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Listen, I’m done. I’m done writing about it, I’m done talking about it, I’m done thinking about it. 

The timeless Serenity Prayer looks inside to find ¨the serenity to accept the things we cannot change¨…well, at the moment there’s not a lot we can change about this strange new world we share.

However, it also asks for ¨the courage to change the things one can¨…and that’s where we can take positive action in this time of uncertainty.

After some deep reflection, I’ve come to the conclusion that the healthiest thing to do given the circumstances is to get back to work, in mind and spirit if not in body…with that in mind, I was lucky enough to secure an interview with someone I really admire. 

Steve Anderson knows I consider him an all-around good guy, but what he may not know until reading it here, is that I also think of him as a mentor. 

Steve’s thought leadership in the space of Insurance and Technology and his steady work-ethic has given me consistent guidance throughout my career. I’ve also learned a lot from his new book, an insightful examination of tech magnate and junior world leader Jeff Bezos.  Steve has a worthy perspective, and so I hope you enjoy the video interview. It’s definitely insightful and worth a watch. And maybe you want to subscribe to my Youtube channel while you are at it.
 

The Right Tools for the Job

There are CRM capabilities built into many agency management systems the same way there may be a pair of scissors built into a Swiss Army knife…only kinda. The fact is that in most cases, the native resources in this area tend to…well, suck. Enter Hubspot. At just 50 bucks monthly to get started, Hubspot will transform your agency sales process and likely pay for itself in no time…another worthy mention, where it will actually integrate with your management system is  Agency Revolution, which you should also give a try.

A Portable Pop-Up Party

…but enough about work, already! One lesson from early 2020 that I will be taking with me into my future endeavours concerns the importance of making the most of our leisure time, and so I´m already looking forward to grilling season. 

That’s right, summer is right around the corner, so I´m already scouting out this year’s addition to my outdoor kitchen. The lead candidate is this sweet collapsible model from Coleman…they named it the ¨Roadtrip X-Cursion,¨ which seems a bit redundant…but hey the thing folds flat for storage, wheels around as easy as a shopping cart, and pops up into a propane powerhouse in seconds so ya know what I can overlook it.
 

HealthWatch

In the meantime I´m going to have to offset all that impending grillmastery with a little extra attention to wellness…I´m not going to cut BBQ out of my life, just not gonna, so it´s probably a good idea to keep an eye on my overall health.

The right apps can go a long way in helping you monitor your habits…I personally use Sleep Watch and HRV Tracker on my Apple Watch daily.

In fact, there are quite a few Watch apps that can help you work around one vice or another–or become the picture of overall health, if you insist–and this piece from TechRadar spotlights a few of the best to come out so far in 2020.
 

The Last Word 

Well, that should just about do it for this week. Thanks as always for making time in your routine for another exciting episode of ¨Brad´s Blog!¨ I´ll be checking in again within a few days, but until then remember: we seldom control our circumstances, but almost always control our responses to them.

The post Mindfully Moving Forward with Steve Anderson first appeared on Archway Computer.

The ability to work around our current circumstances and try to enjoy our ride around the Sun no matter what is a skill set that can prove useful in many facets of life…and so it was really encouraging to see so many friendly faces during our happy hour last Saturday.
25 of us showed up and it was actually a great time…humans are, after all, social creatures, and a little upbeat interaction can go a long way toward keeping up morale in a difficult and unpredictable time. I find myself even more sold on Zoom…it´s free to sign up, but the premium features are worth the investment.
 

Advantage: Wimbledon

These days pretty much everybody in the business is having to write half a billion emails daily explaining to clients that their standard policy doesn’t cover pandemics…it’s just not something most people think about on a day to day basis the way they might a fire or flood.

Most people, that is.
As one of the rare exceptions, the guy responsible for procuring insurance for Wimbledon apparently deserves a raise. That´s right, back during the SARS scare about 20 years ago, this person displayed a singular level of foresight in asking a single profound question: ¨hmm, but what if no tennis because pandemic?¨

And so, after what I imagine was many long conversations with the High Council of Wimbledon (made that up, but I said ¨I imagine¨), the tournament was insured against a global medical crisis at the cost of 2 million USD yearly.
Oh, how the other sports must have laughed…and then 2020 rolled around and foresight paid off to the tune of $141,000,000. 

Even the least mathematical among us can see a good bit of daylight between less than 40 million and almost 150 million, so kudos to Wimbledon Insurance Guy (WIG is what they call him… OK, I made that up too).

Hit the Couch Running – With Angela Adams

To say that the tools of the Internet will be essential managing the workplace of the near future is like observing that an advanced alien technology ¨runs on some sort of electricity.¨
You´re not wrong, it´s just that there’s a fair bit of missing information.
Fortunately we have people in the industry like Angela Adams–of Angela Adams Consulting, of course–to help fill in the gaps. She made this video full of actionable information about making a smooth transition to the offsite office, including helpful tips on managing a remote workforce.

The Last Word 

Well, that´s about all for this week! Thanks as always for taking the time to check out this essential edition of ¨Brad´s Blog¨…with so many options for how you spend your time now, I´m honored that you spent a little with me. Until next time, stay safe!

The post The Best Ability is Adaptability first appeared on Archway Computer.

I’ve always taken pride in making sure the people I choose to join Team Archway are well taken care of, and that’s why I’m especially happy in this time to announce that we are looking for new members. We’re busier than ever these days, and there are plenty of people out there in need of a job so if you know anyone who was laid off and can help out around here, send them my way.

These massive shifts in the way we work–and even what we work on–are just the beginning of what looks to be a true revolution with far-reaching implications for the modern office. Wall Street Journal has some early insights on this historic shift in labor…it´s behind a paywall, but if you aren’t able to receive it email me here and I will send you a copy.

Protecting Your People

For other small-to-mid-size businesses, the effects of the current crisis have been much more devastating. I personally know a few people who own restaurants or service shops and aren’t sure how they’re going to cover payroll this month…that´s why I´m spreading the word about the Paycheck Protection Act, federal legislation designed to protect both worker income and the stability of small business…definitely worth looking into.

Voice of Reason

I’ve been avoiding the doom and gloom talk in this space for the most part…don´t think I’ve even used the 11-letter curse since this crisis began–and after reading this new piece from analyst Michael Fumento, I feel vindicated in my lack of panic. He´s been (correctly) projecting a less severe course for the outbreak since the beginning, and was kind enough to take the time to chat with me on Skype about his outlook recently…I found his perspective very refreshing.

The Last Word 

Well, that´s about all the new business from this week, but with the outdoors temporarily unavailable, we’re left to make the most of our time around the house…and that means it´s a great time for a house party! No, not that kind…a Houseparty, by the App Store. There will be games, plenty of wine (BYOB), and a few folks from Archway…gonna be a good time. If you´re looking to score an invite, just shoot me an email…hope to see ya there!

The post Building a Longer Table at Archway first appeared on Archway Computer.

We’ve all probably been watching too much doom and gloom unfold on our various screens, and the reason for it isn’t exactly surprising. You see, newsfolk have been saying ¨if it bleeds, it leads¨ on this side of the planet for generations, and there might be no better evidence of that marketing strategy than in the current crisis.

Just the other day I was reading an article about a 35-year-old who tragically passed away after being infected, and I began to clutch my pearls aghast until reaching the end of the article, where I learned he had severe asthma and was undergoing chemo for testicular cancer…not exactly the picture of health, pandemic or not.

Gotta be a scary time for people who always read the headlines and never the article.

Listen, there´s no question that coronavirus is not a good thing–who in their right mind and office wouldn’t be concerned–but the fearmongering that’s going around is almost as unhealthy and even more contagious. We don’t really know much about this thing…can barely nail down a mortality rate. That´s why if you´re like me, prone to a bit of anxiety even when things are going perfectly to plan, I recommend you do a periodic news cleanse…you’ll feel better, I promise.So instead of hearing how “it’s out of control” take a look at some raw data with this website and then compare it to the seasonal flu. It puts things in perspective in the US with a population of 330 million. 

A New Normal

Turning things off, then back on is a time-honored primary repair method. You do it with your phone when it’s acting funny, you do it with yourself when you need to ¨sleep on¨ a decision, and we’re doing it with our global civilization for a while.

Of course, we´ll need to keep our teams updated in the interim since our clients will doubtless have more questions than ever these days, and the Zoom conferencing app is a great way to do it. They even let you select a custom background for your chat, like ¨outside¨ for those who remember it fondly.

Learning to Let Go

If you´re managing a team that usually works onsite and is now checking in from their living room couch, you might be able to read the writing on the wall: your people are probably going to want to work remotely more often even once this whole thing blows over. I´m not going to go on and on about the best ways to be productive in a work-from-home scenario…that work has been done for me, remotely I might add.

However, if you´re going to press me for a single suggestion, I would submit Amazon Work Spaces for your approval. If you´re already using AWS for your office, you can save 5 percent monthly by also getting the Amazon Business Credit Card, pretty nice little perk. If you´re still on the fence about it and want to find out what the good word is, just shoot me an email and I can break it down a bit…I’ll be at the home office all week, obvio.
 

Inside, In Shape

I´ll be honest, one of my more consistent background worries during this lockdown period is that my workout regimen is toast…I´m worried that in a month or two, when I sit around the house I will sit all around the house. 

Between my beloved Apple Earbud Pros--legitimately a life changing product, pick up a pair at Best Buy while they´re still open and score a nice little discount by applying for a Best Buy card while you´re at it–and these convenient resistance bands that are a lot lighter than a pair of dumbbells, I´ll be all set to maintain the peak performance physique that today´s insurance industry demands.

The Last Word 

Well, that´s about all I have for you this week on the tech end, but before I go I want to leave you with some powerful positivity this week. 

