Microsoft is offering a 15% discount on Copilot.
Copilot for Microsoft 365 licenses are currently 15% off, for 10–300 licenses purchases. This offer is available now until 31 December 2024, on annual all subscriptions, for both new and existing Microsoft 365 customers.
You can find out more about Copilot for Microsoft 365 here. Please contact us for further information or to place an order.
Microsoft has announced the Windows 365 Link, a miniature device purpose built to provide access to Windows 365 PCs hosted in Microsoft’s cloud. This is the tech giant’s first hardware designed specifically for its Windows 365 services. Technically the Link acts as a thin client, connecting to the main PC, which is hosted in the cloud, and streaming that back via the Link to the local monitors and peripherals.
This compact new device marks a significant step in the top tier provider’s efforts to integrate its services with its own hardware, which is something Apple has long been renowned for. According to Microsoft, it will streamline users’ access to virtual desktops. This could allow organisations to transition users to virtual machines which can be streamed to/from multiple devices and locations. It would particularly be suited to organisations with multiple locations, hot desking and shared workspaces – as the Link is essentially a method of access to a user’s single omnipresent cloud-based PC.
It is currently available in preview in select markets and will be launched globally in April 2025. Pricing has been set at $349 – a similar price point to the thin client PCs currently on offer from HP, Dell, and Lenovo.
ESET is offering discounts up to 50% for Cyber Weekend 2024.
Discounts are available for new customers for up to 50% on all ESET home products for one year and up to five licenses. Offers end at midnight on Monday 2 December 2024 and cannot be combined with other promotions.
Find out more about ESET’s internet security products here. Please contact us for further information or to place an order.
Microsoft has added new features to Teams in its chat and channel interfaces. Key updates include:
Users can choose to access chats and channels in one place or keep them separate, depending on their preference.
Chats and channels can now be pinned under a ‘Favourites’ section, making frequently used items easier to locate.
Chats and channels can be dragged and dropped into custom sections, allowing users to organise discussions by topic or project.
A new feature highlights all @mentions across chats, channels, and meetings in one view.
Settings now include options to customise how chats and channels are displayed, such as combined or separate views, message previews, and a single list of channels. These features can be adjusted by opening Settings and selecting Chats and channels in the app.
From 6 January 2025, Microsoft will begin migrating all business customers from the Classic Outlook desktop application to New Outlook.
Classic Outlook has been a reliable email client for years and is widely used by organisations for managing emails, calendars, tasks, as well as integrating with third party addons. Although Microsoft has committed to supporting the Classic version until 2029, they plan to move users to the New version starting from the beginning of 2025.
New Outlook has been in development since 2023 but has been beset with problems and we don’t believe it’s ready to use yet. It has received criticism for inefficient performance, compatibility issues, and potential security vulnerabilities.
Therefore this enforced migration to New Outlook by Microsoft could disrupt operations. Many organisations rely on Classic Outlook’s robust features and stability, and this enforced change risks breaking workflows or reducing productivity.
There are also concerns about how secure and functional New Outlook will be during the transition, as many features and integrations for business environments are not yet supported. Even basic functionality is missing – for example, New Outlook requires an internet connection to start and thus cannot be used offline!
Fortunately, administrators have the ability to block this automatic migration by configuring specific policies in an organisation’s environment. For our managed clients, we can enact this for you if you wish, so that you remain on the Classic Outlook application and ensure the continued functionality and security of using that client. Some organisations without centralised management may need to take action on their machines, but we have created a simple solution for this. Otherwise, migrations to New Outlook will begin automatically from January 2025.
If you have any questions or concerns about how this change may impact your organisation, please contact us for further information.
We previously launched the new website for APD Maintenance. They provide comprehensive property maintenance services and are trusted by leading management and estate agents throughout the UK.
APD wanted to entirely update their online presence and achieve a website which better reflected their business. The new single page site is designed to give an immediate overview of their services and high standard of delivery, as well as an introduction to their dedicated team.
The site uses custom interactive micro animations based on a user’s scroll progress through the site, as well as custom mouse cursors and mini videos which trigger on hover. This creates a unique aesthetic and aims to reflect their high standards and service commitment.
The form delivers enquiries to their internal systems for processing, and Google Analytics (GA4) allows for tracking, reporting and analysis of visitor traffic.
Like all the websites we design and build, it is fully responsive across devices and screen sizes, and has a full CMS (Content Management System) based on a modular approach for greater flexibility.
The build was also optimised for SEO and performance, and comes with strong security measures, as is standard for our websites.
APD were extremely pleased with the results, and you can see the site here at apdmaintenance.co.uk.