For the ShutterbugThese days, we have the technology that enables a complete novice to pick up a camera and take a passable picture. There?s plenty of gift options out there, whether the recipient prefers using a mobile device to take their shots, or is a camera-lugging hobbyist. For the smartphone ?togger, there?s accessories like a lens adapter, a selfie light or remote, while a camera-user might prefer receiving a basic point-and-shoot like the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V or Nikon D5500, or might prefer some accessory that provides quite a bit of use, like a tripod. Some photography fans might even like a portable backup and editing tool, like the GNARBOX. For the IoT DevoteeThe consumer market has become flooded with connected devices and other Internet of Things doodads. As a result, there are potential gifts for users of every level of experience with the IoT. For beginners, there are kits like the Philips Hue Starter Kit to introduce the idea of the IoT and what it can do. Digital assistants make a great gift for someone who wants to automate the world they live in. Some gifts to consider getting someone like this include the Amazon Echo, Echo Spot, and Echo Show, or the Google Home, Home Max and Home Mini. For the Media JunkieEntertainment has always been a driving force behind technological advancement, which means that there is always a new gadget to give someone who loves gaming, reading, or watching. The groundbreaking Nintendo Switch and Microsoft?s latest console, the Xbox One X make great gift options for a gamer, while someone who always has their nose in a book might appreciate the library they can carry in an e-reader like the Amazon Kindle Oasis. For those who you might plan to spend a little more on, there are always televisions like the Samsung 4K HD and the Sony A1E series OLED 4K. While these items might cost a little more, the smiles these gifts will bring will be worth the cost. What other gifts can you think of for a technology lover who has another particular interest? Have there been gifts that you have given that we haven?t mentioned but belong on these lists? Tell us in the comments!

Online Shopping at Work – By the numbers. 53 percent of employees are using time at work to shop online, an increase from last year. 49 percent of employees use their personal smart phones or tablets to shop at work, an increase from 42 percent last year. Here?s a few ideas that might help you address the issue of excessive use of the Internet for personal purposes: Develop a solid Internet and email policy that provides employees with clear expectations about the employer’s stance on personal time online at work. Follow through with enforcement of the policy when necessary. Train your managers and supervisors about how to establish and maintain the expectations and policies of your workplace. Train them to recognize when an employee might be abusing their Internet access at work. Designate times and/or durations that your team is allowed to use company Internet for personal purposes. Stress that those who don?t comply with designated time/duration will lose the privilege altogether. For those businesses that are looking for a more aggressive approach to handling Internet abuse, consider implementing a web content filter. Web filters give you access control, allowing you to decide which websites your team can access. Filter settings can be deployed company wide, as well as individually for specific user permissions. Since no two companies are alike, you may have to use trial and error to curb Internet abuse by your staff. Whatever you choose to do, White Mountain IT Services can help. We can design an Internet usage policy that works for your company, or implement content filtering or other solutions to keep your staff on-task and productive. Contact us today at (603) 889-0800

Brief is BetterWhat?s your knee-jerk reaction to a long email? Best-case scenario for the sender, you skim it briefly before moving on to the rest of your inbox. You have other things to do, after all, which probably include reading the rest of your emails. Your contacts are in the same position, so it is better to keep your emails concise and direct. Any extra information that doesn?t serve the email?s purpose can be chopped. If an email is too long for you to read, it will be too long for the recipient to read as well. Write a Persuasive Subject LineYour subject line is your first, and only, opportunity to convince the recipient of your message that it is worth their time to read. You want to introduce the topic of your email in such a way that grabs the attention of the reader and encourages them to open the email and at least see what is inside. Give them a reason to open the email, not fluff. Personalization can HelpIf your email messages read like they could be sent to anyone, from any company, you need to revisit them. Each email that is sent out should look like the time was spent to create a genuine message, which means that you need to take the time to create that genuine message. You should always identify yourself and your company, especially when communicating with vendors, new clients, and prospects. Check Your SpellingIf you want to immediately discredit everything you have to say in your email, try misspelling a word or using improper grammar. These embarrassing and reputation-harming mistakes are easy enough to avoid by proofreading any message that is about to go out before clicking the Send button. Furthermore, don?t write anything that may be conveyed as unprofessional, like a sentence with Caps Lock activated. Business Messages Should be ProfessionalWe?re not saying that you shouldn?t share the occasional meme or joke with your organization, we?re saying that some ground rules need to be established. Provide your employees with an outlet that they can use to share these kinds of casual messages, so that their business inboxes aren?t filled with clutter that distracts them from their work. Otherwise, your email could start to contribute to a lack of productivity and focus. For more information on possible business communication solutions, including email, give White Mountain IT Services a call at (603) 889-0800.

