Category Archives: Business

Fake Online Reviews

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Amazon deletes 20,00 fake online reviews after users profit from five-star ratings. An investigation from the Financial Times alleged that many users were profiting from posting thousands of five star reviews. One reviewer posted a five-star review on average once every four hours. They reviewed over £15,000 worth of products.

Products manufactured by small Chinese brands has many of these reviews to help boost sales. Reviewers would then go on and sell them on eBay. It appears that one reviewer made nearly £20,000 since June. Selling items including vacuum cleaners, laptops, dolls houses and selfie lights.

When contacted by the Financial Times, one reviewer denied posting paid-for reviews. They then deleted their review history from their Amazon page.

Can you trust online reviews?

Items posted were described as “unused” and “unopened” on the reviewer’s eBay page. These were apparently duplicates, they claimed.

In the descriptions for the products on eBay, the reviewer described an electric scooter. This was the same brand that they had reviewed on Amazon – as “hands down my favourite toy”. they went on to claim, they “purchased a second one for my fiancée”.

Two of the ten other top-ranked Amazon reviewers also deleted their history. Another removed their name and reviews, changing their profile picture to an image which read “please go away”.

The Financial Times suggests that nine of the UK’s ten reviewers were engaged in “suspicious behaviour”. “We want Amazon customers to shop with confidence knowing that the reviews they read are authentic and relevant,” Amazon said. It added that it would suspend, ban, and sue people who violate its policies.

Amazon’s community guidelines state that reviewers cannot post content in exchange for compensation of any kind.  This includes free or discounted products or on behalf of anyone else.

Fake Online Reviews

The UK Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation into fake and misleading reviews. Unscrupulous sellers are using a range of tactics to evade detection on Amazon to mislead shoppers with fake reviews.

Amazon’s murky world of fake online one-star reviews

Amazon’s marketplace is being abused by independent sellers using fake online one-star reviews to harm rivals, the BBC has been told.

Newsnight spoke to a number of those affected who believe their sales have suffered as a consequence.

A consumer rights champion now wants a UK watchdog to investigate further, as part of a probe into fake reviews that is already under way. Amazon claims to be “relentless” in tackling review manipulation. Even so, some of those targeted believe it cannot eradicate the problem. Third-party vendors have sold more physical goods on Amazon’s site than the US tech giant itself every year since 2015, according to its own figures.

Honest advice from the experts

We are proud to say we are celebrating our 25th year in business. We pride ourselves on delivering nothing but the very best customer service and solutions to our customers whatever the situation may be.

Contact the LIS Help Desk for honest advice for your company’s IT requirements. We won’t advise you to have a repair or upgrade done if it’s not the best solution. Rest assured that using us for your IT support, you will enjoy the latest advice, services, technology and developments in the industry.

 LIS – SECURING YOU DIGITAL WORLD

#technews #amazon #Reviews #ITSupport

 

Big Windows 10 changes

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Big Windows 10 changes could be coming as Microsoft prepares next big release. The software giant may soon have to support two operating systems simultaneously. Microsoft could be preparing to completely change its update schedule for Windows 10 due to the upcoming release of Windows 10X.

Windows 10: A guide to the updates

In a recent article by Computerworld, discusses what you need to know about each update to the current version of big Windows 10 changes.

As reported by ZDNet, the software giant has said little about its plans for Windows 10X since back since May 2019. Chief product officer Panos Panay revealed in a blog post that the company would pivot its focus from single-screen devices to dual-screen devices that leverage the power of the cloud.

Big windows 10 changes

Microsoft could be preparing to change its update schedule for Windows 10 due to the upcoming release of Windows 10X.

According to sources, Microsoft is now targeting spring 2021 for the first commercial release of Windows 10X. This is not a new operating system but rather a variation of Windows 10. The features have a simpler user interface and a more modular form. The company had originally planned to ship 10X first on upcoming dual-screen devices including its own Surface Neo.

ZDNet reports that Microsoft’s latest plan will see 10X first debut on single-screen devices aimed at businesses and education in the spring of 2021. Followed by a roll out for additional single-screen and dual-screen devices in the spring of 2022.

Windows 10 release schedule

Now that Microsoft will soon have to release updates for both Windows 10 and Windows 10X, its update schedule will likely change as well.

The company could end up releasing just one feature update per year for Windows 10 beginning in 2021. In an effort to allow its engineers to work on updates for both operating systems according to ZDNet‘s sources. If this is true, then Microsoft will likely deliver Windows 10X releases in the spring and Windows 10 feature updates in the fall moving forward.

If the company does move to once-a-year feature update schedule, it will roll out Windows 10 20H2 in the fall of this year but this will be a very minor feature update. In the spring of 2021 though, Microsoft will finally release Windows 10X for the first time.

