Newsletter 2014.08

 
 
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Welcome to the METHOD IT Newsletter for August 2014

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

ALS is a disease which affects the motor nerves or neurones in the brain and spinal cord, which pass messages to the muscles telling them what to do. Individuals with the disorder may ultimately lose the ability to initiate and control all voluntary movement.

ALS charities have received some much needed publicity and incredible donations thanks to the Ice Bucket Challenge that’s sweeping across social media this summer. So when the gauntlet was thrown down to METHOD IT, how could we refuse…

Tips & Tricks

IE Support to End for Old Versions

The stalwart of enterprise web browsing, Microsoft Internet Explorer, is due a major change to its official support policy. As of January 2016 Microsoft will only release updates for the latest version.
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Major USB Security Flaw Discovered

A presentation at the recent Black Hat USA conference detailed a flaw found in USB devices that could see any thumb-drive reprogrammed to infect PCs.
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11 Things You Should Know About the Cloud

A snapshot of revealing stats taken from the latest surveys on business cloud computing.
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Polish your Presentation Slides

Great tips from a TED designer on 10 ways to improve your PowerPoint and Keynote slides.
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News from the Web

Beware of Rogue BYOD

A recent survey shows that even if the IT department formally says ‘no’ to BYOD and BYOA, staff are going to use their own device and choice of apps to get their work done anyway. Security headaches are just waiting to happen.

iPhone 6 Arrival Imminent

It’s that bi-annual time again – the next major revision of the iPhone looks set to be revealed on September 9 and the rumor mill is running hot. Two models with larger screens (4.7 and 5.5 inches) seem almost certain. Catch up with all the iPhone 6 gossip over at MacRumors.

Windows 9 Unveiling

September 30 marks the public debut of Windows ‘Threshold’, the codename for the successor to Windows 8. Microsoft is holding a special press event to showcase new features in an early technology preview release of the OS for developers.

Google Search to Favor Secure Sites

Google announced in a blog post this month that websites using HTTPS would be granted higher ranking in search results on the merit of their improved security for the end-user.

Reversible USB Design Finalized

Putting an end to cable-related stress and years of cursing, The USB 3.0 Promoter Group just revealed the design of the next-generation USB Type-C connector that can be plugged in either way round and has transfer speeds of up to 10Gbps.

Incredible Levitating Speaker

We’re loving this prototype for a Bluetooth speaker that floats and spins above its base when in use. The disco ball option is kind of funky too. With an onboard mic this is perfect for conference calls and would look great on a meeting room table!

Cats Could Hack Your Home Wi-Fi

Presenting the domestic feline as stealth tech weapon! WarKitteh is an ingenious smart collar that scans for vulnerable wireless networks while the cat goes for a stroll around the neighborhood.