Almost everyone is feeling the economic impact of the crisis, but just as in the days after the Southern California forest fires that claimed my former family home, the hardest times can bring out the best in people…like with this humble New Jersey pizza man who took out a $50,000 line of credit specifically so he could take care of his employees for as long as the shutdown lasts…we´re all in this together, and could use a lot more of that in the world we all share.

All right, I´m off my soapbox…for this time, that is. Stay safe everyone, catch you for the next inspired installment of ¨Brad´s Blog!¨

The post Working (Smart) from Home and the Power of Positivity first appeared on Archway Computer.

I’ve been holding on to this update for a while because I know it might come as a bit of a shock for those that have heard me talk up the device over the years, but here it is: I’ve officially left my trusty Chromebook in 2019.

(Surprise!) 

There’s an origin story behind this saga…you see, about 10 years ago I had this great laptop….huge screen, ran Windows 7, used it all the time. One day out of nowhere it presents me with a message offering me a chance to upgrade to Windows 8…gee whiz, what a great deal! Thanks Microsoft, you’ve always been great!

Those out there who were similarly suckered in by the famously flawed update might have heard a similar story to mine: 2 hours and 17 reboots after installing Windows 8, neither of my external monitors worked.

Frying my other office equipment is a dealbreaker, and so Windows and I took a break from our deal…I jumped ship to Chrome OS and rode the wave for about a decade…I figured hey, I’m not an insurance agent, I’m a geek. I can make this work.

And, for a long time, it did!

Don’t get me wrong, the Chromebook still a pretty good package for those who just need a no-frills point of access to the Internet, but recent changes to the OS (won’t bore you with the details) have brought frustration into the experience of late, and so my ever-wandering eye for tech eventually landed on a sweet new Windows Surface laptop…what can I say, it happens.

The fact is my days with Windows extend far back beyond my time championing Chrome, and after my first few weeks with my speedy new Surface I have to say it’s good to be back…15 inch screen and a docking station that doubles as a power hub for other USB-charging devices and of course, that sleek futuristic metallic finish make it very easy to feel good about my decision.

The price was right as well, so you long-time readers will also remember that’s always a bonus.

…But Wait, There’s More!

One great thing about this new laptop is that it comes standard with Windows Defender, which should definitely do the trick as far as keeping the home device protected. It’s also free, which is very nice. I wouldn’t rely on it for a business machine, but I wouldn’t necessarily commit to a paid anti-virus program subscription for a home PC either…seems a bit much, even for me.
 

Yet Another Microsoft Update

Speaking of Microsoft (I promise I didn’t get a job with them over the last week or so), I’m a fan of their recent move to take over Upwork and integrate it with LinkedIn. The initiative is aimed at giving the company the unprecedented ability to promote and tap into the remote work movement that is only going to get stronger as the New Roaring 20s roll on.

It only makes sense to combine one of the Internet’s foremost freelance hiring resources with the leading professional social media network–one of those, “I could have thought of that if I had 390 billion dollars” ideas–and having personally hired people from Upwork I can testify that the site offers access to talented individuals from all over the world.

Upwork even provides real time tracking of freelancer activity such as random screencaps and keystroke counting during directly billable hours so you can even know that they’re really doing the work…I actually don’t check it all that much, but I do want to occasionally make sure the guy I hired to manage Archway’s social media didn’t bill me 5 hours for his midday “Zumbo’s Just Desserts” binge. 2 episodes max, kid.
 

The Last (Microsoft) Word 

Well then,  I’ve got a brand new toy to play with a lot of important professional work tasks to complete so that just about should do it for this week’s engaging edition of “Brad’s Blog,” totally not brought to you by Microsoft! Thanks as always for making time in your busy routine for this weekly one-sided conversation…if you’ve got anything to share in return, my Outlook inbox is always open!

The post The Decision: Windows into Brad’s Future first appeared on Archway Computer.

Anyone who knows me knows I’m absolutely obsessed with good dental hygiene…for example, getting to brush and floss immediately after meals is one of the nicer perks of working from home. 

It’s not just that those old Cavity Creeps commercials got to me. There are a lot of good reasons to be diligent about your dental routine, and some go far deeper than a brilliant smile. Good oral hygiene has been directly linked to lowering your risk of cardiovascular problems. That’s right, something as simple as brushing and flossing your teeth regularly can lower your risk of scary sounding situations like atrial fibrillation and…*checks notes*…heart failure.

That’s right, it has been clinically proven that dental hygiene is actually serious as a heart attack.

And so, I do what I can to keep this handy human body of mine in the best possible condition…my personal favorite enhancement to the typical routine is this jet flosser by Waterpic. It’s portable, rechargeable, and has a water tank you can remove and clean. Sometimes I imagine I’m blasting bacteria out of there with an orbital laser, but that’s up to you…the results remain amazing either way.

There’s definitely a theme here: wherever technology and good dental hygiene meet, you can probably find me there…including at CES, where I was thrilled to learn that futuristic toothbrushes are A Thing now. Emerging tech disruptor Colgate introduced the smart brush to the world, with its optic sensor technology to detect biofilm buildup in the mouth and real time data tracking that builds a unique profile for the individual using it to build better technique.

I’m told I looked exactly like that heart-eye emoji the first time I saw the prototype.

It won’t hit drugstore shelves or Colgate Stores for a few months yet, but I’m sure you know you’ll hear about the smart brush again the moment I get my hands on it…so excited!
 

Outstanding Outreach

Man, all that dental hygiene geekery got me pretty pumped up…it’s about the same mindset I had to work myself into before doing a marathon phone session back in the old days. 

Of course, the call center has undergone a transformation in the last decade or so, but the importance of staying in personal contact with clients and prospects has never been higher for agencies like ours, and blueButler is a valuable resource in the customer retention game. 

blueButler gives you access to a powerful suite of tools to help monitor and guide your agency’s outreach. It can refine your sales and service practices by generating call campaign reminders as well as compiling and sharing call recordings that highlight the techniques of your top performers, ensuring every contact with your clientele is a winner. blueButler also integrates with some of the leading agency management systems, so it’s definitely worth a look.
 

It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday

Wait, you’re still hanging on to Windows 7? At this point, I’m actually kind of impressed, but seriously…it’s time. 
Microsoft is officially abandoning support for its’ 11 year old OS (frankly I’m surprised they kept it going this long), so unless your system being vulnerable to literally every type of malware to be released from next week until the end of time sounds good to you, it’s time to take that copy of Windows 7 behind the shed and say a tearful goodbye. 
*Psst…hey, if you’re really in a tight spot, a buddy of mine by the name of CNET might know where someone like yourself can procure a copy of Windows 10, absolutely gratis. I can’t promise anything, but it might work out for you if you have the right hardware.*

The Last Word

Well, that’s about all we have for this week! Thanks to all my loyal readers for taking time out of their busy routine for my weekly ramble, it means more than you know. I’ll be back in your inbox right on schedule in a week’s time give or take, but before I go…when was your last dental exam?
 

You knew that was coming.

The post Retention Revolutionized + Brushing Up on Tech first appeared on Archway Computer.

Before we get started this week month year decade, I want to start out by wishing everyone out there a successful and fulfilling 2020 possible! 

(sidenote: isn’t 2020 the most fun year to type in a while?) 

It’s a particularly special time for me, as 2020 marks my 10th year of leading Team Archway and it’s been an interesting ride to say the least. 

Still, I’m saving myself some time during this latest lap around the Sun by realizing early that this is not the year I give up sugar, desserts, dairy or carbs…it’s one of the consistent themes of every New Year. Another regular realization that hits me around this time is that a lot of insurance agencies start wondering if they’re getting the best IT services out there.

That’s why we specialize in providing that level of constant care all year long.

Put simply, Archway’s focus is on helping independent agencies just like yours get the most out of the hardware and software they rely on every day. That means identifying potential problems before they transform into costly downtime, keeping your resources available to you so you can spend more time doing what you do best: growing your insurance agency.

If you’re still reading this, I’m appreciative of your time. If you would like a little of mine in return, you can schedule a 15 minute call with me by clicking this link. 

Happy New Year from all of us at Archway!
 

Habitual Line-Skipper

If this year is like most others, I’m set to travel abroad my fair share in 2020. One thing about traveling outside these United States is the process of returning home, and that means dealing with immigration…apparently I’ve been doing it the caveman way all this time.

My son (leave it to him, naturally) recently clued me in on an app that really speeds the process up for many people traveling in and out of the country, and fittingly it’s called Mobile Passport. The service allows American citizens and our Canadian counterparts to quickly move through the screening process through pre-registration…rumor has it that folks are getting through customs in under a minute.

Mobile Passport is not a replacement for your original travel documentation–there will certainly be someone around checking for that, don’t you worry–but the app is live in 27 of the country’s largest airports and 4 major cruise ports, and I for one look forward to wasting less of my life standing around in a glorified bus terminal waiting in line to wait in line.
 

An Audience With Angela Adams

If you’re not familiar with Angela Adams, you might have some homework to do. She is the undisputed queen of all agency management system consulting and accounting…we should all be so lucky to benefit from a bit of her insight. 

Fortunately, I’m exactly that lucky.That’s right, Angela is having a customer connect educational get together in sunny Orlando this February, and I am honored to be a part of the event…click here for more information!

Roaming Data

I know many of you are still using a data center for your hosting needs. TAM On-line is just one example of a high profile management system who will host your information in a data center (either one they own directly or a colocation or “Colo” facility). There are many IT providers that hold clients data hostage and make it difficult to leave.

According to a recent poll in this piece by Gartner, 80 percent of enterprises surveyed had plans to close their data centers and transition to a cloud service by 2025…even Apple, an 800-pound gorilla in any industry it touches, has abandoned the data center in favor of Amazon Web Services (AWS). 

That’s what we call a consensus.

The Last Word

Right then, I’ve got a packed agenda this week as the Western world shakes off the slack and dives into the first full week of 2020! I promise not to type “2020” anywhere near as much next week, but thanks as always for making time in this ten-year period for another inspired installment of “Brad’s Blog!” I hope to be back in your best inbox next week–not the one you ignore, the one with 4,186 “new messages”–and if you want to chat before then, just shoot me an email.

