TechTips

Volume 2

  • November 13, 2009, Volume 2, No. 5

    • TechTips gives members of the Franklin & Marshall Community a quick and easy way to get timely information from ITS. News items range from Quick Tips on using technology to updates about current ITS services and future projects. TechTips also provides a mechanism for input and feedback to ITS.

    In this issue, we discuss some practices to assist in handling the increasingly large amounts of email we receive everyday. We also feature a comparison of our wired and wireless networks and provide an advisory against the newest influx of phishing scams we're seeing around campus. Additionally, we've got another episode of our TechTips Podcast.

    We welcome your comments and hope you enjoy TechTips and find it useful.

    -Christopher Silansky '05, Desktop Support Specialist

    • Overwhelmed by your Inbox? Time to enter the six-step program.:

      A recent survey from industry showed that 58% of workers spend up to three hours a day on email. If you have more than 100 messages in your inbox, read on… you know who you are.

    • TechTips Podcast #2: n/a
    • Wired vs. Wireless – Which is Best?:

      Which is the best way to connect to Franklin and Marshall College’s (F&M) Ethernet network – wired or wireless? To answer this question, one simple principle needs to be understood – dedicated resources vs. shared resources.

    • Phishing Scams on the Rise:

      In recent weeks Internet-wide phishing schemes have snared several members of the F&M community. Here are some guidelines from ITS on how to recognize and deal with these scams.

    • Quick Tips - 11/13/09:

      Having scroll problems with Apple's Mighty Mouse? Unable to select your eDisk folder, or has it disappeared from your desktop? This week, solutions to these common problems.

  • October 28, 2009, Volume 2, No. 4

    • TechTips gives members of the Franklin & Marshall Community a quick and easy way to get timely information from ITS. News items range from Quick Tips on using technology to updates about current ITS services and future projects. TechTips also provides a mechanism for input and feedback to ITS.

    In this issue, we focus on the "why" and "how" of backups. ITS has released communication on this topic in the past, but the TechTips staff believes that this is a topic that can never be covered too thoroughly. This week, we also outline the new hardware lineup introduced by Apple last week and announce an updated version of Symantec AntiVirus for Mac, now compatible with Snow Leopard.

    We welcome your comments and hope you enjoy TechTips and find it useful.

    -Christopher Silansky '05, Desktop Support Specialist

    • New Lineup of Macs:

      On Tuesday of last week, Apple released a vast array of upgraded technology to their hardware lineup. Here's an overview of what's new!

    • Backups: Revisited:

      Sure, ITS always talks about backups, but how important are they really?

    • Symantec AntiVirus 11:

      Information on the new version of Symantec AntiVirus – compatible with Snow Leopard!

    • ITS Hosts Backup Space for Time Machine:

      Information about our new backup service that replaces Retrospect Remote.

    • Quick Tips - 10/28/09:

      This week, some backup Q&A in a nutshell, and information on obtaining access to the F&M network for guests of the College.

  • October 15, 2009, Volume 2, No. 3

    • TechTips gives members of the Franklin & Marshall Community a quick and easy way to get timely information from ITS. News items range from Quick Tips on using ITS-supported software in your work at the College to updates about current services and future projects. TechTips also provides a mechanism for input and feedback to ITS.

    In this issue you will find useful advice on extending battery life, a reminder of our forthcoming switch to FandM-WiFi, advice for Verizon customers, and QuickTips on wireless network configuration and Microsoft Office.

    We also present our first TechTips Podcast which covers a wide range of topics from Windows 7 and Snow Leopard to inductive charging technology.

    We welcome your comments and hope you enjoy TechTips and find it useful.

    -Chris Swisher, Director of Desktop Integration & Support

    • Keep Your Batteries Going Strong:

      The battery in your laptop will eventually lose its endurance, but here are some tips to maximize its lifespan.

    • TechTips Podcast #1: n/a
    • FandM-WiFi – Making the Switch:

      This weekend, our old wireless network (Wireless FandM) will be deactivated. Make sure you know how to use the new network (FandM-WiFi) if you aren't already – we'll show you how to make a smooth transition.

    • Problems With Verizon DSL:

      Do you use Verizon for your internet access at home? Have you been having trouble sending email lately? Here's the explanation.

