WordPress 5.0 has been released

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WordPress 5.0 has been released

WordPress 5.0 'Bebo'

The latest version of WordPress, WordPress 5.0 ‘Bebo’ (known as “Gutenberg” during its development) has been released. For those unfamiliar, WordPress is a website content management system used by a majority of CyberGuru clients to build their websites. WordPress now powers 32% of the websites on the internet today, and in order to keep up with emerging trends, WordPress 5.0 has seen the largest upgrade to date on the platform.

Going from the current version of WordPress to the Gutenberg release is like changing from a manual car to an automatic. Just as an automatic car doesn’t look that different from a manual, websites in WordPress 5.0 won’t necessarily look vastly different from those using the current version of WordPress. However, the driving experience of automatic is substantially different from a manual and similarly the website design process is considerably more intuitive and user friendly in the Bebo release. Given the magnitude of this upgrade it is understandable that some plugins may not work and many websites may require tweaking to take full advantage of the upgrade.

The most significant change since the last major release some four years ago, is a block-based editor, similar to Divi and SiteOrigin Page Builder where editable content, such as text boxes, images and other items, can be added as simply as adding a block and modifying these. This is a large change from what was previously generally editing similar to a Word document. According to WordPress, they plan to continue to support the “Classic Editor” until at least 2021.

Another change is the frequency of updates. WordPress have proposed minor WordPress release twice a month. Further information is yet to be shared by WordPress, but we understand that these will be focused on improvements and bug fixes.

As it is nearly time here for Christmas (Summer) holidays, we recommend that our clients postpone upgrading until this can be reviewed closely in the new year. It is likely that there will be issues with possibly a theme, plugin or translation that may cause the upgrade to not go as planned. As with any new release, there is a likelihood of bugs and other issues to present itself themselves. It is anticipated that as an increasing number of websites begin to use the new version, these will be identified and resolved. Waiting until the new year will hopefully reduce the issues and be more stable and reliable.

We suggest having a working backup and testing the website prior to changing over to identify potential issues. We will be working with our clients to discuss how best to plan and manage this for their particular circumstances in the new year and identify a suitable time to upgrade.

We do not recommend taking this upgrade lightly. If you have any questions or require any further information, please contact us.

Wishing you and yours a Happy and Holy Christmas

cyberguru Announcements , ,
Wishing you and yours a Happy and Holy Christmas

Christmas 2018

As another year draws to a close, CyberGuru would like to wish you and yours a happy and Holy Christmas.

2018 has been another exciting year for CyberGuru as we continue to enable, educate and empower our clients through the use of information, communication and technology (ICT). We appreciate the custom of our clients for entrusting us with your ICT needs and requirements throughout the year.

CyberGuru will be closed from Friday 21 December 2018 and will reopen on Monday 7 January 2019. During this time, we will not be available by phone or email however we will provide details of a trusted colleague to our clients should you require any emergency assistance.

If you have any ICT requirements to be completed before this time or prior to our return, please contact us as soon as possible to ensure it is attended to prior to our departure.

In lieu of paper Christmas cards, we are continuing our longstanding tradition of donating to the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal.

We look forward to supporting you again next year.

Looking after your IT over Christmas

cyberguru Consulting , ,
Looking after your IT over Christmas

Looking after your IT over Christmas

Christmas is coming and it will soon be time for holidays. But before you head off on that well-deserved break here are three important IT safety tips.

  1. Perform a backup and bring home a copy with you. Data is increasingly essential to businesses and you cannot afford the downtime associated with its loss. Backup all your data including files, email, settings and even your website. Make at least two copies and bring one home with you, so if something happens to your office while you are on holidays you have another copy.
  2. Unplug all non-essential equipment. Summer is storm season and the best way to protect against surges is ensure your equipment is not plugged in. Some ISPs recommend leaving your modem plugged in, but CyberGuru would suggest that you disconnect your server, computers and other devices connected to mains power. Ideally over summer you may also wish to consider an Uninterruptable Power Supply in case your power is distributed due to electrical or weather conditions.
  3. Undertake maintenance so your devices will be running optimally in 2019. Ensure you have a working backup by testing whether you can successfully restore a file, remove or archive old documents and photos from your computer, confirm all recent updates have been applied including website updates, tidy your email inbox and then set up your automatic reply so every knows you are out of the office!

Everyone loves Christmas, especially scammers. So whether you’re checking emails or taking advantage of the online sales, remember to stay safe online.

Ask CyberGuru: What is the difference between Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Home?

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Ask CyberGuru: What is the difference between Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Home?

Ask CyberGuru

CyberGuru is asked, “I am looking a new computer and the different options. I was wondering what the difference is between Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Home?”

Generally, Windows 10 Pro devices are designed for business use whereas Windows 10 Home is for personal use. This means that Pro devices often have higher specifications than Home devices.

Oftentimes, Windows 10 Pro devices are used for PC-based servers or advanced needs as they allow for. Windows 10 Pro allows for you to set up Remote Desktop to connect to your computer remotely BitLocker disk encryption, the ability to connect to a domain and Client Hyper-V, allowing you to run “virtual machines” on your computer.

Depending on your set up and requirements, you may not require these functions, or you may already have alternatives in place, so you can use Windows 10 Home. If you already have or decide to buy a device with Windows 10 Home, you can generally upgrade to Windows 10 Pro should your needs change in the future.

For more details on the features and differences, please visit the Compare Windows 10 editions page.

If you have any questions we can answer for you, please contact us.

Looking for Christmas gift shopping ideas?

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Looking for Christmas gift shopping ideas?

Looking for Christmas gift shopping ideas?

With less than six weeks until Christmas, you may be wondering what to buy a colleague, family member or yourself to celebrate!

CyberGuru is available to advise and recommend a range of computer products and services to suit your needs and budget.

At this time of year, new computer products and services are especially popular. In addition, we can assist you in purchasing and setting up new a desktop, laptop or tablet in ready for Christmas Day. We are able to advise and recommend what to buy and can help source, configure and move across your old files to make it work for you.

We also provide various software including Microsoft Office, internet software (including Norton Security Premium and Trend Micro Maximum Security) as well as range of peripherals including portable hard drives, as well as Acronis Backup.

If you are unsure what to get, we can also provide gift certificates for use on any of our services, including consulting, design, support and training.

So whether it for your family, business or yourself personally, please feel free to contact us. Similarly, if you know of a colleague or friend, or someone else need of some assistance, please pass on our details.