2020!

The post To Clearer Tech Visions in 2020 👀 first appeared on Archway Computer.

I gotta say, just being back in your inbox at last feels great, but when you throw in the fact that it’s AppliedNet season too….well, it’s an especially magical Tuesday morning. 

Look, I understand that not every organization even uses Applied products, but it’s always an entertaining affair with lots of interesting people in attendance…including myself and Team Archway, which is reason enough to attend. AppliedNet is consistently one of my favorite industry events, and we always like to mark the occasion by giving away something cool for one lucky person to remember us by: this time around it’s a brand new iPhone 11.

We’d love to catch you at the convention, but if you can’t make it out to Sin City from the 14th to the 18th we’re also giving you a chance to win by entering here because I really appreciate you not sending me to the spam folder after all this time.

Jump-Starting Inspiration

Just about everybody gets writers’ block from time to time…it can definitely be frustrating, but it’s not impossible to work through.

A lot of the time it’s caused by the classic “paralysis by analysis,” i.e. overthinking it, and this timeless Dale Carnegie book has retained its well-deserved popularity over the years with actionable strategies for helping the creative juices flow…a useful skill in practically every facet of life. 
 

Submitted for Your Approval

One of the things I’ve been doing during my hiatus is making time for documentaries I’ve been pushing off for a while, so while I have you I’m going to share a couple that really stood out. 
 
It’s been nearly 20 years since that infamous morning in 2001, and like many other Americans I still find myself thinking about 9/11 on a pretty regular basis. That’s why I was really captured by “You Are Here,”a documentary detailing the aftermath of the attacks during which all planes incoming to the US were diverted to the nearest airport. 
 
35 of them landed at tiny Gander Newfoundland, a town of well under 10,000 people who experienced an influx of shellshocked newcomers. Without giving too much away the good folks of Gander responded more than admirably to the unexpected call to service, and it spoke to me on a personal level because it’s always encouraging to see people at their best.
 
On a more positive note,“Inside Bill’s Mind” is a four-part docuseries that highlights the philanthropic initiatives of Bill Gates, someone who apparently knows how to be a billionaire correctly. 
 
I thought I had a good idea about his charity work, but the series takes a deep dive into his process for finding new solutions for problems with the assistance of some of the world’s most capable thinkers, and it’s really satisfying to see his efforts to make the world a better place unfold.
 

The Last Word

Well, as good as it is to be back in the saddle I’ve got a lot on the agenda this week, so this feels like an ideal place to put a bookmark in this.

Thanks as always for making time in your busy weekly schedule for this edifying edition of “Brad’s Blog!” I’m looking to get right back on the regular schedule, but if you have something you feel deserves some shine in the next installment or just want to tell me how much you’ve missed me, be sure  drop me a line!

The post Brad’s Blog Returns first appeared on Archway Computer.

Getting the mail used to be one of the most exciting activities on the daily schedule of a household–letters from old friends, packages you spent 4-6 weeks building up anticipation for, maybe even your newest Netflix DVD selections for you younger old people–now if it’s not an overnight delivery from Amazon, the typical mailbox is full of glorified birdcage lining.

The situation is even sadder if you think about how many trees died so people could send you trash by post.

If you’re sick of constantly throwing out catalogs and other junk mail, there is a way you can opt out for good while making the right choice for our planet in the process.CatalogChoice allows you to quickly remove your name and address from subscriber lists for a wide range of mail litter…you can even search for a specific catalog to make things even easier.

Keep Your Head Up

You know, in 10 years I think we’re going to look back and see smartphone addiction as an epidemic issue, the same way we collectively decided that those old-school aerosol spray cans were convenient but were slowly destroying the world.  

You don’t even have to be so dramatic as to google up the injury statistics for texting and walking or mean-spirited enough to cue up this classic in which a woman is so enthralled with her tiny screen that she forgets how to human…just consider that the smartphone is the first thing most people see in the morning and the last they see at night.

If you’ve thought to yourself that you might be using yours a bit too much, the first thing you you understand is that it’s not your fault: they design these things to be as addictive as gambling. The next thing you should understand is that there are steps you can take…this Lifehacker piece goes into detail about being present in the world around you more often.

Access Anonymous

Speaking of smartphones, for years the prices of voice and data plans have been steadily rising, and since the biggest names in wireless have plenty of shareholders to satisfy I wouldn’t hold my breath and wait for that to change. Even worse, the basic plan almost never offers what you need, so you can end up paying a lot more than the TV told you.

If you’re looking for a simpler and less expensive option to keep you connected, maybe it’s time to think about switching to GoogleFi.

GoogleFi gives you access to 3 nationwide networks for great coverage as well as free international roaming practically all over the world. $20 monthly gets you unlimited talk and text, then you pay 10 bucks for every GB of data you use during the billing period up to 6GB, after which data is on the house. That’s a hard ceiling of $80 for an unlimited plan…pretty sweet deal if you ask me.

The Last Word

Well, that’s about all the tricks in my bag on this Tuesday! Thanks as always for making space in your weekly launch sequence for “Brad’s Blog,” I know these might be the first free moments you have at work after plowing through yesterday’s backlog, so I always appreciate you spending them with me.

I’ll be right back around in a few days’ time, but until then if you want to chat or have a compelling contribution for the newsletter, drop me a line click HERE!

The post Breaking Free: Junk Mail and Smartphone Addiction first appeared on Archway Computer.

Remote work is exploding in popularity…let’s be honest, there’s really no reason for some of your employees to be onsite full-time. Along with helping save on office space, forming an offsite team also allows you to attract more new talent that may be happier and therefore more productive outside a traditional workplace environment.

Naturally, ensuring every member of your team stays on the same page of the playbook gets a bit trickier when they are not right down the hall for most of their waking hours, making project management utilities like Wrike essential in organizations of today.

Wrike tracks tasks and generates emails at every step of the process, so everyone knows exactly what they have to do and exactly when they have to do it. It strikes that delicate balance between flexibility and functionality that will become more essential as the way we work continues to evolve.

You Got to Know When to Hold ‘Em…

To the surprise of almost no one, Samsung is having some issues with their new foldable phone. You may remember that I called the Galaxy Fold something of a beta test unit when it was first announced, and right on cue the screens are going haywire en masse.If you’re one of the early adopters who just couldn’t wait to show off your origami smartphone, the good news is that Samsung is going to try to make it right. Hey, at least they don’t explode this time.

Summer is Coming

It’s almost summer, and that means it’s almost time to get the grill started. For me, there’s something magical about cooking outdoors…probably goes back to when the first supermonkey boldly disregarded the advice of his ancestors–fire bad–to discover that many foods tasted much better when placed near an open flame for a while.

Anyway, I’m looking forward to a long season of camping trips and tailgates, and I think I’ve found the perfect portable partner for the pursuit. This mobile grill has matchless lighting and two independent burners, making it easy to fire up some fish by the lake or become the most popular person in the parking lot.

For at-home grilling, a combination grill-smoker is essential equipment, at least that’s what my friends in Texas tell me. (They are also happy to tell me about Texas at every available opportunity.) In any event I am a big fan of brisket, so I think I’ll be addingthis option from Amazon to my outdoor kitchen this year…with all due respect to the propane industry and the associated accessories market, gotta love that charcoal flavor.

While we’re on the subject, I know we exhibit a fair selection of silliness in this space, but this might be one of the dumber things I’ve shared here. In case you needed this in your life, here’s a video of the Zuck smoking meats in song. It may be a digitally altered remix, but honestly it’s more personality than he’s ever shown before.

Lost in Translation

Of course, when I’m not serving up sizzling steaks and shrimp outside, I’m often staring at some screen inside, and I’ve recently come across something really worthwhile to watch. HUGE in France centers on a French comedian father attempting to reconnect with his son in America while also dealing with the reality that his celebrity card is only valid in Europe…I feel his pain, the highs from my recent television appearance were dizzying.

The Last Word

Well, that will just about do it for this week! Thanks as always for making time in your schedule for the latest inspired installment of “Brad’s Blog!” I’ll be back on schedule next time–I hope–but until then here’s to the most productive week possible!

The post The Changing Face of the Workplace first appeared on Archway Computer.

I’ve been dealing with some billing issues for services at my former home that burned down in last year’s California wildfires. For months I’ve been trying to let my cable and Internet provider know that I no longer have a need for services at the location–one would think they would at least know where their clientele lives and whether the area has been devastated by a natural disaster–but lo and behold, the bill just kept showing up.

I finally got tired of being kicked from department to department getting non-answers, so I turned to the A-Team for help.

Well, it wasn’t quite that serious, but the local NBC I-Team was able to assist. 

After hearing my story they decided to pursue the issue and give me a consumer complaint feature. No company likes that kind of attention so the problem has since been resolved, but the feature is airing soon and I can possibly share some footage if you’re interested.

The whole ordeal has really highlighted the importance of having people on your side when dealing with companies. This time those people were a major network affiliate’s investigative team, but ideally it’s the human beings in the customer service department…can you imagine resolving an issue like that over an automated phone system?

That’s why in all but the most dire situations, I use gethuman.com to find living, breathing representatives at a company. Machines can’t do everything….yet.

Positively Linked

I always joke that we have no normal customers since we only work with independent insurance agencies, and LinkedIn is a great resource for finding agencies that can benefit from our IT support. It’s a highly effective tool for connecting with organizations, especially in conjunction with a product called Sales Navigator. There’s a monthly charge involved, but you know if Frugal Brad is shelling out for it, the service is well worth it.

Streamlined Screensharing

Speaking of IT, screen sharing for technical support can be a pain in the extreme lower lumbar region, between requiring a download (which spooks a lot of clients off the bat) and waiting while the person figures out how to use the program. Fortunately there’s Screenleap, an easy to use online screen sharing utility that doesn’t need a download and comes at a very reasonable price: free. We use it so much I almost want to figure out how to pay for it.