    • Quick Tips - 10/15/09:

      It's easy to end up with various wireless networks cluttering up the connection settings on your Mac. Find out how to clean them up.

  • October 2, 2009, Volume 2, No. 2

    • Welcome to TechTips, the Information Technology Services Newsletter.

    TechTips gives members of the Franklin & Marshall Community a quick and easy way to get timely information from ITS. News items range from Quick Tips on using ITS-supported software in your work at the College to updates about current services and future projects. TechTips also provides a mechanism for input and feedback to ITS. In this issue you will find information about a new crowdsourcing application we are testing called "Get Satisfaction," as well as articles about the iPhone and iPod Touch, information about the forthcoming Windows 7 operating system, and details on Snow Leopard, Apple's new operating system.

    We welcome your comments and hope you enjoy TechTips and find it useful.

    -Chris Swisher, Director of Desktop Integration & Support

    • Know Your OS - 10/2/09:

      An ongoing Windows/Mac discussion column between Jon Miller, Coordinator of Windows Support, and Christopher Silansky '05, Desktop Support Specialist.

    • iPhone 3.1 - Finally, MMS!:

      On September 9th, Apple released version 3.1 of the iPhone software. Learn about some of the additions and improvements here.

    • Get Satisfaction from ITS:

      ITS is testing a new tool to improve our abilities to solve problems and communicate. Help us help everyone and take a look!

    • Quick Tips - 10/2/09:

      This week, learn to create ringtones out of any song you own, for free, using GarageBand. Also, a rundown of the capabilities of the different versions of Windows 7.

  • September 16, 2009, Volume 2, No. 1

    • Welcome to the first TechTips Newsletter of the 2009-2010 Academic Year from Information Technology Services.

    TechTips gives members of the Franklin & Marshall Community a quick and easy way to get timely information from ITS. News items range from quick tips on using ITS supported software in your work at the College to updates about current services and future projects. TechTips also provides a mechanism for input and feedback to ITS. In this issue you will find information about our new home in the Harris Center called the Innovation Zone, as well as articles about Operating Systems and changes to the F&M Software Server. Lastly, I'm pleased to unveil the new ITS home page http://its.fandm.edu which has been redesigned to more efficiently provide current information about our resources and services.

    I welcome your comments and hope you enjoy TechTips and find it useful.

    Regards, Jon Enos, CIO

    • Know Your OS - 9/16/09:

      An ongoing Windows/Mac discussion column between Jon Miller, Coordinator of Windows Support, and Christopher Silansky '05, Desktop Support Specialist.

    • Welcome to the Innovation Zone:

      Haven't been to the new Innovation Zone yet? Come take a look around in the new Harris Center, between the College Center and the Martin Library of the Sciences.

    • Snow Leopard is Here:

      Apple's newest version of the Mac OS is here.

    • Updates on the Software Server:

      A few things to know about updates to the software on F&M's Software Server.

    • Quick Tips - 9/16/09:

      eDisk problems? Wondering about that new wireless network that's showing up? We can help.

Volume 1

  • July 8, 2009 - Summer Edition, Volume 1, No. 7

    • I hope you are having an enjoyable and productive summer. The Information Technology Services staff is working through our list of summer projects and upgrades to get ready for the upcoming academic year. The most exciting one is setting up our new home in the Harris Center, which is one of the stories you will read about in today’s edition of TechTips. You will also learn about the new iPhone and, in the Quick Tips section, some of the things you should do to make your computing transition back to campus smoother.

    I welcome your comments and hope you enjoy TechTips and find it useful.

    Regards,

    Jon Enos, CIO

    • iPhone OS 3.0 & 3G S:

      With so many threes floating around, the latest iPhone buzz can be a little hard to follow. Here, we'll do our best to clarify what's what and provide an overview of the new features available.

    • Moving into the Harris Center:

      An overview on the move from Martin and Stager into the new Harris Center.

    • Quick Tips - 7/8/09:

      We've got a few suggestions on how to minimize computing frustrations during time away from campus, and when you return.

  • May 4, 2009, Volume 1, No. 6

    • This week, we examine some of the features provided by ITS that ensure a safe computing environment for our College community. Our feature on virus definitions explains how to be sure that your antivirus software is always updated and working effectively. Additionally, we're pleased to be outlining some of the improvements in the new Campus Manager software that we'll be implementing this summer. In short, the newer version of the software will result in more robust network security and increased ease in registration.

