Tip of the Week Archives

Get Botox Without the Injections! Elevating Video Call Appearance with Microsoft Teams

High-definition cameras in video calls can be a double-edged sword. While they capture every detail, sometimes they can be a bit too revealing, especially during professional meetings. Microsoft Teams has introduced two new features to address this: Adjust Brightness and Soft Focus. Let’s explore how these settings can enhance your appearance in a video call.

Navigating to New Features in Teams Video Call

You can find these new features in your Device settings. Simply scroll to the bottom, and you’ll see options for Adjust Brightness and Soft Focus. Here’s a quick guide on how each setting can transform your video call experience:

Adjust Brightness: Initially, with this setting turned off, your video feed might look standard, potentially shadowy in low-light conditions. However, once you activate the Adjust Brightness feature, you’ll notice a significant improvement. This setting subtly enhances the lighting on your face, particularly useful in darker environments. The effect is a more balanced and brighter appearance, as shown in our demonstration images.
Soft Focus: The Soft Focus feature is especially handy for softening facial details. When turned on and set to maximum, this feature gently blurs facial imperfections and lines. The result isn’t overly dramatic but provides a subtle enhancement, smoothing out areas like under-eye bags or minor wrinkles. This comparison with the previous image illustrates the softening effect of the Soft Focus feature.

A Balance of Clarity and Comfort

These settings in Microsoft Teams strike a balance between high-definition clarity and the comfort of not having every facial detail in the spotlight. Whether you’re in a dimly lit room or just want a more forgiving video appearance, these features can be easily adjusted to suit your needs.

At WheelHouse IT, we believe in leveraging technology to not only enhance productivity but also to boost confidence and professionalism in a virtual environment. Stay tuned to our blog for more insights and tips on making the most out of Microsoft Teams and other technology solutions.

Tip of the Week: Setting Up Your Startup Page in Google Chrome

a person holding a cell phone in front of a laptop

When you are trying to be productive, the last thing you want to have to do is think about how to get started. This is where setting up your Startup page in Google Chrome can come in real handy. Continue reading to learn how to set up Your Startup page. It is essential to know that this is a step-by-step process with Google Chrome as the Internet browser. It will be different if using another browser such as Internet Explorer or Safari.

How to Set Up Your Startup Page in Google Chrome

For those of you that do not know, the Startup Page is the one that your browser automatically defaults to whenever you open a new tab. To set it up, you first have to open up your browser settings. To do this, click on the three-dot icon in the top right corner of your browser. Then, you will select the option for Settings.

A new tab will open. On the left side of your screen, you will find the option for On Startup in the left column. Once you click on it, there are three options to choose from. These include:

Open the New Tab page
Continue where you left off
Open a specific page or set of pages

If you select, “Open the New Tab page,” will open your Startup Page in a new tab on the browser. “Continue where you left off” will do exactly that, continue the same page that you were last browsing on. “Open a specific page or set of pages” will allow you to choose the page, or pages, you prefer as your Startup Page.

If you decide to choose the last option, “Open a specific page or set of pages,” you can set your browser to open up anything from your email to your company’s website. Or perhaps your favorite newspage.

To learn more about what we, at WheelHouse IT, can do for you, contact us today at 954.474.2204.

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Tip of the Week: How to Turn Off the Focused Inbox

an open laptop computer sitting on top of a table

If you are an avid Microsoft Outlook user, you might have noticed that the majority of your important messages get grouped together in an inbox folder titled “Focused”. You might also be aware that other email messages are directed to another inbox folder titled “Other”. While some users find this helpful and more efficient, others may want to disable this feature and use Microsoft Outlook the previous way. This article explains in detail how to turn off the Focused inbox.

How to Turn Off Microsoft Outlook’s Focused Inbox

There are different instructions to disable this feature, depending on the version of Microsoft Outlook that you have. Continue reading to find the step-by-step directions for each version that is available.

Outlook Apps for iOS and Android

Launch Outlook on your mobile device.
Go to the Settings tab in Outlook for iOS or tap the Settings gear icon in Outlook for Android.
Under “Mail” you can turn off Focused Inbox.
Your inbox will begin to include all messages from all senders sorted by date.

Outlook 2016

On the top toolbar, select the View tab.
Un-select Show Focused Inbox.
You will see the Focused and Other tabs disappear from the top of your mailbox.

Note: if you don’t see the Show Focused Inbox icon, your version of Outlook might not have this feature. You can check for any updates by selecting File > Office Account > Update Options > Update Now.

Outlook on the web

At the top of the page, select Settings .
In the Settings pane, toggle the Focused Inbox to off

If the instructions above do not match what you are seeing on your computer, you may be using an older version of Outlook. Continue reading to find the Classic Outlook settings which might work for you.

Classic Outlook on the web

Select Settings > Display settings > Focused Inbox.
Under the option: When email is received, select Don’t sort messages
Click OK.

Outlook.com

At the top of the page, select Settings .
In Quick settings, toggle the Focused Inbox to off.

Outlook 2016 for Mac

Launch the Microsoft Outlook application on your desktop.
On the Organize tab, un-select Focused inbox.
The Focused and Other tabs will disappear from the top of your mailbox.

