πŸ”’ Patreon Special

IT Pros: exclusive shows await you on Patreon, focusing on the more challenging aspects of running your practice and working with clients and employees.


215: Adam Engst of TidBITS Content Network for Apple Consultants & Will O'Neal

215: Adam Engst of TidBITS Content Network for Apple Consultant & Will O'Neal
Joe Saponare, Sam Valencia, Jerry Zigmont

Topics:

This week Command Control Power is joined by not one, but two guests.  Adam Engst of TidBITS and Will O'Neal of Mid-Atlantic Computer Solutions.  Both guests share their perspectives on the TidBITS Content Network.  Adam is the publisher of TidBITS, a free email and web publication for the Macintosh community.  He has recently introduced the TidBITS Content Network, which provides professionally written, edited, and illustrated tips and articles that its members can use to update their blogs, create a vibrant social media presence, and power email newsletters that people will actually read. Will O'Neal was one of the first subscribers and both gentlemen offer information on not only the creation of TCN but how it can impact your business.  Enjoy!

TidBITS Content Network: https://tcn.tidbits.com/apple-pros/
-Sign up for a free trial today and get TCN content from both July and August!”

 

Adam C. Engst is the publisher of TidBITS, one of the oldest and most-respected Internet-based newsletters, distributed weekly to tens of thousands of readers. He has written numerous technical books, including the best-selling Internet Starter Kit series, and many magazine articles - thanks to Contributing Editor positions at MacUser, MacWEEK, and Macworld. His innovations include the creation of the first advertising program to support an Internet publication in 1992, the first flat-rate accounts for graphical Internet access in 1993 (with Northwest Nexus for Internet Starter Kit for Macintosh), and the highly successful Take Control electronic book series. In addition, he has collaborated on several Internet educational videos and has appeared on a variety of internationally broadcast television and radio programs. His indefatigable support of the Macintosh community and commitment to helping individuals has resulted in numerous awards and recognition at the highest levels. In the annual MDJ Power 25 survey of industry insiders, he ranked as the second (2000)third (20012002), fourth (2003), fifth (2004), and third (2005/2006) most influential person in the Macintosh industry. He has also been included on the MacTech 25 list of influential people in the Macintosh technical community for both 2006 and 2007, and he was named one of MacDirectory's top ten visionaries. And how many industry figures can boast of being turned into an action figure?

 

Will O'Neal, founder and president of both Mid-Atlantic and Metro-Atlanta Computer Solutions, has been supporting Macintosh for nearly twenty years. He began his career in 1989 operating Linotronic Typesetters for Darby Graphics and worked his way into technical support after becoming an expert with early versions of page layouts, image editing applications and font management issues. He started MACS in 2002. Since then, the company has grown from just Will to twelve Apple enthusiasts, including six Apple Certified outside technicians. Will holds the title of Apple Certified Technical Coordinator, and he regularly attends classes around the world to stay on top of the latest hardware, software and solutions for business of all types and sizes. Because of Will’s vast experience and desire to stay current on β€˜all things Apple’, he is also the Lead Technical Advisor for MACS. He has a passion for providing exceptional service and solutions to his customers. 

214: Hiding In The Server Room or Where The Buffalo Roam

214: Hiding In The Server Room or Where The Buffalo Roam
Joe Saponare, Sam Valencia, Jerry Zigmont

Topics:

Jerry shares a story about working on an older MacBook Air that takes an interesting turn

Old tricks for retrieving data from dead hard drives are discussed. Do you risk it or go right to Drive Savers?

Sam makes an attempt to restore a file for a client and takes some time to hide out in the server room when he can't find it

Jerry goes through a scare with a Buffalo NAS when at a client site and comes up with a creative solution:
Buffalo LinkStation Pro Duo 2-Bay 2 TB (2 x 1 TB) Network Attached Storage LS-W2.0TGL/R1 https://www.amazon.com/Technology-LinkStation-Attached-LS-W2-0TGL-R1/dp/B001696ZXA

Paragon - ExtFS for Mac 11 - https://www.paragon-software.com/ufsdhome/extfs-mac/

ReclaiMe File Recovery Ultimate
to recover Windows and Linux PCs, Macs, and NASes - - http://www.reclaime.com

Working with multiple versions of software presents its challenges

Liquid spills and freezer tricks lead to a recent Apple development:

AppleCare+ for Mac now available:
MacBook Pro 13-inch: $269.00 (vs. $249 before?)
MacBook Pro 15-inch: $379.00
iMac: $169.00 (same as before!)
Get up to 3 years of accidental damage coverage and 24/7 expert telephone technical support from Apple, the people who know your Mac best.

The guys all have Late 2016 MacBook Pros and kick around the idea of upgrading to the latest model with Apple's hardware announcements

Use Etrecheck to search for legacy items that might be affecting your computer's performance:
https://www.etrecheck.com/

212: Live With Susan Chiz Berenguer of EmSpace Technology Consulting

212: Live With Susan Chiz Berenguer of EmSpace Technology Consulting
Joe Saponare, Sam Valencia, Jerry Zigmont

We're sponsored this week by Watchman Monitoring, a favorite tool of ours that should be in every professional consultant's toolkit.