Almost.

It’s About Time

TImeTrade is another valuable resource for ensuring everything runs smoothly for Team Archway. TimeTrade makes scheduling appointments and sharing agendas with participants simple, and although it’s not free the services it provides are well worth it. Put simply, TimeTrade helps turn intentions into commitments, and I’m sure we all know that actually getting a prospect to nail down a time to sit down and chat is half the battle.

The Last Word

Well then, that will just about do it for this illuminating installment of “Brad’s Blog!” Thanks as always for making time to engage with me today, and if you want to schedule a time to speak geek before next week, just reserve a time here and I’ll return the favor. Here’s to a productive and fulfilling week!

The post Customer Service: The Right Mix of Man and Machine first appeared on Archway Computer.

Well, if there’s one positive thing to be said about the Super Bowl, it’s “at least we didn’t go to the game”…as a particularly apt meme quipped, imagine buying a $7,000 ticket (plus airfare and accommodations) to see a Maroon 5 concert and a punting competition.

Attendees didn’t even get be creeped out by watching Alexa turn off the planet’s power grid by accident, which seems a shame.

Sure, Sunday’s decisive contest unfolded with all the excitement of a lower-tier high school football matchup, with both offenses struggling to muster the slightest bit of cohesion, but when it was all said and done the Patriots came out on top and my daughter was happy…even more so with her upcoming birthday not overshadowed by an exciting game.

Even so, someone at our party may or may not have napped through the 3rd quarter.

In any event, it’s hard not to congratulate the Patriots on some level…making an entire professional sports league monotonous and predictable over multiple decades is no easy task, and hasn’t been accomplished in the Northeast since that time the Celtics won the championship for 13 years straight. (Not a joke, can you imagine??)

I will have ample time to reflect on their greatness when I’m wearing various Patriots gear for the next month or so after losing all the bets…should be fun getting drawn into unmerited conversations about Tom Brady with total strangers.

Reclaiming Our Time

While we’re discussing word on the street, I’ve been hearing a lot about a product called Quiker and finally decided to give it a try.

Quiker is aimed at streamlining some of the more tedious aspects of running an agency…most of our clients staff routinely spends a majority of their time switching back and forth between Outlook and the agency management system, a process so enjoyable a friend rightly refers to it as “soul-sucking activities.”

In a welcome change of pace, Quiker works directly with AMS-360 to automatically document and categorize customer interactions. In fact, the site claims that using the inexpensive software can save an agency up to $7,000 yearly in lost time, not to mention untold mental wear and tear. It’s like not going to this year’s Super Bowl.

Laptops for Less

If you’re looking for a new laptop at a great price, you’ll find this next segment a lot more interesting than this year’s Supe–okay, I’ll stop. Seriously, I found this cheap Chromebook on Amazon for a friend and he absolutely loves it…a lot of bang for about 200 bucks. If you want some more options to consider, check out this CNET feature on 2019’s top picks for bargain-conscious tech shoppers.

Google Chrome Remembers

Creating passwords for your various accounts involves a delicate balance. By now we all know the dangers of a truly lazy choice like “password,” but I’m sure I’m not the first person to devise a password so secure that not even I can crack it…fine when Chrome has saved it for later use, less so when I have to enter it on another computer or in a linked app.

Fortunately, Google has thought of this.

If you, like me, don’t stand a chance in heck at mentally recording several random strings of letters, numbers, and characters to enter at a moment’s notice, there is a way to bring them up on demand as long as you’re logged in.

All you have to do is click on the three vertical dots in the upper right corner of the screen, go to settings, and then access the “passwords” tab, where an eyeball can reveal all to you. Got it? No? Well, here’s a little video that might help.

The Last Word

All right sports fans, that should wrap things up for this week! Thanks as always for making time in your regular routine for another illuminating installment of “Brad’s Blog!” I’ll be right back in your inbox on schedule next time around, here’s to another strong week for us geeks!

The post Cheap Laptops, An App Named Quiker , Life Without Football first appeared on Archway Computer.

I want to start out by congratulating our Los Angeles Rams on their upcoming trip to Atlanta for the Super Bowl! The game ended in somewhat controversial fashion–official seemed to forget he had a penalty flag at the worst possible time for the Saints–but hey, the referees didn’t blow a second half lead at home during the championship game so what can ya do.

With UCLA having a down year on the hardwood, the Lakers barely hanging on to their playoff hopes, and the Dodgers nearly idle in the offseason after a disappointing year, it’s good for the city to have something to cheer for. Time will tell whether the Rams can get through Brady and Co. to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, but the next couple of weeks in town should be especially fun.

Present Like a Pro

As anyone who has ever tried it knows, giving a speech isn’t as easy as it looks. When you’re trying to condense what can be an information-rich topic into quick little soundbites, it can be next to impossible to remember what to say, and more importantly, how best to say it.

Whether you’re planning on orchestrating a conference call or making a YouTube video, Teleprompt is an easy way to add polish to your presentation. What, you thought most people were actually memorizing these pretty pieces of prose?

The Slimmest Screens

If you missed the latest out of CES, boy did you miss a lot of sweet tech.

It´s barely the end of January, but I feel like it´s safe to say that this rollable TV will be one of the hottest gift holiday ideas this year. There’s no mistaking that we live in the future when you pull one of these bad boys out of your messenger bag during a layover. It even comes in a slightly less bendy wallpaper size so you can impress guests in the comfort of your own living room.

Please Do Not Insert Disk

The limitations of physical software as compared to connected options make themselves more than apparent in the latest Microsoft Office suite.

Office 365 delivers continuous updates and new features to users unlike its desktop-bound variant Office 2019, which is already attracting mixed reviews for its functionality. Still on the fence about whether to go digital? This feature from Windows Central goes over which version will give you what you need.

The Last Word

That should just about wrap things up for this week! Thanks as always for making time in your routine for this exceptional edition of ¨Brad´s Blog!¨ I´ll try to be back in your inbox on schedule next time around, but until then if you have anything compelling to chat about, don´t be shy about dropping me a line. Here’s to keeping our New Years´ Resolutions at least a few more days, January is almost over!

The post Feels Like the Future: Rollable TVs and Online Office first appeared on Archway Computer.

It’s the first full week of the year and I´m happy to report that my 2019 resolutions are still intact!

I´m trying to learn more Spanish–my wife speaks it when she wants to say something especially complimentary during an argument–and I’ve found Rosetta Stone to be pretty helpful in the pursuit. I’ve had a few issues with the speech recognition, but overall es muy bueno y estoy aprendiendo tan rapidamente.

Another improvement that I’m taking a particular focus on this year is being even better with money…I can be pretty careful as long as I don´t log into Amazon, but last year´s events really put into perspective the importance of saving for a rainy day.

Mint helps out with that initiative, giving me an easy to use interface for tracking the flow of money in and out of my wallet. Even better, it´s free, so there´s one less expense right there.

The Rebuild Hits the Road

Speaking of the fire, one of the things I had to replace in the wake of the disaster was a new car.Scouting through reviews is how I narrow down the decision for most things, and that’s how I came across Doug Demuro, who offers some of the most in-depth reviews of cars I´ve ever seen.

His detailed examination of a 500k Rolls-Royce was fascinating enough to spark my interest in the car…my wife even told me to ¨olvidalo¨ after seeing the video, which I think means ¨go for it¨ in Spanish so I´ll keep you posted.

Oyster is Your World

If you´re planning a vacation for later this year, there are plenty of outstanding websites to help you get the most possible bang for your buck. I’m a regular atoyster.com…it breaks down the pros and cons to every destination you might be considering so you can discover the ideal destination for your vacation, qué genial.

The Last Word

All right, we have yet to get fully cranked up for the year but it was a treat as always to type to you. Thanks as always for making time in your weekly routine for this edicion encantadora de ¨Brad´s Blog!¨ I´ll be back right on schedule in a few days time, but let me take this opportunity to wish you a Feliz Año Nuevo (and to remind my fellow Spanglish I students never to forget the tilde in ´año´)!

The post Resolution Revolution 2019 first appeared on Archway Computer.

Next week’s Super Bowl has given me a surprisingly profound opportunity to consider the nature of happiness.

The buzz is palpable in the city as the Rams are poised to play for all the marbles for the first time since the Y2K scare, and since my daughter is both an LA native and football fan, I wanted to get her a jersey to celebrate the recent successes of her hometown team.

Of course, she’s a Patriots fan somehow, so she didn´t exactly appreciate the gesture.

In any event, I’ve taken a lot of bets in the leadup to the big game (I´m pretty sure I will have to dress like Bill Belichick for a solid month if the boys in blue and gold can’t manage to deny Touchdown Tommy his 6th championship) which only serves to reflect the level of emotional currency that fans across the nation have devoted to next weekend´s proceedings. 

Win or lose, it has long been my belief that happiness is a choice we make, an attitude we must consciously cultivate whenever possible. Dennis Prager agrees, in fact the respected radio personality says that we should wear a smile like we wear deodorant, and the guy generally knows what he’s talking about.

Beyond the extensive ribbing that is sure to come my way if the Patriots win–sports fans can be pretty creative in their ridicule–I had a real test in putting on a happy face a few months ago when our family home burnt to the ground.

Suffice it to say, I´ve learned a few coping mechanisms over the years.

One of the measures I´ve found most effective in fighting off bad vibes is simply to go outside for a while. It´s not just something your mother used to say, it´s backed by science…a recent study indicated that subjects experienced an improved mood with as little as 5 minutes spent getting some fresh air…maybe you could even leave your phone inside.Another proven way to boost your spirits after some unfortunate roll of the dice is byperforming a selfless act. For example, I fully plan on taking my daughter out for a nice dinner when her Patriots lose next Sunday, giving her the opportunity to leave a nice tip for the waiter. Gotta make lemonade sometimes.