Note: if you don’t see the Focused Inbox icon, your version of Outlook might not have this feature. You can check for any updates by selecting Help > Check For Updates.

Still need assistance?

For any additional help, contact your IT support. If you or your organization is in need of a professional IT team, WheelHouse IT can help. Contact us today at 954.474.2204.

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Tip of the Week: Secure Your Business’ Credit Card Transactions

a credit card is plugged into a computer keyboard

As business owners, we often focus on credit card security for our customers and clients first and foremost. However, it should be equally as important to protect the business credit card that is used to make purchases for the company. Here are some tips and tricks to keep this incredibly important asset safe and secure.

Encrypt Everything

Business credit card encryption is an essential practice in protecting your credit card information from hackers and thieves. What is credit card encryption and how do you put it into practice?

Credit card encryption reduces the likelihood of your card information being stolen by making it impossible to access the information on the card without the corresponding encryption key. Card issuers often have some form of encryption in place, so it’s important to make sure that your credit card does to ensure company card protection.

The first of these encryption methods is the magnetic stripe on the back of your business credit card. This is a less secure method when relied on alone. Other forms of encryption are PIN and chip cards, and smart electronic chip cards. Both of which make it much more difficult for information to be accessed by anyone without authorization.

Be sure to use credit card swipe alternatives whenever possible like chip insertion, tap-to-pay, or mobile wallets. Also, when using your card online, make sure that there HTTPS appears in the URL, as this means the site is secure.

Remain Vigilant

There are countless methods that hackers can use to steal your business’s credit card info, so it’s important to be educated on them and always use caution when giving out information. Cybercriminals often conduct phishing scams, where they pose as a vendor and attempt to confirm that they have your correct payment information on file.

Another common scam is credit card skimming. This is where an existing card reader, like at an ATM or gas pump, is used to steal information. Keep an eye out for these tactics and don’t conduct transactions where something looks or feels off. Your intuition is often correct in these situations!

Put Restrictions in Place for your Team

There should be a limit placed on the people who have access to your organization’s credit card to ensure company card protection. You should also place a reasonable cap on the card balance, which can help greatly in reducing the amount of damage that could be done if the information were to be stolen.

How to Deal with Fraud if it Happens

While preventative measures are a must, all the security in the world can sometimes still not fight off fraud. So, it’s important to know how to deal with it before it actually happens.

If credit card fraud occurs, the first step is always to report the issue to your card company and shut off the card so the scammer cannot use it any more than they already have. Once you have done this, file a local police report and contact the federal trade commission to submit a complaint.

Every Element of Your Business Needs to Be Secure

There are countless variables to take into consideration when it comes to your business’s credit card security. We can enhance your defense system with our comprehensive security solutions. To learn more, reach out to us at 954.474.2204.

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Tip of the Week: How to Keep Your Computer Maintained

The modern computer is an absolute marvel, so it only makes sense that they come with an equally extravagant price tag. Understandably, when making this kind of investment – whether for personal or business use – you’d want it to last as long as possible. For this week’s tip, we clue you in on five valuable pieces of information you can do to protect your computer from wear and tear, extending its lifespan and functionality.

Keep your hardware and software up to date

Would you believe some people can use the same general hardware for almost a decade before replacing it? By keeping everything updated, you could too! Most people using older hardware have upgraded away from the old hard disk drive (HDD) to a solid-state drive (SSD) and upgraded the RAM.

Also, as much as you hate to hear it, you should never ignore those software update notifications. Keeping your hardware and software as up-to-date as possible allows for smoother program performance and less strain on the components of your system.

Clean your hardware regularly

You need to be cleaning your computer inside and out. Even though laptop computers are standard nowadays and we tend to take them for granted, they’re still machines with very intricate parts. These computers demand a clean environment to work optimally. So, be sure to perform regular computer cleaning. Keep dust out of the fan and crevices, and never have spillable drinks near your keyboard!

You may be thinking: “Ok, but how do you clean the inside of your computer?” Regular file maintenance. Users with a high percentage of their local storage used up will undoubtedly find their computers get sluggish.

Protect your computer

Because most laptops today are durable and won’t crack open at the first fall, people overlook protecting their computer’s physical well-being. But did you know that even if you don’t notice any exterior damage on the computer, frequent rough treatment can cause it to break down over time? So, our third user tip is to be sure to buy a padded carrying bag, hard shell laptop case, and have it plugged into a surge protector.

Run your antivirus scan frequently

Viruses are a common reason that computers crash. So, a critical user tip is to run your virus scan frequently. You can even set it to run automatically when away from your device. A high-quality antivirus tool can help you avoid the millions of issues that computers can encounter from potential malware. Businesses should have a centralized antivirus that protects every device on the network to ensure software and information security.

Please don’t treat it like a light switch.

Your computer isn’t a light switch. You do not have to turn it off every time you’re done using it. This changes the temperatures inside, which in turn adds stress to the components of the computer. Limiting the stress on the system by allowing your computer to run while not using it can prevent you from needing to invest in new hardware prematurely.

These tips may seem simple, but you’d be shocked how far they can go in protecting your computer. At WheelHouse IT, we keep businesses’ IT running smoothly and help implement practices just like these. Give us a call at 954-474-2204 to talk to one of our consultants about your company’s IT support needs.

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