(This post originally appeared on Forbes)
Here are five things in technology that happened this past week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them?
1 — Your Mac’s next software update will kill off 32-bit apps and here’s what that means for you.
After years of development, the newest Mac update—known as MacOS Catalina—will be rolling out this October and with it bringing a boost from 32-bit apps to 64-bit apps. The update means that apps will operate much quicker than before and with access to greater memory. Apple has been requiring all apps available in its App Store to adhere to the 64-bit format in order to make the transition from 32-bit to 64-bit smoother. (Source: CNET)
Why this is important for your business:
Your users who typically download apps directly from the App Store or regularly update them will most likely not run into any issues. However, there are apps that developers are not looking to update, such as Microsoft Office 11 for Mac. In these particular situations, users will need to choose between losing access to those apps by moving over to Catalina, or decide to forego the update all together and continue with the older software.
2 — The latest version of Yahoo Mail helps users find attachments and deals.
Yahoo Mail’s mobile app was updated this past week with new versions for both iOS and Android. The new update is consumer-focused—leaning away toward the corporate lens—and looks to help users navigate and simplify their life. (Source: Tech Crunch).
Why this is important for your business:
Although it’s consumer-focused, there are still many things that will impact small businesses like ours. For example, rather than your users having to type keywords of what they are looking for into the search you’re your users will be able to navigate content through several views that will help them locate items. So if a user is looking for a file or picture, they will be able to select a view that simply brings up all of their attachments. Yahoo Mail users will also be able to customize which views they want to include and which they don’t need. All of this will increase productivity, which is a big reason why we’re using this stuff in the first place, right?
3 — A study has shown that the majority of second-hand hard drives contain previous owner’s data.
According to a study conducted by the University of Hertfordshire, an overwhelming 59% of used hard disks that are sold on shopping sites—such as eBay—are not appropriately cleared, which means that they can still contain data from individuals who had owned the drives prior to being re-sold. The testing was conducted through Comparitech, where 200 used hard drives were purchased and tested in order to see how much previous information was still stored and available. According to their findings, 26% still had easily recoverable data despite having been reformatted, 17% still contained data that was deleted but could still be found, and 16% seemed to not have had any data deleted at all. Out of the entire study, only 26% of the drives were adequately cleared. (Source: ZDNet)
Why this is important for your business:
This is not great. Most of the IT people I know tell me that when throwing away a laptop it’s best to drill holes through the hard drive. From a business perspective, I would recommend tossing old laptops and devices rather than giving them away or selling them – the security risks for your business are pretty substantial otherwise.
4 — Google’s Portland office is testing a small business initiative.
Google’s Portland office is experimenting with a new service geared toward small businesses called Stride. Stride is a website that provides an outlet for business owners to ask each other questions and seek advice online, such client communication, finding materials/gear, partnerships, and more. Stride’s website is created from Area 120—which serves as an internal Google lab—and does not currently name Google anywhere on the site. (Source: Oregon Live).
Why this is important for your business:
The goal of Stride is to help Google understand what businesses need and find helpful to their growth, development, and success. If it grows, it could be a great service. However, I would lean towards full-fledged communities geared towards small and growing businesses and that don’t have a corporate agenda, such as The Oxford Center for Entrepreneurs.
5— Microsoft is launching their e-commerce tools as their rivalry with Amazon intensifies.
This past week, Microsoft launched Dynamics 365 Commerce—their newest technology aimed at helping retailers conduct and manage their online business— in an effort to compete with Amazon. Dynamics 365 will allow brands to provide personalized web pages for products, with the option for customers to provide reviews and ratings. (Source: CNBC)
Why this is important for your business:
If you’re a Dynamics user and you’re selling online, it’s an application that must be evaluated. This newest piece of Dynamics 365 is an extension of Dynamics 365 for Retail, which more closely focuses on staffing, promotions, and supply chain management. Businesses will also be able to easily communicate with customers after purchases and even track sales performance data since Dynamics 365 Commerce will integrate with existing Microsoft software. Note – my company, The Marks Group PC, is a Microsoft partner.