Password Protection

Large scale data breaches were one of the big stories of last year, and 2019 shows no signs of this trend slowing. The most common way accounts are breached is through stolen passwords, but luckily there is a way to find out if someone besides you has matched your username to your password. This is why I chose an extra secure alphanumeric password for all my logins: CcNzFMnk0d.

Wait, pretend you didn’t read that last sentence.

Developing Technology

Remember when it was actually relatively difficult to get photos once they were taken? One had to go to a specific store that was often clear across town and actually wait hours if not days for the finished product.

Now it just takes a couple of clicks and swipes to get your photos printed at any CVS in the country thanks to a dedicated iPhone app. I miss shaking Polaroids just a little bit, but I have to say I like being able to order high-quality prints online…even found this sweet multi-pack of frames on Amazon to keep them all in.

The Future is Calling

Speaking of times long past, only readers of a certain age will recall when even making a three-way voice call required a level of technical skill and a bit of luck with timing and connection quality. Obviously times have changed, and now even setting up a multiple-person chat on FaceTime is a breeze. From busy signals to group video chat, man it’s been an interesting 20 years or so. 

The Last Word

Well then, that should do it for this week! Thanks as always for making space in the inbox you actually check for another exceptional edition of ¨Brad´s Blog!¨I´ll be back right on schedule with another heaping helping of geeky goodness, but until then remember, the good you do today may come back to you tomorrow.

The post Strengthened Security and Successful Smiling Strategies first appeared on Archway Computer.

To borrow an insight from the late Frank Sinatra, “this is my kind of town, Chicago is.”

I decided to visit since my son is thriving in the IT geek field after graduating college in the area, and I have to say it’s a spectacular city with some of the most stunning architecture I’ve ever laid eyes on.

Check out this pic of us taking in the town, or take it in yourself with this feature on some of the local masterpieces of architecture.

Patience, Humans.

I’m a strong proponent of the self-driving car, I believe the day is fast approaching when human drivers will be a nostalgic novelty.

Still, there are a lot of kinks to work out when you’re talking about such a transformative technology, and while we’re refining the systems I would recommend that if you decide to take a ride from a robot in the near future that you maybe watch the road, just as a backup plan.

You see, apparently a tester for one of these smart vehicles did a dumb thing, making time for a Hulu streaming marathon on the open road. It ended badly–the technology is far from perfect at this time–but hey, the first passenger airliners used to suddenly break apart in midair from time to time and we nailed that down, so I have confidence that we Sapes can pull this off as well.

In any event, self-driving vehicles are all but certain to take over our highways in the coming years, and not only will they have an outsized effect on our day-to-day lives, it’s expected to make a huge impact on our industry. Check out this piece speculating on the ways the insurance industry will change forever the day you see your first self-driving car commercial.

The Trusted Traveler

If you’ve ever considered going through the process of being certified with TSA PreCheck, I say go for it. Getting through security takes me about 5 minutes now that I’m in the registry, so it;s saved me untold hours of standing around frustrated. Many credit cards even offer free application, so I’d definitely advise looking in to both the PreCheck and CLEAR programs.

Automation with Appeal

Drip is a concept in email marketing that ensures your campaign can adapt to each prospects engagement and level of interest, increasing conversion through an approach that is as individualized as possible. It’s also a product folks are using to increase their numbers through intelligent outreach automation…it’s a pretty nifty resource, and could be just what you need to take your agency to the next level. You know you’re curious.

The Last Word

All right everyone, that is a complete week of geek from this end…thanks as always for carving out a few minutes in your weekly boot sequence for this educational edition of “Brad’s Blog!” I’ll be back in your inbox next time around–if you’ll have me–but until then be sure to look both ways before crossing the street…the day you save may be your own.

The post Second City Scenery and the Self-Driving Saga first appeared on Archway Computer.

Forever Online

Here’s a sentence you would have never heard in earnest just 10 years ago: have you ever wondered what happens to your social media accounts after your final post?

Not to be morbid, but the fact that our digital lifespans will long surpass our physical ones is something that has to be contended with at this point.

In my opinion not enough people have taken the time to consider the concept, particularly in businesses like ours where almost everything we do will be online and accessible until the end of civilization.

This Lifehacker piece goes into detail about how and why to write your Amazon Prime account into your will among other pertinent processes.

A Worthwhile Windows Update

Archway doesn’t sell computers–even though we will be happy to find you the best price on one–but we always suggest that anyone in the market for a new PC purchase one with Windows 10 preloaded. One of the updated standard features that I’m really coming to like is the “Shake” function, which makes managing multiple screens easier than ever before.

All you have to do with this convenient new tool is “grab” the top of the current window with your cursor and give it a quick back and forth shake with your keyboard or trackpad, and Shake clears the clutter by minimizing every other open program on the current screen. Get a bit of shakers’ remorse? Just shake it again to pull everything back up.

It’s pretty slick, actually…I admit to giggling just a little bit the first time it worked.

Free Money*

If you’re not taking advantage of cash back on your credit cards, you’re not getting nearly the value you could from your everyday purchases. This one I just started usinggives you a tidy 3 percent cash back on every swipe for the first year, and 2.5 percent every year afterward. There’s no initial fee and you could probably more than cover the $59 second year charge by only using it for gas…it really adds up fast.

Crank Up the Hype Machine

The debut of iOS 12 is nigh, and as usual CNET is here to give us all the early details on the latest bells and whistles. One I find myself intrigued by is the integration of voice shortcuts with Siri, so you can preprogram her with tasks such as “order my coffee” and “call my lawyer,” depending on what your lifestyle typically deems necessary.

The Last Word

All right, that’ll do it for the first week of June. Summer is in full effect, so I just want to take some time to thank all of you for shunning the invigorating appeal of the outside world in favor of another enthralling edition of “Brad’s Blog.” I trust you know by now when to expect me next, but until then don’t forget we only get about 28,000 days to love this life…and that’s if we’re lucky.

The post The Enduring Internet and the Latest on iOS 12 first appeared on Archway Computer.

Not every step forward is a step up, and so I can’t be the only one that sort of misses physical keyboards on smartphones. They were ubiquitous in the era of Blackberries and Sidekicks, but fizzled out almost all at once as screens got larger and devices got ever slimmer.

You can almost certainly expect not to see a keyboard listed among the features of the next flagship devices from Samsung or Apple, but in case you also have a soft spot for the time when the laptop and smartphone were as close as they’ve ever been, these Bluetooth keyboards are pretty darn slick.

Every one of these sleek little devices slips neatly into a pocket so you can take it on the go, and features a special coating to keep it protected from the spills and debris of everyday life. They even come in an array of stylish colors because hey, phones do now so it’s important.

…And What’s New is Even Newer

But if you really want to make your smartphone into the most productive device possible, using it as a full size laptop is definitely the way to do it.

This convenient little device plugs into your iOS device to display and control apps, websites, office tools, and more on larger screens in the crisp 1080p HD that discerning modern users demand.

Android users never fear, there’s a solution for you too. The Mirabook is a laptop-style command unit that docks with your device to give it all the functionality of a portable PC.

It’s available for preorder right this sentence, so if you’ve ever dreamed of a true all-in-one device that fulfills all your day to day digital needs, the gap between smartphone and computer may finally be bridged.

A Less Lawless Internet

If you’ve noticed a lot of new privacy agreements in your favorite apps, it’s not your imagination.

Many of the most popular resources are fundamentally changing the way they operate in order to comply with new EU guidelines, and since it’s pretty expensive to develop a specific version of an app for every region in which it will be used, in many cases these changes take effect across the board.

The updated guidelines, known collectively as General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), are designed to force companies to keep better control over your personal data in the wake of several high profile breaches, leaks, and other flavors of failure for these multinational online services.  For further reading on the impact of GDPR, this CNET article goes into further detail.

News Cleanse

Okay, so you may have noticed that in that last segment I found out about a major update to the way connected software providers interact with their users only after the changes took effect.

That’s just kinda what happens when you resolve to take a week’s vacation from the 24-hour news cycle…it’s difficult for a number of reasons, about the only thing I’ve been able to keep consistent tabs on is the NBA playoffs.

Perhaps the need for daily updates on everything in the world is a bit of an addiction, they say it’ll get better, but in the meantime I’ve had to take some fairly drastic measures to keep up my commitment.
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The Last Word

Well, that’ll do it for this week’s insightful edition of Brad’s Blog! Sorry for the delay, getting started after a Monday holiday is always a little tricky.

I’ll try to be back on schedule next week since I won’t have an excuse, but feel free to drop me an email if there’s something you feel should make it past my news embargo.

The post Is That a Laptop in Your Pocket first appeared on Archway Computer.

The True Value of You

They say the user is the product in any service that is both free and convenient, and Facebook in particular makes a fortune in leveraging the data you directly and indirectly provide. As the man behind the plan himself said with a satisfied smirk in a congressional hearing “We sell ads, Senator.”

In retrospect, we should probably count our blessings that the intent of advertisers up until recently has always been to reprogram us to buy stuff instead of something more nefarious, given how effective the methods are and well it has proven to work.

Sign Off With Style

How do you punctuate a professional email? “Thanks?” Not always appropriate. “Regards?” Sort of sounds like a summons or notice of foreclosure. “Yours?” Maybe a little forward if you haven’t even had a second date.

If you find yourself staring at your keyboard wondering how to sign off for longer than it took to compose the message, this list of 70 different options for filling the space in between the main message and your signature line might be a lifesaver.

Moving Forward with InCite

As we’re almost all aware, the agency community is about merging and being acquired. InCite Performance Group specializes in taking agencies to the next level, and I’m proud to say Archway is a featured partner. In fact, I’’ll be in Vegas for the annual conference, so if you’d like more info on what the group does and how they do it, just give this a click.

