Microsoft Surface Pro X

Microsoft is at it again with the announcement of the new Surface Pro X. This 2-in-1 laptop also acts as a tablet and offers a slim, sleek design, next-gen graphics, and plenty of storage. Aiming to be the perfect laptop for business, this model succeeds. Whether it's used in the conference room or the classroom, let's take a look at how the Surface Pro X can benefit you.

Display
The Surface Pro X offers a 13" touchscreen display, allowing you to see and do more an a near edge-to-edge screen. The screen automatically adjusts the brightness based on your environment's lighting.

Design
Microsoft's thinnest 2-in-1 laptop measures in at an astonishing 7.3 mm so it stays out of your way and fits right into your backpack with no unnecessary bulk. The laptop is offered in a matte black design, complimenting the anodized aluminum casing. Microsoft also provides a carbon composite, fan-less thermal cooling system to make sure the device doesn't overheat.

Capabilities
Microsoft offers a removable SSD which comes in 128, 256, or 512GB options. The battery life offers 13 hours of typical device usage, so you don't need to worry about taking your charger to class. Campus WiFi not working? No problem. The Surface Pro X includes LTE Advanced Pro 4 so you can use cellular data to finish those last-minute projects.

This laptop is perfect for students for it's convenience, capabilities, and innovation. Made up your mind? The Surface Pro X retails for $999 and is available at Best Buy or Amazon.com and Microsoft.com. But don't worry, Microsoft offers a student discount of 10% on Windows devices so you're not breaking the bank.

Tyler Parker
Social Media & Marketing Student Assistant
Web & Digital Strategies

Does iPad OS now make the iPad a computer?

During the 2019 World Wide Developers Conference, Apple announced an all new Operating System for the iPad platform. This meant we would now have macOS, iOS, watchOS, tvOS and finally the newly announced iPadOS.

iPadOS is built with iOS 13 as the foundation, so a lot of iOS 13 features are built-in. But with a twist! It packs additional features designed exclusively for the iPad, making it a whole new powerhouse, but with a significant learning curve. Fret not, with true dedication to learn and the passion to figure out how it fits into your workflow, you too can take advantage of this impressive platform.

Currently iPadOS can be installed on the following devices:

• iPad Pro (Series 1, 2 and 3)
• iPad (5th, 6th and 7th Generation)
• iPad mini (4th and 5th Generation)
• iPad Air (3rd Generation)
• iPad Air 2

So what makes the iPad more than an iPhone with a bigger screen?

Better Multitasking. Now with improved Slide Over you can have multiple 'iPhone sized' apps always running, ready to be accessed with one swipe. Now, you can also have the same app running in multiple windows. You can also have the same app in multiple work spaces! Want to see how many instances you have running of a particular app? You can now with the App Expose feature.

Floating Keyboard and Swiping. You know how the keyboard would take 1/3rd of the available screen real estate of your iPad? Not anymore! You can shrink the keyboard to an iPhone sized keyboard, and now even swipe for easy one handed use.

Better File Management. Apple has finally overhauled the way you access and store your files. With the added feature of connecting external drives (better have your dongle handy) and syncing your cloud drives (Google Drive, OneDrive etc).

New Home Screen with Widgets on the ready. Having widgets always on the home screen improves upon your overall experience.

Apple Pencil latency upgrade. It's as smooth as writing on paper, but on glass instead. With just a software update they've managed to improve the latency to a low 9 milliseconds.

Text Editing with ease. You now have gestures for multi-select, cut, copy, paste, undo and redo.

Desktop Grade Safari. One of my biggest issues was getting served mobile websites on my big iPad screen. Well not anymore!

Sidecar. If you have a MacBook and an iPad, then this one is for you. Extend your MacBook work space to your iPad with pencil support. MacOS on your iPad? Sounds like a great work system!

Side Note: I've tried to use this in three different instances and failed. Unfortunately, Sidecar is limited to Macbooks with the butterfly keyboard, Mac Mini 2018, iMac late 2015 and later, iMac Pro 2017 and later, Mac Pro 2019.

Better Screenshots. You can now use your Apple Pencil to take a screenshot, with the added ability of taking full page screenshots.

Mouse Support. Don't get too excited about this one yet! Mouse support is available only as an accessibility feature. So, the experience is very limited.

Font Management. You can now have custom fonts installed and use them in all your apps. Simple as that.

