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Month: November 2017

5 Reasons You Should Buy the New Kindle

Posted on by ARRC Technology

Back in its debut in 2007, Amazon’s first Kindle was revolutionary. It gave bookworms the ease of having hundreds of books at their fingertips, and encouraged non-readers to finally get into the magical world of reading without having to actually shop for physical books. All at once, libraries were reduced to a 6-inch grayscale e-ink display, and the world was fascinated.

Fast forward to 2017, and it’s the Kindle’s 10th anniversary. We haven’t really seen much difference in the past versions besides the streamlining of the display and touchscreen integration, but for its tenth birthday, Amazon has pulled out all the stops for its beloved Kindle.

With the holiday season coming up, here are our five top reasons why you should purchase the new Kindle, either for yourself or for a loved one.

  1. It’s waterproof.

Yes, you read that correctly. The new Kindle Oasis boasts IPX8, which means it can handle pools, bathtubs, hot tubs, oceans, and just about any other water feature you can imagine. Now you can read your Kindle while relaxing in a bubble bath, or take it to the pool and not worry about the kids splashing nearby. We don’t recommend reading it in the shower though, not because it would do the Kindle Oasis any harm, but because you’ll get all pruney and go through hundreds of gallons of water while you’re lost in your book. Just saying.

  1. It plays Audible audiobooks.

For some, listening to books being read to them is more enjoyable than reading. Or sometimes, because our attention is needed elsewhere, we don’t have the luxury of reading traditionally. Many Kindle fans have been requesting an audiobook feature so they could keep all their forms of books on one device. If you’ve ever used the Kindle app on your smartphone, you have a rough sense of how the Audible experience works. Unfortunately, there’s no headphone jack on the Oasis, so Bluetooth headphones or speakers are your only options. Which, let’s be honest, we all have these days anyway. If not, check out these incredibly affordable Bluetooth earbuds.

  1. It has a 7-inch screen.

Amazon has boosted up the screen from a 6-inch display to a 7-inch display, and used that extra space to add some extra battery as well. There’s a faster processor and more storage, too. Now you can up the font size and not worry about running out of screen space, or you can shrink it down and get a lot more words on the page. It all depends on your reading comfort, of course. That extra inch allows for more freedom, and we’re happy about it.

  1. The use of e-ink and e-paper.

These aren’t new features to hit the Kindle, they’ve actually been some of the best selling points from the start. E-ink is a paper-like display technology, characterized by high visibility and contrast. It has a wide viewing angle and low power requirements. Used with the Kindle’s e-paper display, e-ink reduces eye strain and can be read in direct sunlight without a glare. E-ink and e-paper used together mimic a real book that has real ink on real paper. Bookworm holdouts that can’t stand the idea of reading on an electronic device should try the Kindle Oasis. They will be pleasantly surprised.

  1. Price point

The new Kindle Oasis costs $250 for 8 gigabites of storage, which should be plenty for all but the most hardcore audiobook and book lovers. If you plan to read constantly until the day you die, the 32 gigabite model runs $280. We recommend utilizing the cloud features so you don’t have to store all your books and audiobooks on the device itself, but if you plan to move to a remote mountain town with no internet ever again, load up that 32-gigabite model and be happy.

If these five reasons didn’t sway you, we fear nothing will. The Kindle has replicated the joys of reading a real book as closely as possible, with e-ink and e-paper, and allowed access to millions of titles at the touch of a finger. Many public libraries also have a lot of their titles available to borrow in Kindle format, so you’ll never be without a good book in the tub.

Red Flag Warnings of Identity Theft

Posted on by ARRC Technology

Everyone is probably tired of hearing about Equifax at this point, but the silver lining to the insane media coverage is bringing awareness to the general public about the consequences of lax cybersecurity. Once personal information has been leaked into the hands of a cybercriminal, it’s easy for them to steal your identity and from there, the possibilities are endless. Harming your credit score, gaining access to your financial institutions, and having open access to your friends and family are just a few of the things a criminal could use your stolen identity for.

Staying vigilant about identity theft is a crucial part of keeping your information safe and secure. Some of these red flags sound like common sense, but you’d be surprised at how many people brush off incidents that should prompt immediate action.

Here are some of the most common red flag warnings of identity theft from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC):

  • You see withdrawals from your bank account that you can’t explain.
  • You don’t get your bills or other mail.
  • Merchants refuse your checks.
  • Debt collectors call you about debts that aren’t yours.
  • You find unfamiliar accounts or charges on your credit report.
  • Medical providers bill you for services you didn’t use.
  • Your health plan rejects your legitimate medical claim because the records show you’ve reached your benefits limit.
  • A health plan won’t cover you because your medical records show a condition you don’t have.
  • The IRS notifies you that more than one tax return was filed in your name, or that you have income from an employer you don’t work for.

A good first step is to create an account on the Social Security Administration website before anyone else does. This way, you can at least check your Social Security earnings to see if anything looks off. You’ll need to have some information on hand, as the site will ask you about specific accounts you have open to verify your identity, and if you provide a wrong answer, you’ll be locked out for 24 hours. Caveat: if you’ve already placed a fraud alert or security freeze on your credit report(s), you won’t be able to do this online and you’ll have to either remove the freeze or go into your local Social Security office.