Hey, you wanna waste a little time, possibly make a few dollars to spend on that Amazon wish list? My son was telling me about this game called Fortnite that the kids–and a staffer at Time–are using to make some pretty serious pocket change, like 500k a month in some cases.

If you are one of the many former children whose parents and teachers told them that there was no future in playing video games, spite can be an excellent driver of financial success…just ask dissatisfied ex-Ferrari customer Ferrucio Lamborghini.

The Last Word

All right scouts, that’s about all we have on the docket for this week! Thanks as always for carving out a chunk of your busy day for this compelling installment of “Brad’s Blog!” Look out for next week’s edition, where I crow about all the fantastic devices I purchased from the Internet with my video game income and why this future we have here is so great.

The post Your Friends, For Sale first appeared on Archway Computer.

If you’re on the fence about selling your house this year, maybe you should consider making up you mind by the end of the month. According to Zillow, May is the best time of the year to have your property on the market, as on average homes sell two weeks faster and at a $2,400 premium as compared with other times of year.

Apparently May 2018 is an especially opportune time to sell your home, as late spring marks peak selling season in 14 of the 24 major regional markets and there has a documented shortage of listings for sale this year. That means means buyers are looking to close before the summer months hit, and their impatience could be your gain so quit stalling and pack it on up.

Airfare, More Fair

By now it’s not exactly a secret that airfare prices can seemingly change with the wind, so timing can also be key to scoring great deals on travel as well.

This comprehensive guide for tip-hungry travelers breaks down the best time frame to buy your tickets depending on the region you plan to visit…for example, if you have your sights set on a trip to the Caribbean, the best time to buy a ticket is about 200 days before your date of departure, and you can save substantially by flying out on a Tuesday or Wednesday.

Obviously, events taking place at the locale such as festivals and holidays can have an effect on the price of travel, so don’t expect to score a rock-bottom rate for a trip to Brazil during Carnival.

Still, shopping smart can earn you funding for a few extra perks during your vacation, so it’s well worth taking into account. Don’t forget to use Incognito Mode so the system won’t see that you’re too interested and jack up the price…they do that, you know.

Pod People

It’s not just hype…Apple AirPods are amazing, and the way they’re integrated into the features of the phone is nothing short of stunning.

I love mine, but if you want to read the review of a more widely recognized authority on Apple, this piece breaks down what makes them so great…for starters, the Charging Case delivers up to 3 hours of music time on a 15 minute charge…wow!

You may also be wondering how to keep a small white accessory that you jam into your ear and wear around the world clean, and the site was insightful enough to also provide a guide to keeping your AirPods looking and sounding factory fresh in this filthy modern world.

Community Connection

If you’re not on NextDoor yet, you should be.

This convenient community resource is designed as a social network for your neighborhood, and you can use it for marketing to local buyers just as easily as you can invite the entire neighborhood to a backyard barbeque with the service.

I sold my old workhorse truck with over 220k miles of experience within just a few days after trying a range of selling sources…I suppose it’s sort of like Craigslist without all the Craigslist.

The Last Word

Well, as nice as it was to chat with you fine folks again that’s about all the time we have for this edition of Brad’s Blog! If I have my way I’ll be right back in your inbox within a week, and if you stumble onto any sweet sales this week I’m always looking for ways to save money for the more important things in life like my Amazon wish list, so don’t be shy about shooting me an email!

The post Brilliant Buys and Savvy Sales first appeared on Archway Computer.

Like pretty much everyone else, I’ve had my NCAA bracket busted beyond recognition in the first couple of rounds.

With 134 such games in the books at tip-off, a 16 seed had to come out on top against a #1 ranked team one of these years, and nobody told the Retrievers of tiny University of Maryland-Baltimore County that they were 20-point underdogs in their opening round game.

UMBC fell short in their next game after a valiant effort against perennial contender K-State, their day in the sun did give us the enduring delight of their official Twitter account. On the court, I was impressed with the way both coaches handled the unprecedented situation…these are just kids, but the lessons they learn will last a lifetime so kudos to them.

This year’s tournament seems unpredictable even by March Madness standards, with 5 of the games decided by two possessions or less and even the rare overtime Tournament game. In fact, this is the first time I can remember all four #1 seeds falling before the Sweet 16, which softens the blow of my Bruins ending up among the early exits.

Surfing Excursion Included

Got a cruise planned and want to stay connected without spending a small fortune in daily satellite Internet fees? Well, if you have a phone with mobile hotspot feature, there just might be a way.

Most cruises stay relatively close to the coastline for most of the route to save on fuel costs, meaning you can use their frugality against them by using your LTE as a connection point so you can save your budget for those elegant a la carte dining options.

An Influx of Input

We use Crewhu to collect critical feedback from our customers and generally get an idea of how well we’re doing our job. I personally read every review that comes in, it’s a little time consuming but I feel the insight I gain is more than worth the effort.

As our team grows–we’re over 30 people now–I’m getting more response with it than ever before, and I’m happy to report we have a stellar reputation among the people we serve, which reflects their commitment to excellent service as well as my skill in hiring capable staff.

Declaring is Caring?

I was recently given a dose of constructive criticism, namely that I could be more vocal in my praise of the amazing techs that do the heavy lifting around here.
They’re the smartest team of customer focused technical people I have ever had the pleasure to work with. It’s just that “effusive” isn’t a word that’s often used to describe me.

In any event, I get that everyone likes to hear that they’re doing a good job, and this piece helped me consider how my leadership style comes across. Maybe this sounds like you?

The Last Word

Seems like that’s a fine place to put a bookmark in things for the week, so thanks as always for making space in your routine for the latest addition to the “Brad’s Blog” catalogue. I shall return to your inbox in six days’ time, your spam filter permitting. If you’d like to chat before that, hail my email and I’ll find the free time. Have a great week!

The post Busted Brackets and Cheap Cruise Connections first appeared on Archway Computer.

One Day at a Time (for 279 Years)

I’ve started looking into retirement options before it’s too late–or at least, that’s what I set out to do recently. Apparently if I want to maintain my standard of living after I punch the digital clock for the last time, I’ll be putting in full shifts on the job until the year 2,300.

Okayfine, it was only 2297 AD according the the online calculator at Wealthfront, but still…point is, my financial plan could use some fine tuning.

On a more encouraging note I’ve been talking to some of the younger members of Team Archway and some of my kids’ friends about maybe not waiting until the wrong side of 30 to start caring about retirement, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn they’re a little ahead of the game.

One name that kept coming up in these discussions is Acorns, an investment resource that not only enables the account holder to build up their nest egg with the money they haven’t dedicated to designer streetwear and DLC, but rewards their friends with monetary bonuses for every new sign-up. It’s a great way to be passively responsible, which can be just as good as the other kind.

Another popular tool among financially savvy teens and twentysomethings is next-generation brokerage Robin Hood, which promises all of the benefits of a professional investing firm with almost none of the associated overhead. Manage your portfolio from your smartphone in minutes, close the app, then check your notifications or get some swiping in…convenient enough for sure.

It seems like an intriguing prospect, but over the years I’ve found that brokerage fees don’t always deliver the bang for your buck and I’ve also come across some advice that actively managed portfolios actually tend to underperform, but I’m by no means an expert so if you want to educate me or just compare notes, you’re more than welcome.

Eyes on the Road

Ever see those crazy Russian dashcam videos with footage of collisions, incidents of road rage, and insurance fraudsters caught on candid camera? Well, the open road is a crazy place whether the traffic signs are in metric or imperial units, and so mounted cameras are fast becoming a necessity for the conscious motorist.

Owl takes the concept a step further, combining a high definition camera with an integrated smartphone app so you can monitor your vehicle whether you’re driving it or not. It can send an alert directly to you in case of a break in or even just a rogue shopping cart, and can transmit live video to your screen wherever you are.

As an added bonus, the camera is on even when your car isn’t, so if there’s a spectacular sunset or a streaker near your vehicle you can be the first to know (and share it online, as is Internet Law).

Methodical Management

In my experience, most commonly used agency management systems are well suited to keeping a handle on everyday operations such as processing, commission tracking, and of course, paying the bills. With that typed, they’re not always robustly equipped for the more directly sales related aspects of the game, and that can be problematic since studies show sales are correlated with profits.

That’s why we’ve scoured the marketplace to identify the best tools for agencies who want to sell more insurance and do it right–which I assume is most of yours. If you’d like to check out a few of the apps that we find indispensable to our work and most frequently recommend, click here to let me know and I’ll send you a list. Don’t worry, I won’t sell your info, what we have is more special than that.

Home is Where the Art Is

Scrolling through an album on your phone or posting it on your social media account is one thing, but I know I’m not the only one who misses physical photos…the allure of a moment in time made tangible. There’s just something so much more substantial about holding a picture in your hands, and although I guess you can just print it on paper. don’t you want to take a little more advantage of the future in which we live than that?

Enter Fracture. Fracture is a cool new service that enables you to have pictures printed on glass as a wall or stand mount, adding vibrant warmth and visual interest to your most frequently visited spaces. Being immortalized in a stained-glass window once required approval from the Pope and usually took place after your final birthday, but now all you need is a major credit card and you can enjoy it during your life. Isn’t technology great?

The Last Word

Well, that’s certainly a ripe and relevant installment of “Brad’s Blog,” wouldn’t you say? Thanks as always for joining me for this periodic presentation, I express my gratitude for not being sent to the spam folder often and I do mean it every time. I’ll be back on schedule next week, but until then if you want to chat or suggest a new topic, you know where to find me. Have a great week!

The post Brad’s 23rd Century Retirement Plan first appeared on Archway Computer.

Where’s My Jetpack?

We were told as children that in the future people would be wearing jetpacks and jumpsuits, but until relatively recently until now the most advanced developments in high tech apparel were those light-up sneakers my son insisted on having for the first day of second grade.

