Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category
Over the years, we at Geek Squad have seen technology grow and change at an amazing rate. At the 2012 International Consumer Electronics show, we continue to see the ways we interact and control our technology change.
For example, you used to have to spin a knob on your television to change channels. Over the years, we added remote controls to allow us to interact with our TV without even having to leave the couch. Thanks to gaming systems like the Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360 Kinect, we’ve added motion control and voice commands to how we can interact with our entertainment.
Several Television and set top box makers have jumped onto what is being called call “the Kinect Effect”. The idea is to make better use of motion and voice controls, augmenting those features you normally had to figure out a complicated remote to use (or call one of our Geek Squad Home Theater Agents to help to setup a programmable remote).
One example is Samsung’s Smart Interaction feature set that the company is adding to their Smart TV line. Now, to take control, you simply have to say “Hi TV”, along with a command, such as “Web Browser” to get the built-in Internet connectivity software to connect you to your favorite websites in your living room.
PrimeSense Natural Interaction is another company using similar technology to allow you to raise your hand to bring up a menu, and allow you to fast forward through a movie by sliding your arm to the right, or changing the volume by moving it up or down.
Sony is improving their updated Google TV options by using their remote as a 3 axis motion controller. Their new system also allows you to search for your favorite online content by speaking search terms out to the built-in voice controller.
Of course, if your family is like ours at Geek Squad, fights can easily break out over who gets to control the remote. What that means when motion control and voice commands make you the remote, who knows. In the meantime, Geek Squad Agents will be standing by 24/7/365 to help you figure it all out.
-Agent Derek M
We all have things that matter to us. Cars, bikes, and houses are all examples of things in the physical world with value. Family, friends, and pets are examples of living relationships we hold dear.
But what about things like tax records, photographs, and music? Used to be, we kept those things in drawers, books, and file cabinets. Not anymore. These days, a lot of what’s important to us are strings of zeros and ones, as more and more of our priceless documents and memories are stored on computers.
Computers aren’t foolproof, and accidents happen that can cause data loss. It’s important to be prepared. Why take chances with things that are important? Make a New Year’s resolution to back up your data, and we Geek Squad Agents can help make it a reality. Let me break it down – here are a few different solutions for a few different people.
We all have things that are important to us. Don’t let the intangibility of your most important documents and memories stop you from taking steps to protect it. As you can see, there’s a solution out there for everyone, and as always, your friendly neighborhood Geek Squad Agent is just a phone call away. Chat with an Agent today at Http://www.geeksquad.com, at 1-800-GeekSquad, or stop by for a visit at your local Geek Squad Precinct in Best Buy.
-Agent Laura M.
Every day, Counter Intelligence Agent Laura M, of Precinct 329, heroically removes malware and saves the personal lives of computer users in Maple Grove, MN. She has a vitamin D deficiency from playing too many video games. She likes animals and books.
If you’re a Geek Squad Agent, or even just a fan of the latest and greatest in tech, you’ve already shifted gears from the new year to new technology. For technology fans everywhere, that means the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), held every January in Las Vegas Nevada.
CES 2012 will run from January 10th through the 13th and will bring together an estimated 140,000 people from throughout the consumer electronics industry. Retailers, manufacturers, software developers and even a few celebrities will be there to show or be shown the latest in technology. For Geek Squad, this event gives us a sneak peek at all the gadgets and electronics we’ll be setting up for you over the next year.
Some of this year’s highlights are expected to include “ultrabooks” from a variety of computer makers. The term was created by computer chip-maker Intel to describe higher end ultraportable laptops. These ultrabooks differ from netbooks in that they don’t sacrifice performance and features as they become smaller and lighter. Ultrabooks, with a higher base price than a netbook and are designed for users who want access to the same power as a regular laptop but with the portability of a netbook.
Another item that I expect to see many makers showing off are Windows 8 devices. Although Microsoft has not announced an official release date for the next version of their Windows operating system, 3rd party hardware development has been underway for some time. Any Windows 8 tablets being demonstrated will be sure to capture attention. Windows 8’s cross-platform capabilities will interest consumers hoping to share more of their programs and data across their PCs, tablets and even smartphones and gaming systems. In Geek Squad, we love the idea of the connected world, where our tech talks to each other automatically for our benefit.
In 2011, “the cloud” became a mainstream term among tech consumers, and CES promises to show how the electronics market hopes to make your everyday gadgets make better use of it. Of course, not all data storage will be on the Internet, so I expect we’ll also see more devices coming with solid-state drives (SSD) to reduce weight and improve response times when accessing data.