    We hope you enjoy this issue of TechTips, and, as always, we'd love to hear any comments or questions you might have.

    -Christopher Silansky '05, Desktop Support Specialist

    • Computers Need Booster Shots Too:

      Antivirus definition updates are necessary for protecting your computer from viruses and other malware. Find out how to make sure your computer's antivirus software is up to date.

    • Campus Manager - 5/2/09:

      An overview of the new and improved Campus Manager software that will be helping to keep the College network safe, and what it means to you.

    • Quick Tips - 5/2/09:

      Information on file extensions (those strange letters at the end of filenames) and how to keep tabs on the overall safety of the Internet.

  • Apr 21, 2009, Volume 1, No. 5

    • Today’s edition highlights ways to improve your Google searches, information about burning a CD or DVD to save important data files, and more information on Franklin & Marshall's recently launched iTunes U site. iTunes U is a part of the Apple iTunes Store featuring free lectures, language lessons, audiobooks, and more, that you can enjoy on your iPod, iPhone, Mac, or PC. We have decided to use iTunes as the mechanism to deliver audio and video "podcasts" of public lectures and events that happen on campus. For now, Franklin & Marshall's site is private to the F&M Community, but it will soon join the public portion of the Apple iTunes Store so that we can share our events with everyone. For a short tutorial on what iTunes U is and how to use it, click here.

    I welcome your comments and hope you enjoy TechTips and find it useful.

    Regards,
    Jon Enos, CIO

  • Apr 6, 2009, Volume 1, No. 4

    • This week's edition of TechTips is a potpourri that picks up some of the threads we started in earlier issues. This time, we:

    • continue our discussion of the capabilities of eDisk
    • present our disaster recovery strategy
    • discuss all you wanted to know about Twitter
    • explore FAQs on file compression and Microsoft Word templates

    Enjoy!

    Chris Swisher,
    Director of Desktop Integration & Support

    • Sharing Files with eDisk:

      eDisk isn't just a place to store files when you run out of ink on your home printer and need to use the campus facilities. Find out how to share files across the globe and become a more savvy eDisk user in general!

    • Twitter: What does it do? And is it for me?: n/a
    • Disaster Recovery - 4/6/09:

      Here's an overview of how ITS is prepared to handle any sort of disaster that might affect College systems, and how we can avoid disruption should that occur.

    • Quick Tips - 4/6/09:

      Learn how to more efficiently send files to others, and how to save yourself some time when working in Word!

  • Mar 23, 2009, Volume 1, No. 3

    • Today’s edition focuses on ways to make your computer and the data that is on it both more secure and easier to recover if you have an equipment failure. One of the most important things you can do right now is to change your F&M unified password. This is something you should do every six months as a precaution against someone being able to guess your password and gain access to your data. Unfortunately our system logs reveal that too many of us have not changed our passwords in quite some time. So, please take a minute and visit http://password.fandm.edu, log in, and change your password. I would also encourage you to visit http://its.fandm.edu/security to learn more about our IT security policies and how to practice "safe computing."

    I welcome your comments and hope you enjoy TechTips and find it useful.

    Regards,
    Jon Enos, CIO

  • Mar 9, 2009, Volume 1, No. 2

    • Welcome to the new TechTips Newsletter from Information Technology Services.

    TechTips is designed to give members of the Franklin & Marshall Community a quick and easy way to get timely information from ITS. News items will range from quick tips on using ITS supported software in your work at the College to updates about current services and future projects. TechTips will also include timely discussions about larger IT issues in Higher Education as well as provide a mechanism for input and feedback to ITS.

    I welcome your comments and hope you enjoy TechTips and find it useful.
    Regards,
    Jon Enos, CIO

  • Feb 23, 2009, Volume 1, No. 1

    • Welcome to the new TechTips Newsletter from Information Technology Services.

    TechTips is designed to give members of the Franklin & Marshall Community a quick and easy way to get timely information from ITS. News items will range from quick tips on using ITS supported software in your work at the College to updates about current services and future projects. TechTips will also include timely discussions about larger IT issues in Higher Education as well as provide a mechanism for input and feedback to ITS.

    I welcome your comments and hope you enjoy TechTips and find it useful.
    Regards,
    Jon Enos, CIO

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