Now with wearable tech entering a boom period with the popularity of the FitBit and its descendents, I’m excited for the future of fashion gadgets. Apparently so is famed clothier Ralph Lauren, who is rolling out a special line of heated jackets for the US Olympic team.

The jackets feature a special “conductive ink” that transmits heat from the smartphone-sized power cell, keeping you warm and toasty on the medal stand or on the way to Whole Foods. Unfortunately they’re sold out for now, but the early success of the technology has encouraged the brand to take a closer look at large scale production, and I’m looking forward to it.

I still want my flying car, but that’s another gripe entirely.

A Zone of Your Own

The world of today is full of distractions…many of them of our own creation, but that doesn’t change the fact that they’re there. Noisli is designed to help you disconnect from everything but the task at hand using specially selected soundtracks. If you need increased focus to power through a tedious task or just want to block out the background and escape, this is the tool.

Keyboard Superuser

Oh, I see you’re still using a mouse for most of your input. How quaint. You must not really know how to work that keyboard. That’s right, there are actually a wide range of convenient controls integrated with your keyboard, from switching windows to toggling private browsing mode, even recovering that window you hit the “x” on when you thought you heard your supervisor coming.

Flights of Fancy

I’d like to take just a moment to reminisce about Concorde, Earth’s first supersonic passenger transport.

It’s hard to explain the sense of wonder that came with seeing this sleek and elegant bird appear on the scene for the first time in the early 70s. When I heard Concorde could zip from New York to Paris in under 4 hours, I thought flights to space from the nearest airport were just around the corner.

Of course, Concorde was eventually phased out due to a number of factors (with a triumphant spiritual return slated), but for me, the name itself will forever be linked with the spirit of travel.

Flight finder Concorde is mostly unrelated, but it does allow those who can never have enough passport stamps to search for cheap round trip flights on short notice. None will take you across the Atlantic in three and a half hours, but it’s tough to beat Boston to Shanghai for $500.

The Last Word

Well, that’s about everything I have this week, but as always thanks so much for making time for another exciting installment of “Brad’s Blog.” Believe me, I know you could be watching YouTube’s newest recommended videos or doing a sudoku puzzle right now, and your preference is appreciated. I’ll be back in your inbox on schedule, but until then don’t be shy about shooting me an email!

The post The Future We Were Promised and Super Keyboard first appeared on Archway Computer.

Well, it’s been a couple of days and I’m still recovering from the big game–that is, UCLA extending its win streak by taking down archrival USC at home on Saturday. The Lady Bruins even threw in a victory over their counterparts from Southern Cal Monday night just for good measure.

With the pair of victories both squads are looking like viable Tournament entries, which is always an exciting development, especially after last season when both teams made the Sweet Sixteen. We’re a basketball school, always have been…what can I say?

Spy Screen

Do you consider yourself paranoid? It’s not the absolute worst mode of operation, just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean someone isn’t out to get you. Well, for you shifty-glancers and triple-checkers out there, I present to you the HP Elitebook.

The EliteBook’s main feature is its HP SureView screen that is only fully visible from straight on and fades at an angle, so your trade secrets, account balances, password entries, and other private screenings remain for your eyes only.

Amazon Tracking

Speaking of paranoia, Amazon has unveiled the next phase of its plan to completely take over all facets of your life.

Not content with robotic listening devices that record all your conversations while controlling your music and electronic locks that give strangers access to your home when you’re not around, now the company that has spent years finding out exactly what you like and where you live is getting into the insurance game.

Tinfoil hat off, this latest direction for the e-commerce titan is sure to shake up the industry in interesting and unpredictable ways. Imagine your health insurance being tied to your lifestyle purchases such as fitness equipment, activity trackers, and delicious snacks on demand. Amazon is putting a lot of their muscle behind this, so we’ll just have to see where it goes.

Top Terminals

I spend a lot of time in airports, and while some are pretty much the worst combination of a bus station and a warehouse, others are actually pretty cool. This site spotlights some of the most fascinating features of airports from around the world, from the extravagant world class retail space you would expect in Dubai to the live music stages in Nashville. Good info for a long layover, wouldn’t you say?

The Last Word

Well, that’s quite enough for this week! Thanks as always for checking out this exciting episode for Brad’s Blog! I’ll be back on schedule when scheduled, but until then don’t be afraid to shoot me an email!

The post Stealth Screens and Insurance by Amazon first appeared on Archway Computer.

Making Contact

For my readers who travel on a regular basis, you know there are two things you can’t necessarily rely on to be in every location: WiFi and English.

It’s a potentially awkward situation if you need to ask for directions or make a specific order at a restaurant…suddenly your worldly sophistication regresses back through 50,000 years of humanity to pointing, flailing, and grunting.

Enter ili—or as fellow Star Trek fans may recognize it, the Universal Translator. This amazing device captures speech in one end and translates it in less than a second before rendering the translation through a speaker on the other. Yes, it’s as incredible as it sounds. Buy one.

Tear Down This Paywall

I read a lot of articles as part of what I do, but a recent trend is for news outlets–specifically high profile sources like the New York Times–to put all the really interesting stuff behind a subscribers only paywall.

Sure, I get that they’re not selling as much of the old fish wrap as they once did, but when I’m just trying to follow a lead myself, it gets a bit inconvenient.

Luckily, walking through paywalls is just one of the superpowers offered by Chrome’s Incognito Mode. Incognito Mode (CTRL+Shift+N on your keyboard) essentially makes you invisible to many of the Internet’s common tracking devices, like the ones responsible for those oddly specific ads you keep seeing.

Once activated, you can browse away without totally giving up your anonymity or having your activity tracked at the user end…I use it pretty much all the time.

Don’t Believe the Hype

A few weeks back I wrote about the particularly aggressive strain of the flu that many people are saying is around this year. The “report” was mostly anecdotal, since I connected the dots when almost every agent I wanted to speak to over a two or three week period was out sick.

Now I’m thinking it’s possible that they just didn’t want to talk to me. Noted debunker Michael Fumento did the actual legwork and found out much the opposite. Seems this edition of the flu isn’t particularly deadly, but it does generate a lot of clicks. What’s one more for the truth?

Heart and Skol

Though the Supe–um, Big Game is on the horizon and both teams have been eliminated, perhaps the most memorable moment of this year’s NFL playoffs was the unbelievable ending to the Vikings-Saints game, where the Vikes scored the winning TD on the very last play in one of the least likely sequences to ever take place on a professional football field.

In fact, the finish was so absolutely mind-blowing to dedicated fans that Apple Watches all across Minnesota and beyond interpreted their highly excited state as a full-on heart attack. It really shows the passion of the team’s supporters as well as the wonders of technology, which probably saved a few lives with a simple “hey, take it easy buddy” alert.

The Last Word

All right, that’s about enough for this week of geek. Thanks as always for fitting me into your morning routine, I say it every week and mean it every time. I’ll be back in your inbox before you know it, but until then I’ve got my eye out for you flu fakers.

The post Super Bowl Heart Attacks and Universal Translator first appeared on Archway Computer.

…and we’re back!

First things first: Happy New Year 2018 to all my readers! By now just about everyone is settling back into their everyday routines, which have hopefully been amended to reflect all those ambitious resolutions made just last week.

A simple alteration that has made a tangible impact on my quality of life was deciding to make stretching a priority. As the song says, “be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone,” and regular stretching goes a long way toward keeping all your flexy parts in good condition.

For full disclosure, I didn’t just start this on the 1st, but hey…it’s not too late to make a change and you might need some easy ideas.

A New Challenger Appears!

Getting to Know Alexa

The post New Year, Same Geek first appeared on Archway Computer.

For Your Family

I wish I could start off with better news, but this is important to me and could be to you or someone close to you as well.

My mother had herself a bit of a fall recently, and unfortunately she sustained some injuries including a concussion and blood loss in the incident so I spent some time consulting with some highly experienced medical professionals to get the clearest picture of the situation possible.

They really impressed upon me the dangers that concussions can present such as memory difficulties and even physical effects, and although they are common in household falls and other relatively minor accidents, they can’t always be detected by CAT scan.

Thankfully she’s making positive progress toward a recovery, but early detection and treatment was a substantial factor here. That’s why if someone you love has been the victim of a mishap and you suspect they may have had a concussion, this message from the Mayo Clinic could prove vital.

Check Out the Big Brain on Brad!

What Sorcery Is This?

The post Falls and Screen Shares first appeared on Archway Computer.

The post Talking InsureTech and InsureTurkey first appeared on Archway Computer.

California Wildfires

Before the fun and games kick off today, I have to take a minute to address something that continues to affect many of my fellow Californians.

Even though the pictures and videos from the disaster paint a dramatic image t’s hard to get a sense of the devastation that the ongoing wildfires have had on everyday people just by watching the news.

I was actually planning a visit to an area that has been affected by the frighteningly intense blazes to visit a prospective client. We had spoken a few times, and developed such a rapport that I feel like I already know her personally.

A day or two before the scheduled meeting, I was concerned about reports of power outages in the area–computers running on electricity and all–and reached out to her to make sure everything was set to run smoothly.

The news she gave me was honestly pretty terrible…not only had the outages temporarily shut down her agency, her home also burned to the ground in the disaster. The silver lining is that everyone was fine, but it’s obviously a less than ideal situation for her.

If you’re curious, the meeting had to be postponed, but I really hope for a better update when I finally do make her acquaintance official. Best of luck.

In the meantime, the California Fire Foundation does great work for the families of fallen firefighters in times like these, and since what they do is such an important part of keeping us safe in this state, I strongly believe in supporting them.

If you also believe that running toward a fire is one of the most heroic things a human being can do in service to his fellow man, you can learn more about the program here.

The post Slick Sales and Christmas Chromebooks first appeared on Archway Computer.

Hacking the Holidays

Tis the season…for email phishing and other scams. Unfortunately, cybercrooks are well aware of the increase in online activity that comes with this time of year, and with tools such as keystroke loggers and spoofed links in widespread use, it’s no surprise that a recent survey says at least 15 percent of people polled have had an active social media account compromised.