In the home theater world, I expect we’ll see continued improvements with 3D and smart TVs, but I also am hoping to see some of the large screen OLED (organic light-emitting diode) HDTVs that have recently been talked about. OLED screens can display deeper blacks than an LCD resulting in huge contrast benefits and better overall picture quality. They’re also thinner, helping to make HDTVs lighter. Up to this point, however, OLED screen creation has not been cost effective for the sizes you need for that big screen TV you’d want in your living room. In 2012 we may start to see that change, and our Geek Squad Home Theater Installers can’t wait.
Finally, I’m excited to see all unexpected technology that shows up every year at CES. Whether it’s the seat designed to allow you feel the rumble of NASCAR racing, or robot pets designed for hospital waiting rooms, past shows never cease to amaze us at how ingenious tech makers can be.
Whatever it is, I am looking forward to seeing what the next 12 months of tech looks like at CES 2012. Stay tuned to the Geek Squad Intelligence Blog this week, and follow us on Twitter, @GeekSquad, and Facebook for the latest updates from this week’s Consumer Electronics Show
-Agent Derek M.
2012 brings in a new year of resolutions for many of us. But those shouldn’t be limited to you. Don’t forget to consider your computer too! Today, Geek Squad has some New Year’s resolution tips for your computers. These maintenance tips will help you start off on the right foot, avoid problems, and help with your PCs performance!
Keep your PC clean of clutter!
Over time, hard drive space can get used up by temporary files (from the Internet, program installations, and more). The easiest and safest way to get rid of these and reclaim disk space is to use the built-in Windows Disk Cleanup Utility. You can search for “Disk Cleanup” in the start menu, or find it under “All Programs” > ”Accessories” > ”System Tools”. Not only will this utility safely find the files unnecessary for your PC, but will allow you to select which of them to be removed.
Another source of frequent clutter on your drive are files stored by your Internet browser. These files accumulate as you surf the net every day. To clear these unnecessary temporary files in the latest version of Internet Explorer, IE 9, click the gear icon in the top right-hand corner of your browser and select “Internet Options”. On the very first page/tab, you’ll see a “Browsing History” section in the middle of the window, with the option to “Delete.” On the next window, you get the option of deleting some or all of that data. Some of the information stored within Internet Explorer, like cookies, you may want to keep, as they help track when you revisit certain websites, preferences from last visits, however you can choose to delete all the information here safely. If you’re using another popular browser, like Firefox, you would find similar options under a “Tools/Preferences” menu, typically listed as “private data.”
Keep your PC healthy and up to date!
Updates are an important part to keeping your PC/Mac as secure and bug-free as possible. If you are using Windows, search for “Windows Update” in the Start Menu, or find it directly listed in the “All Programs” menu. On a Mac, you can click the Apple logo in the top left-hand corner of your screen, and click “Software Update.” For both, it will scan your computer and check for any available updates. Once it has determined which updates you need, you can review them prior to installation, and determine if they appeal to you. If you’re not sure what something is, just use this rule of thumb: if the update is not listed as important, then you don’t have to install them; they’re optional. Anything listed as important, however, is vital to keep your computer as secure, and well behaved, as possible.
Keep your PC safe!
Antivirus or antimalware is another thing to keep in mind while maintaining your PC. If you have an active antivirus program, we recommend opening it on occasion to make sure it is up to date, and has scanned your PC recently. If you don’t have a current antivirus program installed, there are several recommendations we can make. Norton, Trend Micro, and Kaspersky all make very effective products for a variety of terms and options. If you prefer a no-cost solution for your antivirus, we can also recommend Microsoft Security Essentials. While lacking some of the features of a paid antivirus product, it offers you basic protection, and is updated by Microsoft themselves.
Keep your PC dust free!
Lastly, there is the physical cleaning of your PC. If your PC is over a year old, or in a dusty location, you may want to clean it with compressed air. Keeping your PC clean of dust allows air to flow more freely, keeping the temperature down, and protecting the PC from overheating. If you choose to use compressed air, be careful and follow the instructions listed on the can. Not doing so could result in damage to your computer from condensation (hold the can upright, spray in short bursts).
Geek Squad recommends performing these steps every 6-12 months, to keep your PC in optimal condition. Not sure this is a project you want to undertake? These are some of the same steps Geek Squad Agents utilize when performing a PC Tune-Up on your PC. Agents are standing by 24/7/365 to keep your PC in prime condition. Chat with an Agent today at GeekSquad.com or give us a call at 1-800-GeekSquad.