In the autumn of 2021, the news outlet’s sources say that the company will roll out a feature update for Windows 10. With an updated version of Windows 10X releasing in the spring of 2022. This version will work on both single-screen as well as dual-screen devices.

We will likely know exactly what Microsoft plans to do soon but updating Windows 10 in one half of the year and Windows 10X during the other half of the year does make a lot of sense. The company will now have to support two operating systems with updates and new feature releases.

Keep your business up to date and secure

LIS will always keep your Windows applications up to date and secure. If you are do not have managed IT monthly services you need to talk to us.

Contact the LIS Help Desk to make sure your business is up to date and secure. We can undertake an IT audit. Upgrade your network to the latest Windows or MAC OS systems. We can check that you have the correct anti-spam and anti-virus software installed. Finally, make sure you can work anywhere, any time and on any device. We can upgrade your Microsoft Office package to Office 365. Take advantage of our Office 365 Security Package. With so many options to make your working life easier… it would be rude not to find out what is available.

LIS – SECURING YOUR DIGITAL WORLD

#Windows10 #ITSupport #Security #Business

Work from anywhere

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Technology started allowing us to work from anywhere remotely in the early 2000s. Laptops, VPN and increased Internet bandwidth set this trend in motion, allowing people to connect to corporate networks from home to access email, servers or other systems. Employees depended on this way of working to perform their daily duties.

What it didn’t address at the time was the human element. People’s desire to work on their own terms, anytime, anywhere and on any device. In the early 2000’s technology didn’t readily support this paradigm of “remote work”. Most workers didn’t even know what they were missing in terms of flexibility or convenience.

Work from anywhere, any device and any time

More and more large companies are realizing the benefits about working from home. Why stress your employees out with the expense and commute in to the office. Business Insider explores some of out largest companies working from home.

We’ve put together a brand new guide to show you the most important things to consider with a permanent flexible working arrangement for your people.

Work From Anywhere

The future is now… YOUR desktop, anytime, anywhere, any device! IT does not need to be complicated. Business owners need to concentrate on what they do best, running their business.

Top technical desires

Working 0nline or offline: Back in the late 90’s, for those old enough to remember, Lotus Notes pioneered this concept. Notes had the ability to replicate databases locally between servers and users’ local desktops. Today many technologies do this seamlessly to access emails, files or other corporate systems.

Instant gratification: Today users want access to information immediately and from any device. A mere 15 years ago expectations were very different. Employees had to be logged into a PC at the office to gain access to data. Expectations have taken a monumental shift thanks to new technology. Now smartphones, tablets, broadband, WiFi, and 4/5G all make information accessible at our fingertips.

Advanced communication: Recent advances in infrastructure and hardware have enabled new ways to communicate and collaborate. The use of these new platforms differs based on age, culture and social boundaries. There are so many choices available that employees can communicate via more channels than ever before. Document sharing, enterprise social media, gamification, instant messaging, phone, text, email, video, video or voice chat, screen sharing.

The new normal

Work anywhere you have an internet connection and often where you do not. There are many closed based back up solutions. We would recommend OneDrive.

With the ability to synchronise your OneDrive and your machine, you can now save your documents to a local folder. They will synchronise to the cloud in the background! Start a document at work and save it. The file will fly off gently to the cloud without human intervention. You can then pick up where you left off in a coffee shop or at home, working locally or in your browser. It does not matter which browser either, it works in Edge, IE11, Safari, Chrome or Firefox.

Work anytime

Well you can work anywhere, on any device so it follows that you can also work at any time. Now you may see this as a blessing or a curse. A blessing because you are not tied to your office and the opening times of the building. Which means you can get that report finished no matter where you are or what time it is. However, that is also a curse because you could work all night if you wanted to or even if you do not. Great for night owls!

As we adopt a more mobile workforce and many professions now run their business from a home, the office or even a coffee shop. We would recommend using Office 365 and take advantage of our Office 365 Security Package. It is easy to use and collaboration with clients and colleagues is now much easier.

Review your IT infrastructure. Enable your team to work from anywhere

Moving to Office 365 has huge benefits for productivity and collaboration. Because Office 365 has many security features built in it can be achieved safely. The extensive compliance manager gives controlled access to your data. You can remain in control and as an added benefit you quickly achieve full GDPR compliance. Have you moved to Office 365 yet and has it transformed your working life? Is your IT system set up and ready for your workforce to work from anywhere, any device and any time?

Contact the LIS Help Desk to speak to one of our experienced IT technicians. We carry out an IT audit to enable us to what recommend the best hardware and software solutions. Find out how we can make your workplace mor efficient and productive.