With this in mind, Google has a recent post on its official blog designed to help keep you from making some criminal’s Christmas. It spotlights the true pervasiveness of the issue, with over 25 million users victimized by email phishing and keystroke logging attacks. Here’s a tip: the IRS will likely send you a heavy letter if an issue demands your attention, and Gmail definitely will not ask for your password in a customer service message.

In all seriousness, cybercrime continues to be a constant struggle as the bad guys try to stay one step ahead, and a little vigilance goes a long way to helping keep your information secure.

Weekend Update

If you have friends with iPhones, you may have noticed they were having some technical difficulties over the weekend. Apparently a bug in one of the latest iOS builds causes some types of notification to temporarily send the processor into overdrive, heating it up until it overtaxes the system and forces a reset. So many Instaperfect moments lost to cruel fate.

The good news is that a solution is being rolled out in the form of the iOS 11.2 update, and this Lifehacker article goes into more detail about how to make it happen for you.

Sweet and Sour

We all have days where we could use a little extra juice, and when I need a reminder of how great life can be when you try really hard, I like this little Chrome extension called Momentum.

With Momentum, new tab pages are replaced with a display featuring a picturesque scene from some far flung destination along with a motivational quote and information like the time, date, and local weather. It’s an ideal blend of optimism and practicality.

…wait, what’s that you say? You don’t really go for all that incense and peppermints jazz? Well, fear not, you disappointed idealist…I have something for you as well.

Demotivators is a resource showcasing images best appreciated by those of us that realize there are more flakes and nuts than honey clusters in the cereal of life…it might not leave you pumped up to climb a mountain or run through a wall, but it is pretty hilarious.

Holiday Theatre

The holidays are the best time to watch and rewatch favorite movies, and instead of a traditional Christmas movie like “Die Hard,” I think I’m going to find myself taking another ride with this fun little movie called “The Big Sick.”

It’s based on a true story, and it follows a struggling Pakistani stand-up comic, an American grad student and their culture-crossing love. Without giving too much away, what I found so compelling about the movie is that the characters actually feel like people, and they manage to cover some pretty tricky topics like prejudice and the nature of family in a touching and mostly lighthearted way.

If you have the time to check it out, I definitely suggest it…it may not be directly a holiday film, but the types of connections explored and built in the film are the foundation on which these traditions are built, and I think it captures the spirit of the season more than most. It’s also free to watch for Amazon Prime users, which I assume is pretty much all of you by now, right?

The Last Word

Well, that should about do it for this week. As always, I want to express my sincere appreciation for everyone that has continued to make “Brad’s Blog” Archway’s highest rated customer newsletter. Expect me back in your inbox in six days’ time, and mine is open in case you want to drop me a line before then. Have a great week!

The post No Holiday for Hackers first appeared on Archway Computer.

Before the fun starts, I want to start off this week by sending my continued thoughts to those affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma as well as my readers in the Great Plains and Pacific Northwest who are dealing with massive wildfires in their respective regions.

While obviously tragic, events like these can also serve as impossible to ignore reminders of the noblest intent of technology: to assist humans in an uncertain world.

Naturally, there is much to be said about the meteorologists, first responders, and medical personnel who employ tools such as Doppler forecasting, GPS, rescue drones, and even social media to make navigating disaster more efficient, but the fact remains that we Sapes are tremendously innovative, and it’s inspiring to see it come into action when it counts.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery, everybody.

Bruined Lives

If you’ve been getting this newsletter for a while–or even since last week–you know that I’m a pretty big college football fan, specifically of the undefeated (well, 2-0) UCLA Bruins. Here’s a shot of me with a couple of guys from my days on campus…isn’t it great that big-school college sports means you never really have to graduate?

Wing and a Prayer

They say it’s best to face your fears head on, and although they say a lot of things I don’t necessarily live my life by, I think they have a pretty good point on this one.

You see, I’ve mentioned once or thrice in this space that flying isn’t exactly my favorite activity…it’s fine when it goes right, but…yeah. They also say that if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself…and so, I’m currently in training to become a pilot.

Seriously, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do, and it’s not quite as daunting as I imagined it to be. If you’ve ever been curious about learning, this series of videos is really good. I personally think women make better pilots for their advanced multitasking skills, but I’ll try not to let my inferiority be too much of an obstacle.

Point, Click, Art

If you’ve been looking for a user friendly version of Adobe Illustrator to make your visual fantasies and meme-based dreams come to life, you’re in luck this idle Tuesday.

Canva is an inexpensive design resource that allows even the most artistically inhibited to create attractive designs or even just press enough easy to identify buttons so that it cranks one out by itself. Best of all, it’s web-based, so there’s no download or installation required.

Just a Suggestion…

Are expense reports a regular part of what you do? Expensify makes the process simpler than ever before with convenient features such as automatic employee reimbursement and expenditure tracking, and all the data gets compiled into a neat little system of reports.

In my opinion, it would be a worthy resource for a certain in-house team member who shall remain nameless.

That’s you, Sueann.

(I didn’t say how long the team member would remain nameless.)

The 5-Second Rule

No, not a conservation strategy for a jelly-side-down mishap, you toddler of an adult.

The 5-Second Rule is a book I read…um, heard…on overcoming our most consistent roadblock to success: the guy in the mirror. Without giving too much away, the book details the true value of stepping outside your comfort zone in a very persuasive manner.

How persuasive?

It played a big part in my transition from drunken, fearful passenger to soberly intrepid pilot trainee. That’s a darn good review, I know after hearing that I’d buy the book if I didn’t have it already.

The Last Word

All right, that’ll wrap things up for this week. Thanks as always for making time for me in your routine, I promise to do the same for you if you drop me an email. Oh, and if you have any Amazon purchases planned in the near future, now’s a great time to useAmazon Smile to benefit the Red Cross or another charity of your choice!

The post Fearless Flyers first appeared on Archway Computer.

Blank Space

Is there anything more annoying than running out of storage space on your phone? Of course there is, but I’m doing A Thing here, come on.

That seemingly uninhibited ability to draw any digital resources from any source of your choosing—automatic data backup, streaming music, videos, email, scheduling, games and a map of our entire spherical Earth among other things—suddenly about as powerful as Superman during a kryptonite parade all due to an offensively minor issue like “storage space.”

It’s almost obscene.

Okayfine, I’ll drop the theatrics…but still, it’s a totally avoidable issue, and the Wall Street Journal recently ran a pretty informative piece with  a few tricks for keeping things clean in there.

Master of One

You know, the thing about Swiss Army knives is that they can be incredibly useful if you need access to a wide range of tools in a pinch…but very few of the actual tools are really all that good.

Think about it…you’re not going to clear brush with the knife the way you would with a machete.

The new ones with the USB storage are kinda cool, but I don’t really see a scenario where I’d need a 5GB data drive in a survival situation,

If you’re thinking about doing any elaborate scissor work using only the pair equipped to a multitool, I hope you’re at least going to make a YouTube video about it.

I riff thusly to illustrate why I’m not a big fan of those giant honking printer/scanner/fax stations. Besides being the approximate size of New Zealand, they just don’t tend to have all the features you would want in a dedicated version of any of the above.

For example, find me one of those paper fortresses with one-button searchable PDF creation, wireless scanning to devices from PC and Mac to Android and iOS and streamlined scanning to the cloud.

Again, you can, but it’s probably the price of a ride on SpaceX. (Can you tell I’m in a superlative mood today?)

That’s why I’m a big fan of the Fujitsu ScanSnap Document Scanner I got on Amazon. It has all those features along with fast double sided scanning of up to 25 pages per minute through its 50 page feeding system.

It also does not weigh several metric tons like those pachydermic paper processing printing presses.

As Young As You Feel…

Despite how old my kids go out of their way to make me feel sometimes, I’m not quite the traditional retirement age yet. In fact, whatever number just came to mind for you may be a little low according to the resultsof a recent study spotlighted  in a New York Times article.

The researchers involved made some pretty surprising discoveries, including that there is a direct connection between the percentage of people working at age 60 to 64 and their performance on memory tests as they got older.

Apparently on the whole, the longer people in a country lived their lives in a way they considered productive, the better they did on the tests. It’s certainly an interesting idea…even more so if I can get that gig as a professional barbecue contest judge in my later years.

…Maybe Younger.

Still, it’s no secret that I’m not as young as I used to be. (Few of us are that lucky.) In the uncertain times of today, it’s easy to slip into the mindset that it’s all downhill from a certain point.

Of course we’re all headed for the same destination so it’s best to just make the ride as enjoyable as possible, and a book I read a while back does an excellent job reminding me of that when I’m sick of hearing it from myself.

“Younger Next Year” is a book written for men of the age where “taking care of oneself” actually becomes more complicated than “don’t die” and “try to eat a vegetable from time to time.”

The text is filled with helpful insights about getting the most out of your decades of adult experience, and “Younger Next Year” also  has a female-focused companion text I haven’t read yet but that I’m willing to wager is equally illuminating.

The Last Word

Well, that’s pretty much everything on the ledger for this week, but before I go I want to say I’ve noticed that the newsletter seems to have a few dedicated fans.

Not just “oh, look, it’s Tuesday morning again and Brad is going to ramble about some bundle of wires or configuration of code, that’s fine.” More like “a single anonymous reader opened this blog 60 times this week.”

Is your dedication that deep? Do you have nothing better to do?

Dare I say it…do we have superfans?

Well, the first thing I’m going to do this summer is find out. Shoot me an email  with a picture showing off your undying devotion to this weekly technology digest and Team Archway will choose the winner of a $100 Amazon gift card because of course that’s the prize.

Looking forward to seeing how great people think I am…thanks for reading!

The post ATTN: Both Brad’s Blog Superfans first appeared on Archway Computer.