Agent William G. has been an Agent with Geek Squad since 2004. If he’s not working on computers remotely, or contributing to the Geek Squad Intelligence Blog, he can be seen skateboarding in the city streets of Atlanta.
Over the last few months, we have renewed and reinvigorated the mission of the Geek Squad Intelligence Blog. I am excited to be bringing additional Agents from around the United States to create articles to keep you informed, but that is only part of our new mission. We are also creating the first international news wire for Geek Squad, bringing Agents together from countries around the world to battle unruly technology, keeping our public informed.
2011 was quite the year for technology, and our clients. More tablets are entering the market, changing the way we compute. Home Theater systems are getting smarter. Computers are becoming more and more integrated into our lives. As we progress and advance as a society, the ways we interact with each other, and our devices, continuously change and adapt. That’s why I’ve renewed our commitment at the Geek Squad Intelligence Blog to keep you informed, up to speed, and educated when it comes to your technology. Whether that is keeping your data backed to prevent a catastrophic loss, or maximizing your potential with a new Tablet, or learning the ins and outs of potential for your next smart-phone syncing, remotely-starting, (soon to be) self-driving vehicle.
In 2012 I look forward to not only having more Agents and more Intelligence, but more possibilities on Facebook, Twitter, and the Geek Squad Intelligence Blog. We have big plans to benefit not only our existing clients, but the Do-It-Yourself tech as well. Have a feature you’d like to see on one of our sites? Think we should have a “Client Question of the Week” or product reviews by Agents? I want to hear about it. Let me know your ideas on Facebook and Twitter, or leave a comment below.
People every day ask me what the best part of being an Agent is. While the badge is great, and the people I work with are amazing, ultimately it’s you, the people I serve and protect against unruly technology that drive me every day. I look forward to providing you with the information to keep you in charge of your technology, not the other way around, through 2012.
Agent Patrick B. has been an Agent with the Geek Squad since 2005. When he isn’t overseeing the Geek Squad Intelligence Blog or the Geek Squad’s Social Media presence, he can be found wandering the streets of Minneapolis for a fresh new source of caffeine to fuel his all night gaming sessions.
In our final blog post of the week, we will discuss how to use your tech to keep the entire family entertained for the holidays, and some safety precautions as well.
If you’ve got a big family coming over this year, chances are there will be plenty of kids running around. Kids, like Agents, love playing video games. Get a jump on keeping them entertained by setting up a fantastic gaming environment for your favorite nieces and nephews.
Having a plan in place for entertainment while you finish up dinner goes a long way to ensuring the holidays are enjoyable for every member of the family. Unfortunately football only lasts so long, and it’s not the best entertainment for everyone.
What do I need?
There are several different platforms available to keep your family entertained. You are on your way if you have at least one of the following:
-Windows based computer with a High-Speed Internet connection
-Dedicated gaming console (XBOX 360, Playstation 3, Nintendo Wii)
What do I do?
Depending on the system you have, we have a few different recommendations. You can jump online for some quick free entertainment, or utilize the gaming system you already have. We’ve prepared a few tips for online gaming, as well as a few safety recommendations for your full immersion systems.
Online Entertainment
Bring the generations together by finding an online game that everyone will have fun playing like JumpStart’s Buzzwords. You can also find several different fun and interactive games at sites like Knowledge Adventure that are sure to keep the kids entertained! Don’t tell them, but they may even learn something!
Gaming Consoles: Not necessarily safer than playing outside.
Gaming consoles have become more exciting and immersive than ever. They’re multipurpose entertainment workhorses designed for group gaming, movie watching and internet browsing. Motion control game systems like the Wii, PlayStation Move, and Xbox Kinect are all perfect for interactivity and intense movement. But all of this internet freedom and jumping around can be hazardous! In the heat of battle, controllers can get dropped, cables can be pulled and consoles can get jostled. Save your equipment – and the health of the gamers – by taking a few precautions:
No Time Like the Present
So maybe the idea of setting up a guest network or hooking up your kids’ new gaming console sounds easy, but quality holiday time with your family is precious and you’d rather not bother. That’s what we’re here for! We have the power to connect the most complicated of gadgets and tame the wildest of cables. Invite an Agent over for a Whole Room Setup or Networking Made Simple to get everything connected and schedule a One Hour Training so you can learn to love your new toys! As always, Geek Squad Agents are standing by 24/7/365 at 1-800-GeekSquad and GeekSquad.com to help keep your unruly tech in order.
