May 2022
Windows 11
We are now using Windows 11. So far, it works great. There are no compelling new features for most business users. If you are interested in upgrading or purchasing a new computer with Windows 11, check these first:
Your hardware is supported- including all the attached printers and other devices.
Your software is supported– business-critical software needs to be supported. Some programs may work even if the vendor doesn’t support Windows 11 yet.
You are willing to learn– the interface is different, and things are moved around—plan on spending some time learning the new interface and setting it up the way you want.
Make sure everything you care about is backed up.
Hardware compatibility check – download installer here.
Windows 11 known issues.
Windows 10 devices with Internet Explorer 11 as the default browser won’t receive the upgrade offer to Windows 11 due to the probable loss of IE 11 data. IE 11 is not included with Windows 11.
Microsoft 365 and current Microsoft desktop programs are compatible and supported.
QuickBooks Desktop 2022 (Pro Plus, Premier Plus, Pro, and Enterprise) R3 or later is certified as fully compatible with Windows 11 64-bit.
Intuit ProSeries is supported.
Adobe Acrobat DC, Standard, and Pro are compatible. Creative Cloud 2022 is compatible.
AutoCAD and toolset of versions 2021 and 2022 fully support Windows 11. It is recommended to update all hardware drivers to Windows 11 before installing the AutoCAD-based products.
Sage 50 is not supported.
Time Matters 2021 is supported.
Windows 11 Audio software manufacturer compatibility list.
The compatibility mode feature is identical in both Windows 10 and 11. Most software can be run in compatibility mode, even if it is not supported by the vendor (not recommended).
Windows 10 version 20H2 (released Oct 2020) will be supported until May. Prior versions are unsupported.
Support for Internet Explorer 11 will end on June 15, 2022. If you try to use it, the website will open in Microsoft Edge, which has an IE 11 legacy mode. Many legacy apps and websites still rely on IE11 and have yet to migrate to Edge. Microsoft FAQ.
Microsoft IE11 Deprecation and What it Means for Lacerte.
QuickBooks and Internet Explorer 11.
Quickbooks TLS error. Some users may need to enable TLS 1.2.
Quickbooks Desktop 2022 is available only as a subscription. The 2021 Desktop version will be supported through May 2024
Microsoft will discontinue support for old network protocols, including NETBIOS and LLMNR. This could affect some very old databases and network software. They will also be discontinuing support for SMB1, which is used in some older copier/printers and NAS devices.
In light of anticipated rate increases due to the FCC deregulation, prices for POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) lines are expected to skyrocket. In some cases, they will no longer be offered.
Power outages are on the rise in California. There were 25,281 blackout events in 2019, a 23% increase from 20,598 in 2018. The number of utility customers affected jumped to 28.4 million in 2019, up 50% from 19 million in 2018.
Among the leading causes of these power outages is an aging electricity grid that hasn’t kept up with a changing climate and evolving demands from utility customers.
Projected changes in energy use (PDF).
Power outages from severe weather have doubled over the past two decades across the U.S.
The California Energy Commission’s summer reliability assessment for 2022 shows there may be up to a 5-gigawatt shortfall on the grid.
2022 predictions: Internet and network outages will continue to get worse before they get better
Recent outages have also taken longer to resolve, indicating that massive growth is quickly becoming unmanageable.
You Can Now Ask Google to Remove Your Phone Number, Email, or Address from Search Results.
Google Takeout: Export a copy of the content in your Google Account to back it up or use it with a service outside of Google.
Twitter agreed to a sale to Elon Musk for about $44 billion. Musk will take the firm private.
LastPass: 20 percent off new paid subscriptions till April 9.
SUPPLY CHAIN
“We believe the overall semiconductor shortage will now drift into 2024, from our earlier estimates [of] 2023, just because the shortages have now hit equipment and some of those factory ramps will be more challenged…” – Pat Gelsinger, Intel CEO
China’s key manufacturing hubs in Shanghai, Fuhong, Pudong, Changchun, Jilin, and Kunshan have been locked down for a month due to Omicron surges.
Jack in the Box turns to robots to solve staffing challenges.
COSTCO plans a second store in NW Visalia.
Cisco Warns Supply Chain Issues Causing Spike In Gray Market, Counterfeit IT Gear.
Vendors see a surge in counterfeit IT products, often without warranty or support.
Google to offer US businesses $100,000 worth of digital skills courses via Coursera.
SECURITY
How to Share a Password Securely.
More options: https://password.link/ https://pwpush.com/en/
Zoom agrees to $85m payout over privacy scandals and pledges to make its platform safer.
Kronos cyberattack sparks lawsuits against employers.
This shows how third-party cybersecurity breaches can lead to problems for the companies that use those products or services.
Ransomware Attacks on Agricultural Cooperatives Potentially Timed to Critical Seasons (PDF link).
HUMOR
