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The first thing you want to do is find any shortcut on your desktop. By shortcut, we are referring to any icon on your screen that opens up a program, such as Microsoft Word or your Internet browser. Once you?ve found the icon, go ahead and right-click it. Scroll down to the bottom of the dropdown that appears and click on Properties. This opens up the Properties window, which will be–by default–on the Shortcut tab. Next, look for the Run dropdown menu. It will be a few selections down from the top of the Shortcut tab. You?ll notice that it is set to Normal Window, but when you click the down arrow, you?ll be given the choice of Normal Window, Minimized, or Maximized. If you click on Maximized, any time you open this program in the future, it will be in full screen mode by default. Go ahead and click Apply, then close the window. If you want, go ahead and give it a shot to see it work like magic before your eyes. It might not seem like it will save you a lot of time, but it will certainly be convenient. It?s a classic example of how spending a few moments to optimize something can make things easier. For more ways to take full advantage of your business?s technology assets and optimize your workflow, subscribe to White Mountain IT Services?s blog.

Developed by MSU Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Nelson Sepulveda and his team, these devices can generate power as they are bent and folded. The devices are called biocompatible ferroelectret nanogenerators, or FENG for short. Power is generated by the device?s many layers as energy is introduced via other sources, such as the user?s motion. This could potentially lead to the ability to charge a device by simply moving around with FENG technology. Furthermore, there are potential security applications to this new tech. Since FENG material is so sensitive, it can be used as a microphone that would make it practically impossible to trick a voice-recognition system. On the other side of the coin, FENG can also be used as a speaker. It?s also very possible that FENG technology will help lead to the discoveries that allow us to use more efficient devices, for longer. This could potentially allow business to be done for longer in the day, without fear of losing precious charge. What do you think? Do you see FENG becoming the status quo anytime soon? Let us know in the comments!

Public cloud services are usually sold by two sources. There are some provided by very large and well-known technology companies, like Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, and Dropbox. On the other hand, there are managed service providers that offer a hosted cloud solution. How do you choose between the two? You can compare this situation to purchasing products from a big box retail store. While the products might be great for a number of reasons, including convenience and price, it?s unlikely that you will get the same in-depth analysis or treatment that you would get if you went through a specialized retailer. Therefore, when you go through ?big box? cloud providers, you?ll likely receive a passable product, but not one that?s specialized to fit your company?s unique needs. Plus, since these larger cloud providers are designed to target the lowest common denominator, it?s likely that they will focus on providing similar service to a large audience, rather than focusing their efforts on catering to your business?s specific needs. Basically, this is the exact opposite of what a managed service provider offers your organization. A cloud service offered by a managed service provider is a much more personalized. At its most base level, the relationship between your business and a managed service provider is more personal and close-knit, allowing the MSP to deliver a solution that?s designed specifically for your organization. Furthermore, the MSP will be your go-to source for support of your cloud service, so you?ll never have to worry about being put on hold for hours on end. Instead, you have a familiar voice on the other end of the telephone who is willing to help you with any of your troubles. Furthermore, we will help you get the most out of your service level agreement so that your budget doesn?t suffer from unclear expectations or otherwise. Cloud computing is one aspect of your business technology infrastructure that you need to ensure is handled properly. To make the right choice for your cloud service provider, reach out to White Mountain IT Services at (603) 889-0800.

Also, if you’ve not cleaned out your PC recently, then you may be surprised to find that it’s accumulated a significant amount of dust. All of this dust can build up on the fans and other components, causing the fans to work harder and create more noise. If you’ve got a dirty computer, then you may find that a good cleaning will help lower the decibel levels. Unlike the noisy box fan in your hallway, most computer fans don’t have high, medium, and low settings you can easily adjust (nor should you tinker with the speed of a PC fan since it’s calibrated to keep the components at an optimal temperature). Instead, it may be a more prudent move to simply replace your PC’s noisy fans by upgrading to some newer, quieter fans. Being one of the few mechanical parts in most modern PCs, the fans are one of the few components that will really show wear and tear over the years even if you take good care of the computer. Disclaimer: If you’re looking to replace your computer’s fans or do any work requiring you to open the case and swap out parts, then it’s highly recommended that you either know what you’re doing or have the assistance of an IT professional. If you’re serious about replacing your fans, then be sure to follow these guidelines:   Installing a bigger fan will move more air with lower speeds, making for a quieter computing experience. Just be sure that you’ve got the space to accommodate a larger fan. Look for fans that automatically adjust speeds according to the amount of heat generated by the computer. This will help minimize a fan’s noise levels when the computer isn’t experiencing heavy usage. For high end desktops that require a lot of airflow, such as gaming PCs and video editing desktops, you can’t always get away from using multiple fans, but you might be able to have a technician install sound-muffling foam to dampen the noise. When it comes down to it, a PC’s fans could be just one source of the annoying noise coming from your computer. To really get the bottom of why your computer is louder than you’d like, get professional assistance by calling White Mountain IT Services at (603) 889-0800.