Here's How: Set Windows 7 To Auto Log ON

Our Mark Stein recently sent over instructions on how to turn on Auto Log ON on a Windows 7 System. I also found this excerpt from Microsoft’s Channel 9 that suggests that you might not want to do this, but if your heart is set on bypassing this security function read on…

Although I don’t personally recommend this, there are some people out there who don’t want to bother with using a password to protect their Windows user account. Using a password in Windows isn’t required, only suggested. But even if you don’t fill one in, you still have to click your user icon to start the login process.

An easier way - although again much less secure - is to enable auto-logins for your Windows PC. This is possible in Windows 7, as it was in prior versions, but it takes a little finagling to do so. (And for good reason, darn it.)

Still, if you must do this, here’s how:

1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to launch the “Run” dialog box.
2. Type in control userpasswords2
3. Press Enter. The User Accounts window will display.
4. Uncheck the option “Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer”
5. Click “OK”
6. You will then be prompted to enter the current password and confirm it.
7. After doing so, you will no longer be prompted to enter your password upon login.

Use this tip at your own risk!

How are you using an iPad!

TechRepublic just posted an article discussing “10 innovative ways businesses are using the iPad”.

Many of these outlined uses can be applied to any kind of tablet but the iPad is definitely the most pervasive. Most of these uses revolve around either streamlining the company's operations or how the company engages with their clients.

Read this guest posting by Brad Hintze, the chief marketing officer for MokiMobility, which is a provider of cloud-based mobile device management platform for single-purpose iOS and Android devices. I think you will find it interesting. Click on the image below to jump to the article.

What! No DVD Player in Windows 8!

Listening to Windows Weekly this morning I find out that the new Windows 8 coming out will not natively support DVD playback. Referencing a blog entry from Building Windows 8 – Making Windows Media Center available in Windows 8, Steven Sinofsky first discusses their motivation behind breaking out Media Center but he puts one small mention in that Windows Media Player will not support DVD playback.

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Given the changing landscape, the cost of decoder licensing, and the importance of a straight forward edition plan, we’ve decided to make Windows Media Center available to Windows 8 customers via the Add Features to Windows 8 control panel (formerly known as Windows Anytime Upgrade). This ensures that customers who are interested in Media Center have a convenient way to get it.Windows Media Player will continue to be available in all editions, but without DVD playback support. For optical discs playback on new Windows 8 devices, we are going to rely on the many quality solutions on the market, which provide great experiences for both DVD and Blu-ray.

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Microsoft is going to rely on third party programmers to offer applications and CODECs to support DVD playback but will offer Windows Media Center which will have this support as an additional cost through a Windows Upgrade portal. You can purchase this in one of two paths. You will either have Windows 8 (home version) or Windows 8 Pro as a starting point from an OEM build or an upgrade path. You will need to install Windows 8 Pro Pack if you are starting with Windows 8 or, Windows 8 Media Center Pack if you are starting from Windows 8 Pro. The end result will be a product designated as Windows 8 Pro with Media Center. (see graphic below)

You still won’t be able to play DVD’s in Windows Media Player, but you will in Window Media Center. This is a pretty big deal if you consume your movies though your DVD collection or other DVD sources but with the general push these days towards streaming media sources then maybe this isn’t such a big deal. We just need to see these sources offer a much larger collection then it currently does. There are several sources for free CODEC’s that does offer DVD access so all is not lost, but it is just another step that we shouldn’t have to be subjected to.

Lee Mathews writes in his article DVD playback removed from Windows 8? Not exactly 

The Softies cite several reasons, including declining DVD sales and the shift to alternatives like iTunes, Hulu, and Netflix as reasoning for this. There are other considerations at work, too. Manufacturers are going to push Ultrabooks and tablets even harder when Windows 8 arrives, and those tend to ship without an optical drive. If Microsoft stops paying for a playback license you’re probably never going to use, it allows them to shave a few bucks off the price of Windows 8 without any loss of functionality to end users.

If you purchase a Windows 8 system that has a DVD recorder, I would be surprised if it doesn’t come bundled with the required CODEC’s and players to allow you to use it with your DVD Collection. So the only real problem  is going to be for those individuals that are doing upgrades to their own machines or building their own machines and installing an OEM copy of Windows 8 on that new system. If you are doing those things, then you are probably able to also find a solution for this issue as well.

Astaro Security Gateway V7 End-of-Life Reminder

Press Release: As originally announced last year to our partners, Version 7 of Astaro Security Gateway will be end-of-life on December 31st 2012.  As this date approaches we’d like to provide an update on the options available if you still run this version of our product. If you do not have an ASG V7 installation you are unaffected by this announcement (and following ones) and can disregard it. If however you maintain an active installation of ASG V7, you should read on for what the sun setting on this version means for you.

On December 31st 2012, we will conclude all maintenance, security patching, updates, and any further kind of support for Astaro Security Gateway (ASG) Version 7. Before this date occurs, you should migrate to the latest stable version - either to ASG V8 or its successor UTM V9 that will launch in July 2012.  Customers with an existing valid license and maintenance can choose several paths for upgrading their installation to a newer version. For a complete list of current options, pricing, and anything not covered in this reminder announcement, you should always contact your partner or sales representative who will be happy to assist you in answering any questions.