When we say convenience, we are referring to the ability for a business? workforce to access the means of accomplishing their tasks from anywhere, not tied to their office workstation. We?ve assembled some solutions below that we anticipate more businesses will adopt in order to increase their capacity for remote work, and consequently improving their possible productivity. Cloud ServicesIf a company is utilizing remote technology, it is a safe bet that they are utilizing a cloud platform to enable their workers? remote access. Cloud platforms are web-based solutions that allow a user to securely access an online storage space and other utility programs that enable them to collaborate with their fellow workers. Using a cloud platform means that work can be done from anywhere that an employee can establish a secure Internet connection, while the files that this work requires are stored in a protected space. This maintains the security that modern businesses require while allowing productivity to take place. Video ConferencingHow does one hold a meeting when the people who all need to attend are spread across the country–or even the globe–when the meeting is scheduled to take place? Video conferencing provides the answer. Not only does this solution allow a spread-out team to work as though they are in the same room, it pushes them to collaborate. No matter the distance between resources, they can all contribute to a goal without the need to assemble and pay exorbitant travel costs. This is especially handy when one only needs someone to sign off on things from across the country, but that person needs to see some evidence first. TeleconferencingThis is one of the most basic, but most useful, methods of quick collaboration available. Without the ability to call up another resource and exchange critical information in a real-time conversation, progress would slow to a crawl. While email is an excellent collaboration tool, both resources have to be faithfully opening messages as they come in, which just isn?t realistic in modern business. Alternatively, meetings could take place in person, but as we established earlier, this isn?t a realistic method either, especially if your business plans to remain competitive. Telecommunications systems, including VoIP solutions, enable communications to continue despite physical distance, a proven utility in modern business procedures. In short, a business that passes up on these tools is allowing the opportunity to improve their business communications to go by. This is why we expect that most businesses will take the steps to adopt these solutions, assuming they haven?t already. What technologies do you expect that businesses will increase their use of in the coming year? Tell us what they are and why they?ll shape your office environment in the comments section!

It starts by being cognizant of how mobile technology has affected the way that we work. Since mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops now allow us to access important applications on the go, there is more emphasis placed on mobility than ever before. Being able to access and accomplish work from outside the office presents all sorts of possibilities, including the ability to go on a business trip without falling behind on your other tasks. It?s easy to see the benefit of mobile technology, but is mobile really advantageous for the average worker? There are various risks that come from mobile technology–specifically regarding work/life balance. According to an Accenture survey, 70% of respondents claim that work tends to invade their home life through technology, whether they like it or not. How can the modern business take advantage of the benefits that mobile technology brings, while respecting the sanctity of their employees? work/life balance? We?ll walk you through two of the basics. Ditch the ?Always On? FunctionalityTechnology can be a problematic factor as it has a tendency to increase worker stress levels. This comes from the fact that, if you?re using technology to always be available, even during your off-hours, you are probably pushing yourself harder than you need to. Both the employee and the employer have a responsibility to ensure that availability doesn?t come at the cost of your own sanity. Coordination with Other Teammates or DepartmentsDepending on your workforce, there might not always be a requirement that you be the one to address an issue. Perhaps someone else who is in the office (and NOT on vacation) could handle it for you. If you have to be out of the office for any particular reason, it?s best to have a backup plan to handle any mission-critical responsibilities. The point stands that mobile technology might make work easier to access, and provides the flexibility that the modern business cherishes, but just because something is accessible, doesn?t mean you have to be the one who access it. Separating life from work is important for every person, regardless of what they do. At White Mountain IT Services we can help your organization take full advantage of mobile devices, but it?s on you to have a strategy to keep your workers happy and productive. To learn more about how to utilize mobile technology for your business, call us today at (603) 889-0800.