Monthly Archives: April 2020

Intel Announces Fastest Gaming Processor

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Today, Intel announced a brand new, incredibly fast gaming processor, called the 10th Gen Intel Core S-series. This “game-changing” improvement is anticipated to be acquired in new desktops in May 2020.

“Intel is committed to enabling the future of powerful desktop gaming by continuously pushing the performance boundary to deliver an amazing PC gaming experience. The 10th Gen Intel Core S-series for desktops, and the Intel Core i9-10900K processor, the world’s fastest gaming processor reinforces our commitment to the gaming and enthusiast communities.”

– Brandt Guttridge, Intel senior director of the Desktop Products Group

Enhancements include a 31% game performance boost, compared to a 3 year old PC, and 63% more fps (frames per second). If you video edit, you’ll see anywhere between 12-35% boost in speed. Their new Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology includes involuntary quality improvements for the best gaming experience.

In April 2020, Intel announces new desktop processors as part of the 10th Gen Intel Core processor family, including Intel’s flagship Core i9-10900K processor, the world’s fastest gaming processor. (Credit: Intel Corporation)

MacRumors stated on their blog that only a select few of these processors will be showing up in iMacs. This comes along with the news about a possible 23″ iMac future announcement. I suppose we’ll see if this actually comes into play later on this year.

For more information on the latest Intel processors, be sure to visit their Newsroom!

For inquiries with PC updates, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you from our staff at the Frisco Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Frisco, TX please call or text the local office at (469) 299-9005.

COVID-19 Tracker Apps Available

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Many people in the US are still concerned about the pandemic, especially since starting next month, nonessential businesses will begin to open back up. Federal and local governments are working to ensure transparency with the Coronavirus, along with large tech corporations.

Google and Apple are currently in the works for a Bluetooth-based app to trace COVID-19 exposures. And there are apps included in the iOS App Store for worldwide coronavirus exposure data. According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, or EFF, they are, “undertaking an unprecedented team effort to build a system for Androids and iPhones to interoperate in the name of technology-assisted COVID-19 contact tracing.”

Bing also brings a COVID-19 tracker to the Microsoft App Store. This app shares news about the coronavirus along with dependable information from your local Department of Health. It includes an overview of cases in multiple regions and shares Testing Centers in your local counties.

For help troubleshooting PC issues, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you from our staff at the Mesa Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Mesa, AZ please call the local office at (480) 240-2950.

Apple’s New iPhone SE – Cheaper, But Worth It

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This month, Apple announced a brand new iPhone SE to their line of devices. This one comes at a low cost of $399, but the features behind it are outstanding. Its definitely worth looking into if you still have an earlier model.

According to MacRumors, “iPhone users who have held on to their iPhone 6, 6s, 7, 8, or even an earlier phone for size preference or cost purposes should take a good look at the iPhone SE because it offers solid hardware at an affordable price, and it is a significant upgrade over older iPhones.”

The new iPhone SE looks identical to the iPhone 8 and has a glass casing. The display is 4.7 inches, comes with a 12 mp camera, and the Home button is solid but has haptic feedback. This technology is similarly seen in earlier versions of iPhones with Touch ID.

There is no headphone jack on the new iPhone SE, so blue-tooth earbuds are a necessity if you choose to upgrade. Or you can use an adapter to connect to the lightning port if you prefer wired earbuds.

Source: Apple.com Newsroom
Other features include:
  • Water-Resistant
  • A13 bionic chip
  • Quick charging
  • Long battery life
  • 4 year iOS support

So, long story short, this iPhone is a great upgrade if you have an older device. It has plenty of storage options (though you may just a little bit more for larger storage), has plenty of useful features, and is affordable.

For help with any Apple issues, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you from our staff at the Denver Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Denver, CO please call or text the local office at (720) 441-6460.

End of Support Put Off for Older Windows 10 Versions

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On April 14, Microsoft Support shared an announcement about the end of support for older versions of Windows 10. Due to the Coronavirus, the end of support was delayed for at least 6 months.

According to Microsoft Support, “Microsoft has been deeply engaged with customers around the world who are impacted by the current public health situation. As a member of the global community, we want to contribute to reducing the stress our customers face right now.”

The versions below are being delayed from the End of Support:
  • Windows 10 1809
  • Windows 10 1709
  • Windows Server 1809
  • Dynamics 365 cloud service
  • Configuration Manager 1810
  • SharePoint Server, Foundation and Project Server 2010
  • Basic Authentication
However, it was also stated that other versions are not included in this delay:
  • Office 2016 for Mac
  • Project 2010
  • Office 2010
  • Office 2013 connectivity to Office 365
  • Exchange Server 2010

Here’s to hoping that this helps those who are still using the older versions.

For help with Windows 10 issues, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you from our staff at the Mesa Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Mesa, AZ please call the local office at (480) 240-2950.

MacOS New Battery Life Feature

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MacBooks are getting a game-changer with their battery life. Apple is currently in the works with Catalina 10.15.5. This update will include an awesome feature called Battery Health Management.

According to SixColors, this particular feature will be available on 2016 MacBook Pros, along with Retina MacBook Airs.

The feature works by analyzing the temperature of the battery over time, as well as the charging pattern the laptop has experienced—in other words, does the laptop frequently get drained most of the way and then recharged fully, or is it mostly kept full and plugged in? In the latter case, Battery Health Management is more likely to stop a bit short of full capacity in order to extend the battery’s long-term lifespan. (All charging data is kept private on the MacBook unless the Mac has been opted in to share anonymous analytics data with Apple.)

Source: SixColors.com

Leaving your Macbook, or any other laptop for that matter, on the charger after it’s hit 100% can dramatically harm the battery life. Apple continues to work its magic on extending its batteries as long as possible. This upcoming feature will be the default option to all Macbooks. However, this will also be an option. You’ll have the ability to select which battery life option according to your liking.