Installations running an ASG V7 software appliance on their own hardware need to install an updated version and then restore a backup file of their configuration, which will apply all your settings except for log files and on-box reports. Logs can be exported in bulk from within the WebAdmin beforehand, while reports will begin anew on your updated platform as existing ones will be purged. If you have an Astaro Security Gateway hardware appliance running V7.510+, there is the option from the Up2Date menu to one-touch-upgrade to ASG V8. This will bring you to the V8 platform automatically, but will require further Up2Dates to be applied after the migration is complete to bring you to the very latest release of the V8 platform. This summer in July of 2012, we will release UTM 9 which is currently in open beta. This platform cannot be directly upgraded to from ASG V7 via a one-touch operation. In order to move from ASG V7 to UTM 9, you will need to re-install UTM 9 when it is released and then restore a backup file. Most features should import successfully, but for best results you should first restore your backup into ASG V8 and then take a backup from that platform into UTM 9.

As we move closer to the End-of-Life date for V7, we will send out additional notices and information covering this topic via email to registered V7 administrators, our Partner newsletter, and other channels. Our newest versions offer complete security, better performance, and hundreds of new features to make your business safer and more productive. We look forward to having you as customer on our latest technology.

-Angelo Comazzetto

Sr. Product Manager

Lilliputian Systems Announces Strategic Partnership Agreement with Brookstone

Press Release: WILMINGTON, MASS. (May 8, 2012) – Lilliputian Systems Inc. (LSI), a developer of portable power products for consumer electronics, is pleased to announce that it has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Brookstone, Inc. (Brookstone), a multichannel lifestyle retailer and innovative product development company, to launch LSI’s initial product, a revolutionary portable charger for power hungry consumer electronics.

Under the terms of the agreement, Brookstone will be the first retail launch partner for LSI’s portable charging system. Brookstone will be responsible for the marketing, promotion, distribution and sale of the product through their various distribution channels such as catalog, Brookstone.com, and retail stores including airport and mall locations. Lilliputian will be responsible for the product design, development, and manufacturing. The product will be branded and sold under the Brookstone® brand.

"Today's Smartphones use much more power, increasing the need for a more efficient way to recharge when on the go," said Steven Schwartz, Vice President of Merchandising and Product Development at Brookstone. "Lilliputian's groundbreaking technology provides power, wherever and whenever you need it. This breakthrough aligns well with our commitment to innovative solutions that make life easier."

The stand-alone, portable, lightweight, “plug-less charger” product will charge and power billions of Consumer Electronics (CE) devices that subscribe to the USB standard. (e.g. smart phones, mobile handsets, MP3 music/video players, digital cameras, etc.). It provides several weeks of “always available” Personal Power™ to the user from a single recyclable cartridge. Lasting significantly longer than alternative solutions and costing much less than primary spare batteries, the portable power system offers a compelling value proposition and unparalleled mobility and freedom (from wall outlets) for consumers with power hungry smart phones. Additionally, the system can be used for multiple devices, significantly reducing the need for consumers to travel with cables and power adapters. The product has been approved for carry-on and use for regular commercial aircraft abroad by the UN International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and domestically by The U.S. Department of Transportation, offering a superior, convenient solution to the myriad of CE power challenges faced by today’s user.

“We are happy to announce our first strategic go-to-market partnership agreement with Brookstone,” said Ken Lazarus, Lilliputian CEO. “Brookstone’s widespread distribution, brand recognition and reach to our targeted customer base are world-class and we are certain this will be a successful partnership. Together with Brookstone, we look forward to providing customers with a real solution to the challenge of keeping today’s mobile CE devices powered.”

“Countless surveys, focus groups and research reports have shown that current and near-term battery technologies are incapable of satisfying the growing consumer demand for portable power – a fact that any smartphone user already knows,” said Mouli Ramani, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development, Lilliputian Systems. “This new power system will transform how consumers use their CE devices; they will never have to hunt for a wall outlet or run out of power midday again. It’s like having a plug in your pocket”

Brookstone and Lilliputian will make a formal product announcement in the coming months.

Arizona Cardiac Surgeons Pay $100,000 To Settle HIPAA Violations

ZixCorp just sent out a partner advisory discussing an article about a five physician practice that was recently fined $100,000 for HIPAA violations, including not encrypting PHI in email.

- April 2012, Forbes.comArizona Cardiac Surgeons Pay $100,000 to Settle HIPAA Violations

With proactive, random HIPAA audits now from the Office of Civil Rights, a huge increase in HIPAA audits and enforcement is a reality for 2012. There are many organizations vulnerable to high fines and irreversible damage to their reputation and now is the time to educate your clients and prospects on how ZixCorp Email Encryption services can prevent these harmful headlines from happening to them.

“This case is significant because it highlights a multiyear, continuing failure on the part of this provider to comply with the requirements of the Privacy and Security Rules,” said Leon Rodriguez, director of the HHS Office of Civil Rights. “We hope that health care providers pay careful attention to this resolution agreement and understand that the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules have been in place for many years, and OCR expects full compliance no matter the size of a covered entity.” – April 2012, HHS.gov

New Intel Motherboard Feature Sets

Got a note from one of distributors discussing the features on the new Intel Desktop Boards.

• Intel Smart Response Technology: Maximize Responsiveness with Intel SRT; Rapid Start and Smart connect Technologies.
• Power Supervisor: Ensure System Protection from power supply failure, surge and over current conditions.
• Bios Vault Technology: Virtually incorruptible Bios that provides fault tolerance and secure firmware.
• Fast Boot: speed through system boot times and eliminate unnecessary delays.
• Wifi & Bluetooth Combo: Bluetooth/wifi module and front panel USB 3.0 modules included on select models.
• Intelligent Phase Shedding Technology: Keeps system operating in the most efficient power performance state.

If you want more information on Intel’s new products take a look at this resource:

http://www.intelbettertogether.com/main.aspx