-Agent Laura M.
In part 2 of this week’s series we will be discussing how you can empower your smartphone or tablet and make your holidays easier, by learning about all of their most futuristic features.
Let’s face it, we’re a long way from the ease of a Star Trek communicator, and we don’t have cool holodecks yet. At Geek Squad we realize every year the things we use to talk to each other don’t seem to get simpler, but more and more complicated!
“What does this button do again?”
With a plethora of apps available for today’s digital devices, you can do so much more than just stay in touch. Whether it’s a video chat with your Aunt on the other side of the country, a step-by-step instruction manual for cooking the perfect turkey, or keeping track of the calories to help get a head start on your New Year’s resolution, unlocking the full potential of your smartphone or tablet actually can help to reduce stress.
What do I need?
To take advantage of the latest mobile apps, all you’ll need is a smartphone or tablet! This can include any Android or Blackberry mobile device, or an iOS Apple device like an iPhone or iPad. Before checking for the latest apps, you will also want to check to make sure you have the latest operating system updates for your phone. With Android and Blackberry you can check for a ‘System Update’ from the settings menu on the phone. With an iPad or iPhone all you need to do is connect it to your computer running iTunes.
What can I do?
While they aren’t quite up to StarTrek communication standards, your mobile device is surprisingly strong! Ultimately, the possibilities are limited only by our creativity. Here are a few holiday suggestions to maximize your device:
Whether you’re trying to perfect that holiday meal, stay in touch with the family, or keep an eye on your waist line we are here to help! As always, Agents are standing by 24/7/365 at 1-800-GeekSquad and on Http://www.geeksquad.com to help combat techno stress. Just don’t ask us how long to cook the turkey. It won’t end well for anyone involved.
-Agent Laura M.
Every day, Counter Intelligence Agent Laura M, of Precinct 329, heroically removes malware and saves the personal lives of computer users in Maple Grove, MN. She has a vitamin D deficiency from playing too many video games. She likes animals and books.
In this, the first post of a three-part series of this week, we will discuss how to make it easy to keep your visiting family connected with a dedicated guest wireless network. A guest network not only makes connecting all those devices a snap, but also separates your personal network from the family’s devices. This helps keep your data, and your peace of mind, safe and secure.
Connect for the Holidays
So, how did you spend your Holiday Season last year? Trying to connect the 10 different devices of 10 different relatives to your home network? Wrestling with a new digital camera or smartphone? Trying to understand what you’re going to do with an iPad? If you’re tired of being overwhelmed by an onslaught of new technology every year, we have glad tidings. It is our mission to help the holidays go smoothly and help the excitement of your shiny new toys last beyond reading the first page of that poorly written instruction manual.
“Grandma, I want to use the internet.”
Every year more and more devices are designed to connect to the internet. Handheld gaming devices, iPods, laptop computers, and digital cameras are just a few of gadgets your extended family may be bringing to your house this holiday season.
Let your relatives share their ugly sweaters on Facebook, watch their favorite YouTube videos after dinner, and keep things simple and secure by creating a wireless network specifically designed for visitors. A “Guest Network” is a small section of your home’s wireless network that is set up for use by temporary guests in your home. Perfect for your holiday gathering!
What do I Need?
Setting up guest networks can be easy, but you have to have the right gear. Almost all dual-band routers support guest networks, as well as a few newer routers that do not have dual band capability. You’ll want to check your wireless router’s specifications to verify it supports a guest network.
What do I do?
Setting up a guest network is actually easier than configuring a wireless router, and routers that support guest networks have all the tools you’ll need, already built in! To start your guest network, you’ll need to visit your router’s configuration page, specifically the page for wireless settings. IF your router supports guest networks, you’ll see an option under the wireless settings to enable a guest network. You’ll be able to turn on a guest network, set up a password to control who is allowed to connect to it, and even limit the number of users connected simultaneously. By setting up this guest network, utilizing a simple password, you won’t need to share your encryption key with your family. This second network will keep your network isolated, protecting the information on your computers, and helping to keep everything safe and secure.
If diving into your router’s configuration doesn’t sound like something you want to try, fret not! Geek Squad Agents are standing by 24/7/365 to configure it for you. For help with setting up your guest network, contact us at 1-800-GEEK-SQUAD or visit GeekSquad.com. We set up guest networks in our sleep and would be glad to help!
-Agent Laura M.
Every day, Counter Intelligence Agent Laura M, of Precinct 329, heroically removes malware and saves the personal lives of computer users in Maple Grove, MN. She has a vitamin D deficiency from playing too many video games. She likes animals and books.