LIS – SECURING YOUR DIGITAL WORLD

#FreeGuide #NewWorkingPatterns #PreparedForTheNewNormal

Mobile users feel ripped off

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Overpayments ‘rip-off’ on phone contracts could cost you more than £400 a year, Which? says The regulator has asked providers to reduce monthly costs after customers have paid off the price of their phones. Mobile users feel ripped off, as high-end handsets tend to only be sold with expensive tariffs. They come packaged up with a generous inclusive allowance. This means shoppers often buy tariffs that significantly exceed their needs.

Which reveal mobile users feel ripped off

A third of mobile phone customers are still being charged the full price of their contract – even after paying off the cost of their handset, Which? has warned. The BBC reported the news story and listed some of the worst offenders.

A third of mobile phone customers are still being charged the full price of their contract – even after paying off the cost of their handset, Which? has warned.

The consumer rights group is calling for networks to end the “overpayments rip-off”, which costs an estimated £182m a year. It estimates some Britons could be out of pocket to the tune of more than £400 annually.

Mobile users feel ripped off

Your phone company could have overcharged you by £400. Customers are still overpaying when contracts end.

Which? found that 36% of people whose contract ended in the past two months are still paying off the price of their smartphone.

This is despite providers promising Ofcom that, from February 2020, customers would get a reduced tariff after their contracts end – reflecting the fact that the device had been fully paid for.

Three was the worst offender, Which? claims, with 43% of customers whose contracts ended in the past six months seeing no drop in the price of their monthly bill.

This meant that someone with a “bundle” contract on a Samsung S20 5G – which came out at £37 a month – would be overpaying their bill by as much as £444 a year after it ended.

About 40% of EE customers saw no price drop at the end of their contract – with 31% of Vodafone customers seeing no change either.

Are you due for an upgrade?

Here at LIS, we offer everything your business needs to keep talking. Specialising in business telephone systems, lines & calls, broadband, business mobiles and IT services, we’ve got you covered. From our first conversations, our in-house team of experts will ask the right questions so that we can recommend a solution that will both perform and deliver a return.

Contact the LIS Help Desk to make sure you not overpaying. Are your handsets out of date? Are you fed up with slow Internet speeds? We offer every telecoms service to get you connected. We supply sim only connections with no hardware so there is complete clarity over how much you pay. You don’t need to change your phone unless it suits you. We may not be the cheapest but we don’t rip you off!

LIS – SECURING YOUR DIGITAL WORLD

#Telecoms #Broadband #Business #ITSupport

Driving test website

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Driving test website for England and Wales crashes shortly after reopening. DVSA portal had almost 7 million visits in 12 hours when it reopened after several months of suspension.

Driving test website crashes

The BBC reported millions of people were unable to access the site at all or losing their booking part way through the process.

Learner drivers will be unable to book a driving test until Wednesday. Urgent maintenance has started on the website after it crashed at a time of unprecedented demand.

Driving test website

The DVSA said 210,000 driving tests had been cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Credit: Alamy

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) said its driving test booking service had almost 7m visits in 12 hours. It reopened after several months of suspension during the coronavirus lockdown.

It said on Saturday that it had taken the service offline until 8am on Wednesday. Increased demand on the site led to essential maintenance to keep the site running.

Gareth Llewellyn, the DVSA’s chief executive, said: “Coronavirus has severely impacted our business-as-usual operations, including by stopping driving tests in March. Since then DVSA have only been dealing with applications for emergency driving tests for critical workers.

“Following unprecedented demand for the driving test booking system with almost 7m attempts to book a test when it opened, we need to carry out urgent maintenance so people can book tests. DVSA have closed the booking service until Wednesday 26 August and are sorry for any inconvenience.”

When will the driving test website re-open?

The DVSA driving test booking service for England and Wales reopened again at 8am on Friday after being closed since 20 March. The service received 7 million visits by 8pm. This left candidates unable to complete their bookings. Users received an error message when attempting to access the bookings page.

210,000 tests had been cancelled and tens of thousands more were delayed because of Covid-19, said the DVSA. Learners whose tests were cancelled during lockdown were first invited to rebook in July.

Driving tests in Scotland are due to restart from 14 September, but people are not yet able to book a slot.

IT does not have to drive you mad

Don’t let your IT system drive you mad. We are the IT recovery service for when your website crashes and/or you experience computer problems. Contact the LIS Help Desk today and our friendly team will be glad to offer you assistance.

We can fix your problems, suggest upgrades and manage your back up solutions. With a monthly IT contract, the benefits are endless. Can you afford not to work with an efficient, reliable and knowledgeable IT company. We are only one click or a phone call away. With our help you can drive towards your goals without tests getting in the way.

LIS – SECURING YOUR DIGITAL WORLD

#Websites #Internet #ITSupport #Security