Microsoft Windows 10 Start Menu and new web browser

Microsoft has launched Edge - its new web browser - replacing Internet Explorer, and Cortana, the voice assistant, will also make the move to desktop PCs for the first time.

The well-loved start menu has come back – this was removed in Windows 8 in a move that was not popular.

Microsoft Windows 10 for Desktop PCs

Millions of Microsoft 10 users can upgrade for free as Microsoft is making the update available at no extra cost to those already using Windows 7 or 8 – however, this offer will expire next year.

Anyone who is not eligible for the free of charge update will have to pay £99 for Windows 10 home version; this will go on sale at the end of the month.

Although there are around 1.5 billion Windows users worldwide, competition from Apple's OS X, and mobile device usage, has seen the rest of the market struggle.

Are you making the move to Windows 10? Let us know your thoughts – we know it can be rather daunting for some to consider changing operating systems.

We are here to help any company or individual with their computing needs so if you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch on 01902 375 304 or click here and we will get straight back to you!

Microsoft rolls out patch to secure Windows Server 2008, 2012, Windows Vista, 7 and 8

Microsoft has swiftly put out an out-of-band patch to secure a flaw exploited by Hacking Team, the hacked Italian surveillance software company.

The new out-of-band patch comes after a patch that was incorporated into its 14th July Patch, which patched an elevation of privilege flaw in Windows that Hacking Team had been using in order to help its customers propagate the company's malware.

This move is the latest zero-day security flaw to be uncovered by an analysis of the code that was released when Hacking Team was hacked just over a fortnight ago.

The Microsoft security bulletin explained;

"The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if a user opens a specially crafted document or visits an untrusted webpage that contains embedded OpenType fonts.”

The flaw is applicable to Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2012, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8.

Microsoft continued;

"When this security bulletin was issued, Microsoft had information to indicate that this vulnerability was public but did not have any information to indicate this vulnerability had been used to attack customers.

Tod Beardsley, a security engineering manager at security services company Rapid7, said;

"Today's out-of-band patch, MS15-078 addresses CVE-2015-2426, a bug in the OpenType Font Driver that can lead to remote code execution on effectively all Windows client systems. While this driver, atmfd.dll, handles the font rendering in some Adobe products, it's shipped and signed by Microsoft, and has been for quite a while.

"Because this exposure is in a font renderer, the most common attack scenarios involve an attacker luring a victim to a malicious or compromised website, or enticing a victim to open a malicious attachment.

"Since Microsoft has stated that they have no indication that this vulnerability was used to attack customers, it begs the question, why release an out-of-band patch in the first place? This is an unusual move for Microsoft.

"In any case, users are encouraged to update their Windows clients as soon as practical, and failing a patch and restart, disabling this font rendering service entirely by following the detailed instructions in Microsoft's article, MS15-078."

Microsoft classed the vulnerability as "critical" – which is its highest threat level - as it could be used to hijack a targeted PC.

Follow us on Twitter @ACEComputerSup or like us on Facebook to keep up to date with all of the latest computer news and remember that our experts are only a phone call away on 01902 375 304 if your business requires help with any of your computer needs!

Is Windows Server 2003 putting your business at risk?

If your business is still running Windows Server 2003, you could be putting your company at risk from hackers.

As there are now no longer any security patches being issued by Microsoft for the Windows Server 2003 operating system, hackers may well be looking to exploit any holes that may occur as a lack of security.

There are still around 11 million machines around the world are still running Windows Server 2003 - 400,000 UK businesses are also still using the now out of date Server 2003 operating system (OS).*

Without the security patches, zero-day attaches and regulatory compliance could become a problem for any Windows 2003 Server user. Where compliance is concerned, any business that accepts credit cards could find it in breach of PCI DSS 3.0.

Some businesses have opted to develop their own security tools to support their systems and carry on running Windows Server 2003 – the fees from Microsoft for a custom support contract are high.

If your business would like to discuss making the change from Windows Server 2003 to a more up-to-date and secure operating system, call ACE Computer Support today on 01902 375 304.

*Source with thanks: Application migration specialist Camwood.

Nearly three quarters of businesses set to install Windows 10 within 2 years

According to a report carried out by IT professional networking company, Spiceworks, 73% of North American and European companies are planning to upgrade to Windows 10 within the first two years of its launch.

The report states that from "over 500" IT professionals questioned, 35% intend to use Windows 10 within one year, 33% within one to two years, and 5% are planning to upgrade to Windows 10 on its actual day of release.

It is still unclear as to whether Microsoft's ‘free upgrade' service may be behind this strong and rather unusual corporate confidence in the new operating system, but it seems to be very good news for the company after some negative initial reactions over its announcement, whereby it was suggested that Microsoft may have announced it too early, being as some business had only just upgraded to Windows 8 or 8.1.

The research showed that laptops accounted for 85% of Windows 10 upgrades, but is that 83% per cent of businesses plan to place it on desktop machines.

50% of users intend to use Windows 10 on tablets, and 31% were interested in mobile phones for Windows 10; the latter demonstrates that Microsoft still have a long way to go to nail the mobile market.

64% of Windows 10 users are "most enticed" by the return of the Start button, and 55% are persuaded by the free upgrade from Windows 7 and 8, even if this is only for home use.

Windows 10 is released on 29 July 2015 – we will, of course keep you posted! Follow us on Twitter to keep up be the first to find out about all of the latest computer news @ACEComputerSup!