Visit WatchmanMonitoring.com/cmdctrlpwr and sign up for your free trial to find out how Watchman Monitoring can keep an eye on your client machines and notify you of over 100 issues. Be sure to tweet @cmdctrlpwr #CCPsentme to support the show!

This week Susan Chiz Berenguer of EmSpace Technology Consulting joins us for a conversation about her consulting practice and focusing on elder support.

EmSpace is an Independent Information Technology & Macintosh Services company, specializing in analyzing the needs and requirements of small to medium sized businesses, agencies and design firms with an emphasis on home-based clients, both on-site and via remote access. Clients rely upon EmSpace to analyze the state of their current systems, recommend the growth path necessary to enhance their production requirements, research features and develop cost/benefit analysis information. Once purchased; - install new hardware, firmware and software and train the appropriate personnel in its use and maintenance. On existing installations - advise and train clients in the practices of information archiving, memory management and network management and computing security.

http://emspaceplace.com
@emspace

208: Nights of the Residential Roundtable - Part One

208: Nights of the Residential Roundtable - Part One
Joe Saponare, Sam Valencia, Jerry Zigmont

Command Control Power listeners, sign up for the next MacTech Pro Event in your area.  Dates are ongoing.  Register using the link http://pro.mactech.com/go/ccp/ to receive $299 off event registration!

Meet our guests for the Residential Roundtable discussion:

Adam Rice - With 18 years' experience in IT, web development, and project management, Adam solves technology problems and design technology solutions for home users and small businesses. He also coaches individuals in time & task management and organization.
http://adamrice.org
@adamriceorg

Andy Espo of Call Andy Macintosh Consulting - With small business and high-end residential as their market focus, Call Andy Macintosh Consulting provides strategic technology and process management consulting along with installation and support for Macintosh computers, iOS deployment and networks.
http://www.callandy.com
@andyespo

Remie Cremers of Super Remie - Remie has been using Apple products since 2008 and loved it so much that he decided to make a job out of it.  In 2013 he started Super Remie.  Whether you need advice, a workshop, or a complete installing of all of your hard- and software, he's your man.
https://superremie.nl
@RemieCremers

207: "Live" Updating Your Credit Card At The Apple Store

207: "Live" Updating Your Credit Card At The Apple Store
Joe Saponare, Sam Valencia, Jerry Zigmont

Topics:

Patreon sponsorship is changing

Jerry comes up with a new way for the show to raise money

Our next live show will be at ACEs 2017

Joe has some follow up about Circle with Disney

A discussion brews about virtual & live answering services:
Call Ruby

Sam proctored the Support Essentials exam for Joe & his employees. How did they all do?

We learn even more about Joe's extensive staff

Sam describes an odd permissions issue with Microsoft Office 2016 and an SMB share on macOS Server

Joe has seen some issues with Sophos Home that have affected his client's web browsing experiences

Some follow up for Sam who had strange DNS entries on his computer

Jerry had recent interactions with the always supportive staff at Carbon Copy Cloner

Synology had an issue recently with DSM Update that caused issues for some of their NAS devices

An unfortunate miscommunication caused a mixup for one of Sam's clients 

Remote support isn't all its cracked up to be, as Joe reminds us

Elevation Lab created the Battery Pro, a combo iPhone & Apple Watch charger

Thanks to all of our Patrons!

206: Eating the Residential Crow

206: Eating the Residential Crow
Joe Saponare, Sam Valencia, Jerry Zigmont

This week, we are proud to be sponsored by Watchman Monitoring

Topics:

Jerry talks about eating "residential crow" to invite more work on the residential side

Some of the pitfalls and challenges of a residential client are discussed

Jerry provides details of the agreement he has his clients sign before beginning work

"Ever since you left..." is a phrase that is heard often in our world

Animals provide their own challenges but it doesn't just happen in the residential space

Thick skin is a necessity in this business

Alfred is Jerry's go to productivity app for macOS:
https://www.alfredapp.com

Joe provides some follow up about Promise Pegasus & OWC ThunderBay from last week's show with Kevin Ginger

Synology NAS & Seagate drives come up and specifically, Jerry gives us his thoughts on Seagate's IronWolf Health Management:
http://blog.seagate.com/business/how-to-boost-nas-health-ironwolf-health-management-and-synology-nas/

Come join us at ACES this year and attend our live show for a chance to win a 6 TB IronWolf drive from Seagate!

Listener Feedback:

Tim Hannon offers some advice on acquiring new clients.  Ask your vendors and other professionals for referrals to other clients and build a network.

Daniel Escobar gave us a funny anecdote about a certain keyboard shortcut

Jerry has the opportunity to use the QuickTime feature that allows you to see an iOS device remotely when plugged into a Mac.  Joe chimes in with a story of his own.

 It brings up the topic of built-in apps allowing to be removed from iOS

Yahoo offers an account key feature to increase security of their services