599: Empowering Your Tech Business: Systems, Billing, and Client Communication

598: Joe Taps Out, Jerry and Sam Command-Control-Power Through

Joe Taps Out, Jerry and Sam Command Control Power Through

In this episode of Command Control Power, the hosts navigate through a mix of tech support comedy and genuine tips. Starting off with playful banter, they discuss personal anecdotes about parenting moments and work-life balance, leading to shout-outs for their Patreon supporters. They emphasize the importance of maintaining good relationships within the tech community and share experiences of dealing with challenging clients. Highlights include a disastrous printer ink spill at a friend's house during a firmware update, a complex data migration issue resolved with Carbon Copy Cloner, and amusing stories involving kids and tech. They wrap up with a light-hearted discussion on recent TV shows and personal achievements, setting the stage for their upcoming holiday message.

00:00 Introduction and Showbiz Banter

01:43 Patreon Shoutouts and Community Support

03:30 Consultancy Collaboration and Client Stories

06:56 Tech Purchases and Personal Updates

09:00 Mac Mini and Home Automation

16:10 Migration Assistant Troubles

27:47 Printer Password Predicament

28:34 Ink Spill Disaster

29:27 Cleaning Up the Mess

32:57 Firmware Update Success

36:03 Tech Troubles and Solutions

49:23 TV Show Recommendations

597: Caught in the Cloud: Backup Battles and Cyber Scams

In this episode of Command Control Power, the hosts delve into various technical and customer service issues they have encountered recently. They start with a detailed rant about Backblaze’s abrupt change in their prorated refund policy, which affected the way they manage client licenses. The conversation shifts to issues with Amazon's high-value electronics return policy, and Sam shares a frustrating story about dealing with a delayed and ultimately lost iPhone shipment. Joe recounts a complicated man-in-the-middle scam involving Microsoft 365 and Dropbox, highlighting the challenges of protecting clients from evolving security threats. The episode ends with a discussion about Apple Business Connect and their stringent logo approval process, and a short review of the action-packed movie 'The Beekeeper'.

00:00 Introduction and Opening Remarks

00:08 Customer Support Rant: Backblaze Experience

01:26 Policy Changes and Their Impact

03:34 Challenges with Backblaze Services

12:09 Affiliate Program Issues

16:21 Amazon Return Policy Frustrations

21:26 iPhone Delivery Nightmare

27:37 AppleCare Plus Trade-In Saga

30:11 AI Response and Trade-In Deals

31:12 Apple Business Connect Webinar

33:10 Logo Upload Struggles

37:08 Verified Logo Program

41:24 Microsoft and Dropbox Scam

48:51 Scam Prevention and Security Measures

01:00:13 Scams from Nigeria and India

01:02:04 Conclusion and Movie Recommendation

Best of CCP - Give Your Dough To The Baker

594: Navigating Apple's Changing Ecosystem and the Future of Tech Support

In this episode of Command Control Power, Joe and Jerry discuss a range of topics related to recent changes in iOS, macOS, and Apple's overall ecosystem. They delve into the complexities introduced by incremental and major updates, particularly iOS 18 and Ventura, and how these updates impact their work with clients. They also explore the practicality of using features like cognitive accessibility, magic links for password replacement, and passkeys. Both share experiences with frustrating tech issues, such as incorrect autocorrections and overly complicated return policies for electronics. They reflect on how rising expectations from both users and shareholders drive the incessant introduction of new features and how this affects daily usage and tech support.

Introduction and Catching Up

Navigating iOS Changes

Frustrations with Technology Updates

Tech Tips and Tricks

Accessibility Features for Elderly Users

Amazon Return Policy Changes

Addigy and Migration Assistant Tips

MagSafe Charging Challenges

iCloud Backup vs Direct Transfer

Cable Transfer Realities

App Reinstallation Annoyances

Authenticator Apps and Two-Factor Authentication

Password Management Woes

Magic Links vs Passwords

Passkeys and Password Managers

Apple's AI and Typing Frustrations

Closing Thoughts and Client Engagement

591: Optimizing MSP Operations with Tim Pearson of Creative Techs

Command Control Power: Mastering IT Workflows, Automation, and Vinyl Rituals

In this engaging episode of Command Control Power, hosts Joe, Sam, and Jerry, alongside guest Tim Pearson from Creative Techs, explore a wide range of topics spanning advanced IT management and nostalgic music traditions. They reminisce about the ACEs conference and introduce ACEs After Dark, a community event for sharing mobile device management (MDM) and remote monitoring and management (RMM) tips. The conversation dives into optimizing IT workflows through automation, discussing tools like Halo dashboards and Backup Radar for efficient backup management. The group highlights the importance of community support in the Managed Service Provider (MSP) and Apple Certified Network (ACN) landscapes, emphasizing the benefits of integrated tools like PSA and Pax8 for business process streamlining. Additionally, they address the challenges posed by the fragmented MSP vendor landscape and share insights into the economic and time commitments required for creating community-driven tools. Tim Pearson wraps up the episode with a nostalgic discussion about vinyl records, reflecting on the charm of analog music rituals and the sentimental value of physical collections, enriched by personal anecdotes and the significance of classic albums.