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


229: Interview wIth Taylor Boyko of SimpleMDM

October 10, 2017

TOPICS:

INTERVIEW:

SimpleMDM is the Apple iOS and macOS device manager that you've been waiting for. With modern, intuitive functionality, SimpleMDM gives you access to a cloud-hosted platform with advanced functionality usually reserved for convoluted enterprise suites. For instance, macOS native package installation, allowing you to install management tools like Chef, Munki or Puppet without having to install a cumbersome agent first. SimpleMDM provides additional features like location tracking, filevault key escrow, and support for multiple VPP and DEP accounts for integration into your zero-touch deployment workflow.

SimpleMDM sports a robust API, multiple admin users, 2-factor authentication and SAML support to integrate seamlessly with your admin environment.

Start your 30-day free trial today at SimpleMDM and have access to their US-based engineering team without having to deal with an aggressive sales team. Priced simply, with volume discounts, SimpleMDM won't require advanced math to calculate your annual spend. You can sign up to at simplemdm.com/ccp, and be sure to join #simplemdm in the Mac Admins Slack.

https://simplemdm.com/ccp

FOLLOWUP: 

227: The Horse Has Left The Barn & Then You Burn The Barn Down!

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!

TOPICS:

IMG_0162.JPG

Joanna Stern - Day with Apple Watch 3
Apple Watch Series 3 Review: No iPhone, No Problem?
http://macs.ws/2x5y8UN

Prioritize WiFi Networks on Your iOS Device
https://pxlnv.com/blog/prioritize-wifi-ios/

Filemaker Tips
Configuring security for FileMaker Server 14 and earlier
https://help.filemaker.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/14169/

https://support.code42.com/CrashPlan/5/Troubleshooting/Stop_and_start_the_Code42_app_service

List of supported email clients for Sending Mail
http://help.filemaker.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/15667/~/list-of-supported-email-clients-for-sending-mail

222: Flashback Followup, Tagging & More

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!

TOPICS:

-Joe details some followup on Flashback from Episode 220

  • same issue happened again, but this time the user would log in, apps wouldn't open, but we could log out

  • appeared to be user level; our admin user logged in fine

  • removed Gruntwork, no change

  • removed main user account, preserving home folder; recreated main user account; had been configured to auto login

  • Could it be solved but deleting the Finder cache? https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5386679?start=0&tstart=0

-Jerry details his struggles replacing a Comcast EMTA ( embedded multimedia terminal adapter ) modem with an Xfinity branded modem/router to achieve faster speeds.

- Dan Monge - MacITPros.com
Workflow App - Create a List Of The Predefined Commands To Text To Smith.ai
https://smith.ai/blog/2016/03/sms-simpler-more-efficient-way-provide-real-time-s/

-Jerry discusses some of the consumer tech podcasts he listens to like:

  • Mac Power Users - https://www.relay.fm/mpu

  • Mac Geek Gab - https://www.macobserver.com/show/mac-geek-gab/

  • Jason Snell & David Sparks - Free Agent - https://www.relay.fm/freeagents

  • Tagging With Terptra - MacPower Users - https://www.relay.fm/mpu/390

Automatic filing with Hazel and Mavericks tags
http://brettterpstra.com/2013/12/20/automatic-filing-with-hazel-and-mavericks-tags/

Hazel - https://www.noodlesoft.com
GUI for Apple Scripting, Watch Folders, Filing, Actions, Renaming Tagging

Jason Snell & David Sparks - Free Agent - #26: A Batphone to My Heart
https://www.relay.fm/freeagents/26

- Smith.ai is a superior call answering service for small businesses and individuals. Our virtual receptionists help you build better relationships with new and existing customers."
Pricing begins at $50 per month - http://smith.ai/web/pricing/
Start your new Smith account today, with a, FREE 30-day/10-call trial covering 9am-9pm EST.
Mention MacWorks when you signup for your trial or Command-Control-Power
 

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

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 ‘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

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/