Also, the FTC suggests filing your taxes as early as you can before a potential scammer can. Tax identity theft happens when someone uses your Social Security number to get a tax refund or a job. And always respond right away to letters from the Income Revenue Service (IRS).

If reading through the red flags, you now suspect someone is using your identity to open lines of credit, apply for jobs, or other activities, file an Identity Theft Affidavit and create an Identity Theft Report with the FTC. You can file this online or by phone or mail:

  • 1-877-ID THEFT (877-438-4338)
  • TDD (toll-free): 1-866-653-4261
  • 600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington DC 20580

Remember, the best defense when it comes to identity theft is to stay aware of all your accounts and to take action immediately if something seems off.

6 Personal Assistant Apps That Make Life Simple

Posted on by ARRC Technology

Siri may be just a phrase away, but you need a reliable application when it comes to your busy schedule and everyday to-do list. Stay organized every hour of the day with an assistant that lives on your smart device, keeping you virtually prepared for whatever the day throws at you. Below are six of the most raved-about personal assistant apps.

Google Now

Before your day even begins, know the weather forecast, the traffic conditions on your commute, new Spotify playlists you’ll love, the calories you need to burn from yesterday’s late-night snack, breaking news and the groceries that need to be ordered. Google Now collects data from your favorite apps and puts them on cards that can be arranged based on relevancy and importance. Keep track of your entire life on one screen, and let Google do the organizing.

Wunderlist

Wunderlist is the ultimate checklist app—where you can set reminders, share lists for team collaboration and set due dates. Folders and hashtags allow for easy organization of all your to-dos, and commenting abilities mean less questions and more doing. Don’t let a long to-do list overwhelm you ever again.

Quip

A list app that fosters collaboration, Quip combines creation with communication to get even the most difficult tasks done. Create checklists and chats that your entire team can access, eliminating the back-and-forth emails and multiple documents. Edit documents within the app and chat about specific parts of the document to ensure everyone’s on the same page. Miscommunication will be just a thing of the past with Quip.

Speaktoit

Literally a virtual assistant, Speaktoit will perform tasks, answer questions, send you notifications and more using its own API language that makes communicating to it efficient and fun. Speaktoit remembers your favorites, understands your voice, and can be customized to respond a certain way. It’s Siri on steroids, and it will change the way you get through your day.

24me

24me unites your online life by bringing together your calendar, lists, banks, social networks and more. It puts everything in one organized place so you always know what, when, where and how much life has in store for you each day. Send emails, purchase gifts, pay bills and more from one app, so you can spend time doing what you enjoy.

EasilyDo

Beyond the usual email and calendar organization, EasilyDo is like a personal concierge. Automatically track shipments, get local reservations and recommendations when you travel, organize purchased tickets for events, save email attachments in one place, view your social media accounts in one feed, and more. It’s like an app for VIPs only, and you’re always on the list.

Regardless of which app you chose to manage your busy personal and professional life, make sure you have some downtime as well. Nothing makes a completed to-do list less effective than the start of a new one. Reward yourself with some time off and take some time to smell the roses.

Benefits of Keeping Security-Savvy Staff Around

Posted on by ARRC Technology

While security systems play a large part in keeping your data safe from cybercriminals, your people are equally responsible when it comes to proper online procedures. Programs work to keep attackers out, but your staff has the power to let someone in. This is why a security-savvy staff is crucial when it comes to protecting your business. Here are tips on who these knowledgeable people are, how to get them on your team and what they bring to the table.

The Who

Security-savvy employees not only stay informed on the latest security breaches within other organizations, but they also understand the impact that data loss can have within their own company. They attend training sessions voluntarily, they focus on security reminders, they use safe cyber-practices, and they have good cyber-habits.

What are some good cyber-habits? Having strong passwords and refraining from using company documents on personal devices are some examples. These valuable staff members know the different types of malware, or at least the basics of malware, and they don’t put the full responsibility of cybersecurity on the IT department. If your business is a sports team, your employees are your players. You’re only as good as they are.

The How

These savvy employees might seem too good to be true, but they’re out there. And they might even already be on your payroll. Incorporating security into your current company culture by educating, training, and updating your staff can grow security experts from within. Your staff plays an active role on a daily basis just by being connected to your network and emailing outside sources. The true success of your company’s cybersecurity starts with them.

Make training fun and not a long, drawn-out prison sentence. Studies have shown a lot of the reason why adults say they don’t like to read is because they were forced to for years in school. The moment they had any freedom, they never picked up another book. It wasn’t because they didn’t actually enjoy reading, it was because they were relieved to be free of the requirement. So make sure the trainings aren’t force-fed to your employees or else they may just be lax on purpose.

The Benefits

While it’s seemingly impossible to completely prevent an attack, strength comes from within. Your people are the core of your organization. If they don’t adopt your cybersecurity processes, then any systems you have set up won’t be as effective as they should be. Making sure your staff knows they play a central role will motivate them to stay informed of why and how they can better the security of the company. When employees take ownership of their cyber-responsibility, the business as a whole will strengthen. And if you’re a business owner, you can rest easy at night knowing your team is all on the same page when it comes to protecting your valuable data.