It’s possible to get anywhere from 8-13 hours of battery life on a single use, depending on what you do on your laptop.

If you are needing assistance with any MacOS issues, please give us a call at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities.  This blog post is brought to you from our staff at the Arlington Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Arlington, TX please call the local office at (817) 756-6008.

Samsung Phones get new Windows Feature

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If you have a Samsung phone, you’ll want to download the Samsung My Files app.

Microsoft has developed a feature for your smartphone to allow files to be dragged and dropped to your PC. All you will need to do is to make sure that your phone and PC are on the same Wi-Fi.

According to Microsoft Community, to drag the files from your phone to your PC, follow the steps below:

To drag from My Files:

1.      Once you’ve opened Phone screen in the Your Phone app, use your mouse to navigate to a folder in My Files.

2.      Long press on the file until a checkmark appears, then release. If you’d like to select additional files, you can do so by tapping on them.

3.      Use your mouse to long press again on the file(s) you’ve selected, and a thumbnail will appear. Drag the files to your desired location on your PC. The cursor will change to indicate when you’re able to drop the file(s).

To drag from the Gallery app:

1.      Once you’ve opened Phone screen in the Your Phone app, use your mouse to navigate to your Albums and select one.

2.      Long press on a photo until a checkmark appears, then release. If you’d like to select additional photos, you can do so by tapping on them.

3.      Use your mouse to long press on the photo(s) you’ve selected, and a thumbnail will appear. Drag the photo(s) to your desired location on your PC. The cursor will change to say Copy when you are able to drop.

You also have the ability to drag files from the PC to smartphone by selecting the files you want. You’ll then drag them to the Your Phone window. The file will transfer after you release the clicker.

For inquiries with Windows 10 updates, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you from our staff at the Frisco Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Frisco, TX please call or text the local office at (469) 299-9005.

Optional Update Available – DON’T Download and Install

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Warning to those using Windows 10, don’t download the optional update.

2020-03 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1909 has an optional update available for users to download and install. However, several people have already come out saying that this update ended up causing a handful of issues to their PC.

A couple of the issues include an unusual amount of memory usage and CPU. Others had claimed that it gave their computers the BSOD, or blue screen of death.

Thankfully, this update is optional. It’s best to wait to see if and when Microsoft will be able to fix this rather horrendous bug.

If you had already installed it, you can uninstall it by following the directions below:
  1. Start Menu
  2. Settings
  3. Click on Update and Security
  4. Go to the Windows Update tab
  5. View update history
  6. Uninstall updates
  7. Find the KB4541335 update
  8. Uninstall

If you are having security problems or any other issue with your computer and would like some assistance, please give us a call at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities.  This blog post is brought to you from our staff at the Arvada Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Arvada, CO please call the local office at (720) 441-6460 or schedule an appointment at www.arvadacomputerrepairservice.com.

MacOS Update Hiccups with Crashes

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If your Macbook has updated to Catalina OS 10.15.4 and you’ve experienced crashes, you’re not alone.

Yesterday, many users blew up Twitter about their issues. Since the update release, many Macbooks have crashed after being woken up from sleep mode. Although they have reached out to users on Twitter, Apple Support has yet to respond to this bug in an announcement.

One Twitter user stated, “Brand new 64gb macbook Pro and same issue. Nothing installed vanilla just got, instantly crashing. One thing open was Safari on BBC homepage. Left 15 mins came back crashed. Continously since. Installed stuff same. Reformat same. Big problems unusable.”

However, after scanning through Twitter feed, one user said that they were able to disable automatic graphics switching.

It’s completely unclear if that will work for every Macbook user who is currently experiencing issues. But it may seem like it’s worth a try.

If you have any questions regarding Apple OS, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you from our staff at the Phoenix Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Phoenix, AZ please call our local office at (602) 445-9862.

Microsoft Encourages Users to go Passwordless

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On March 24th, Microsoft had announced that they were halting optional, non-security updates, due to the pandemic. However, update 20H1, also known as 2004 is still planned to be pushed out. This should occur possibly sometime this month or the next.

Along with the list of quality improvements and bug fixes, 20H1 will also encourage users to go passwordless. Microsoft states that, “this will strengthen your device sign-in by switching all Microsoft accounts on your device to modern multifactor authentication with Windows Hello Face, Fingerprint, or PIN, and eliminating passwords from Windows.”

To make your PC passwordless, follow the simple steps below:
  1. Go to Settings
  2. Accounts
  3. Sign-in options
  4. Click “On” under the “Make your device passwordless” option

For any Windows 10 feature inquiries, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you from our staff at the Arvada Computer Repair Service, if you need better SEO or computer repair in Arvada, CO please call or text the local office at (720) 441-6460.

Apple Stores are Closed until May 2020

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Apple stores will remain closed for the U.S., Apple announced. Deirdre O’Brien, the Apple Senior Vice President of Retail and People shared this to workers in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

According to Bloomberg.com, she stated that Apple will continue to, “monitor local conditions for every Apple facility on a daily basis” and that the company will make “reopening decisions on the basis of thorough, thoughtful reviews and the latest guidance from local governments and public health experts.”

Around 270 total stores nationwide are affected by the closing. However, work-from-home will continue to stay in tact until stores get the go to open their doors again.

Earlier last month, O’Brien had mentioned that stores could open as early as the beginning of April. Because of how heavy the U.S. has been hit with the pandemic, the decision was changed and extended.

For inquiries with Windows 10 updates, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you from our staff at the Frisco Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Frisco, TX please call or text the local office at (469) 299-9005.