UptimeRobot – Real time web monitoring!

UptimeRobot

We’d like to write a piece about this great little web monitoring site that we came across and have used to monitor out sites for some time now.

Accessible at UptimeRobot.com, the site allows you to monitor up to 50 sites, every 5 minutes, for free!

The GUI is lovely, the notifications – SMS, Twitter, email, web hooks or PUSH – are perfect and the  number of monitors you can include for a particular site are just right. UR will allow you to monitor HTTP/S, Ping, Port and keywords too. You are able to view uptime, downtime, and response times as well as average downtime across a period of time.

And for those that really want to delve in, an API is also available for developers to use to integrate the service into their own apps.

Check it out, we think you’ll love it!

Virgin Media Customers Get F-Secure Antivirus

F-Secure

 

We’ve recently changed our ISP to Virgin Media and were kindly surprised when we found that we could get the industry renound antivirus softare “F-Secure SAFE” for free to install on up to 5 computers (PC and Mac versions available) for one year.  After this it is available at a reduced price of £25pa.

Virgin’s explanation and more details on this are available at the following link: http://store.virginmedia.com/discover/broadband/security/f-secure-safe.html

It is also good to see that Virgin discuss the fact Macs aren’t susceptible to attack, and have further useful information on how to keep your computer safe when connected to the Internet on this page. Well worth a read!

We are not affiliated with Virgin Media in any way or form and this post is for informational purposes only.

 

How To Easily transfer ALL your files from Windows XP to Windows 8.1

HowTo, IT, , , , , , ,

1-PCmover2This took us some digging to work out how to get working as Microsoft have failed somewhat to explain that Microsoft Easy Transfer Wizard does NOT work to transfer files from Windows XP to 8.1.

It seems that Microsoft have partnered with Laplink to provide a version of PCMover Express for FREE which allows you to quite simply transfer all your files and documents from your PC running XP, to your PC running Windows 8.1.

Microsoft had hit a large backlash from users when they realized it had left them without any way of transferring files easily between computers when upgrading.

The tool works well and we have recently used it to migrate data for a client. It uses a Wizard to run.

We used the software to migrate data directly over our network with success.

Note: Will run only if source PC is Windows XP and destination PC is Windows 7, 8, or 8.1. The free data transfer will not migrate your apps  although the Professional app (paid for) will transfer compatible apps).

 

 

Cloud Backup – Profiling Backblaze

IT, Macintosh, , , , ,

Backblaze LogoAs we have discussed previously, the importance of backing up your work and backing up your computers is growing increasingly as more and more of our work is computerized.

Many people already have local backup in the form of Windows Backup or Time Machine if on Mac, which is great, but also relies heavily on physical hardware and for that to be connected for the backup to run.

Being Mac fans ourselves, we run a local Time Machine backup. We also wanted to have an offsite backup, always on and ensuring that all our files were backed up.

We won’t go into too much detail about the different types of backup, different backup schedules and so on as that can all get a little bit too complex for one post but after much research of backup solutions we have found Backblaze to be reliable and work well. We have tested it on our Macs with the free trial, and satisfied, are now very happy with what it provides.

Backblaze is both Windows and Mac compatible, offers continuous backup, encrypts your data on the fly and allows you to restore data wherever you are!

For more information check out the site and get a free trial now: www.backblaze.com

Note: we’re not affiliated, we just really like the service!