Although, this isn't a 1:1 laptop replacement, it definitely is a great laptop alternative for. The iPad is a behemoth of a platform, that will allow you to perform 90% of your desired tasks (albeit the special software that you'd currently need a computer for.) Now. all you have left to do is figure out how you're going to revamp your work flow to accommodate for the touch screen!

New Home Screen + Widgets | Better Screenshots with Markup | QuickType Floating Keyboard

Multiple instances of the same app & Desktop Grade Safari |
Full page Screenshots with Markup | Multiple Apps in Slide Over

Sign In With Apple

Saandhyarag Sasidhar
Student Operations Manager
Web and Digital Strategies

myIT Tip of the Week

What Browser are you using? 

Here at the help desk, we receive a lot of calls with browser-related issues. If you happen to be trying to reach a page you use every day and that site isn’t working, it can usually be fixed by simply trying another browser. If you have Google Chrome, give it a try. Chrome works best if you are accessing Banner 9 Admin pages and Canvas. You are free to use the browser of your choice, but remember some sites only work in specific browsers. One example is InfoPath on Form Central. InfoPath Form links must be opened using Internet Explorer. 

Cyber Security Month: Tips of the week

In honor of Cyber Security Awareness month, the IT department has been working to bring you helpful tips, tricks, and reminders to keep you and your personal information safe. Here, we take a more in-depth look at some of the tips we've provided.

1. Filter What You Post

Employers are looking into social media more and more everyday. Whatever you post today has the potential to affect your future career and reputation. Remember, there is no ‘Delete’ button on the Internet! Share with care, if a post or picture is deleted from your profile even seconds after posting it, chances are someone still saw it. Even the ever so popular "Finsta," short for "fake Instagram" is not a valid form of privacy. Followers of the account have the ability to screenshot posts, send your posts to other friends via direct message, or even just pulling up your account in person.

2. Update Your Privacy Settings


Set your privacy and security settings to your comfort level for information sharing. Disable geotagging, which allows anyone to see where you are—and where you aren’t—at any given time. Geotagging can be used to collect your information for marketing, sales, and many other purposes. Many apps track your location in the background even when you're not using them!



3. Stay Away From Strangers

Connect only with people you trust! Most social networks are a journal of your personal information. They display your name, your friends, your likes and interests, locations you've been, and even workplaces and personal addresses. While some social networks might seem safer for connecting because of the limited personal information shared through them, keep your connections to people you know and trust.

4. Limit Personal Information

Because social networks display the information previously discussed, limit what information you post on social media. From personal addresses to where you like to grab coffee, most people treat their accounts like an autobiography. What you may not realize is that these details are all that criminals need to know to target you.



5. Speak up!

Speak up if you’re uncomfortable! If a friend posts something about you that makes you uncomfortable, let them know. Likewise, stay open-minded if a friend approaches you because something you’ve posted makes them uncomfortable. People have different tolerances for how much the world knows about them, and it is important to respect those differences. Don’t hesitate to report any instance of cyberbullying you see.

Tyler Parker
Social Media & Marketing Student Assistant 
Web & Digital Strategies

myIT Tip of the Week

Tips from our Classroom Techs: 

Before your Meeting/Class, it may be helpful to check: 

• 1) Does the space have the technology you are needing for your meeting/class? 
• 2) Are you logged in as SMART? 
• 3) If you are having a guest presenter speak, it would be helpful to ask them if they will be bringing their own device. If so, it would also be helpful to make sure that you have a way to connect their device to the projection system. Will they be able to connect to what is available?
• 4) Will an adapter be needed? 

• 5) Make sure the media embedded in the presentation (PowerPoint, Google Slide, etc.) is embedded properly and playing audio. 
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Issues with displays/podium/projector? Have you tried? 

• 1) Checking to see if the “Power” is on? 
• 2) If you aren’t getting a display on the monitor, try checking to make sure that the monitor is on, and connected to power. 
• 3) If you see your display on one screen and not another, try changing the display settings from “Duplicate” to “Extend these displays”. You can do this by right-clicking on the desktop and choosing “Display Settings”. 

• 4) "Googling" change display settings or change audio settings in windows 10 or Mac OSX is a great way to find the most current way to accomplish finding the current settings on a classroom computer.
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Before your ZOOM meeting

• 1) Do you have a ZOOM Pro account? 
• 2) Have you tested your tech before your meeting? 
• 3) Do you have a ceiling mounted camera and speakers? 

• 4) Did you receive an invitation via email? 
• 5) Are you the moderator/creator of this meeting?  
• 6) Do the participants have the necessary tech to participate and a stable connection? 
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