Many people hear the word “refurbished” and cringe. They see refurbished items as someone else’s castoffs and want nothing to do with them. Here at Geek Squad, we want to show you that refurbished does not have to mean unreliable. When we certify something, we mean it.
What you hear
Most of us assume that “refurbishing” a product involves replacing worn parts and taking care of obvious cosmetic damage. But we’ve all gotten “refurbished” products that didn’t last. Your friends at the Geek Squad know this process should be better, so we are making a change.
The Geek Squad Difference
We test every product that comes in, even if it’s only guilty of being the wrong color. If we find anything wrong, we fix it and put it through a series of testing routines to make sure every part works like new. Every refurbished product is also visually inspected for any scratches, scrapes, fingerprints and scuffs. You don’t want to see them and neither do we. Once the product meets our strict standards for repair, it becomes Geek Squad Certified Refurbished and made available for purchase at a Best Buy store, or online at BestBuy.com.
To prove we believe in our ability to refurbish these products, we back up all our Certified Refurbished items with our 90-day Limited Warranty. We want you to love your product just as much as we do.
Although this whole thing started with us fixing up a couple iPods, it has taken on a life of its own. Our Certified Refurbished crew now fixes up iPads, iPod Touches and Sony laptops. Keep an eye on the Refurbished collection on the Best Buy site – you never know what could turn up there. For additional details on our Geek Squad Certified Refurbished program, check out GeekSquad.com.
-Virtual Agent Kristen K
Around this time last year we informed you of a false security alert circulating online that appeared to be from Geek Squad.
The alert warned of a Facebook “Christmas Tree” application, claiming the following:
“Warning !!!!!!!!!!! Don’t use the Christmas Tree App. Be advised it will crash your computer. Geek Squad says it’s one of the Worst Trojan Viruses there is and it is spreading quickly. Please repost to friends & let them know!!!”
In actuality, Geek Squad has not officially investigated this particular application, nor have we identified it as the source of any infections in any cases we have supported. However, this does not automatically indicate that the application is not malicious.
As a general security precaution and to help prevent spam, make sure you do your research. If you can’t verify that the developer of a Facebook app is trustworthy, you may want to reconsider granting it access to your profile.
You can verify the safety of some of the links that you and your friends share on your Facebook wall with free tools from Webroot (https://apps.facebook.com/WebrootScrub/) and Norton (https://apps.facebook.com/nortonsafeweb/)
These tools will check the links shared on your Facebook wall with their database and indicate if they are safe.. This is just another tool that you have to help you make smart decisions about what you click on when browsing.
When you install a Facebook application it is important to consider:
• Any Facebook application that you install or use on your profile has access to your personal information and friends list. Make sure you’re only interacting with applications and people you trust with your personal info.
• Facebook developers are bound by a contract with Facebook which requires them to respect the privacy settings you’ve chosen for your account information. Occasionally Facebook identifies developers who break these rules and use personal information for less-than-friendly purposes. The end result of this misuse of personal information is identity theft — yet another reason to be extra careful with the information you’re sharing via applications.
• Typically, Facebook applications cannot directly interact with your computer or infect your computer with viruses. However, if a rogue application gains access to your personal information, hackers could use that information to infect your computer through other means, or trick you into downloading an infection using a pop-up or “scareware” tactics. Be careful about what you click on inside applications, as these pages and the information inside them are not provided by Facebook. They could potentially be used by companies or individuals to steal personal information, or infect your computer.
It is important to remember when Geek Squad issues an official warning for a potential virus it will always come from this Blog. Updates to our Blog are often cascaded through our other official pages such as YouTube, Facebook , and Twitter. As always, if you experience any undesired computer symptoms, seek help from a computer professional as soon as possible.
If your Facebook account seems compromised or sending out messages you didn’t intend to send, it could be a sign that your computer may be infected, and you should seek professional assistance. Geek Squad offers a do-it-yourself virus scan at GeekSquad.com. Our Geek Squad Agents are also standing by 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year at Http://www.GeekSquad.com and 1-800-GeekSquad. You can also visit your local Geek Squad Precinct at Best Buy for a consultation.
For more information, visit Facebook’s Safety Center (http://www.facebook.com/safety), check out the Geek Squad home page at www.geeksquad.com, or contact your nearest Geek Squad Agent. Whether it’s online, via 1-800-GEEKSQUAD, or in any Best Buy store, we’re here to help 24/7/365!
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