by Richard Jones | Nov 5, 2025 | Business, IT Management, Microsoft, New Technology, Productivity
How much time do you waste sorting through emails every day, trying to figure out what really needs your attention?
If you’re like most business owners, the answer is probably “too much”.
Between customer queries, supplier updates, internal messages, and the occasional bit of junk, your inbox can feel overwhelming.
And if you or your team miss something important because it got buried, that can cause delays, confusion, or worse.
Well guess what?
Microsoft is adding a clever new tool to help with this.
Outlook for iOS and Android will soon use Copilot, Microsoft’s AI assistant, to flag your most important emails. It’s called Priority view, and will sort your inbox into two simple categories: High Priority and Needs Replies.
That means when you open Outlook on your phone, the emails that matter most will stand out straight away.
We all know how easy it is for important messages to slip through the cracks, especially when you’re busy or juggling multiple roles. With Priority view, you’ll spend less time digging through your inbox. And that leaves you more time for other, more important things.
For employees, it can take away some of the stress of keeping up with emails. No more worrying that they’ve missed something vital buried under a pile of newsletters or group updates.
It’s worth noting that this feature will be rolling out gradually. It could take until late 2025 before everyone sees it. Also, it’s only available to businesses using Microsoft 365 with a Copilot license, as Copilot is a paid add-on.
But if you’re already considering AI tools to help your business work smarter, this is one to watch.
Curious about how Copilot could help your business? Whether it’s with Outlook, Teams, or other tools, or you want to chat about making your email setup more efficient, get in touch. Helping you stay on top of your tech is what we’re here for.
by Richard Jones | Nov 5, 2025 | Business, Business Continuity, Cybersecurity, IT Management, Microsoft, Uncategorised
When was the last time you finished a busy workday and still had plenty of battery left on your laptop?
Feels like wishful thinking, right?
Microsoft knows this, because it’s testing out a new feature for Windows 11 that could give your laptop a noticeably better battery life.
As someone who works with business tech every day, I think this could be a big step forward for businesses everywhere.
The feature is called adaptive energy saver.
Normally, Windows only switches on its energy‑saving mode when your battery level gets low. And you can set what “low” means in your settings. But adaptive energy saver takes a much smarter approach.
Instead of waiting for the battery to run down, your laptop will watch what you’re doing. And if you’re only carrying out light tasks like browsing the web, reading emails, or working in Word, it quietly switches on energy saver in the background.
From what Microsoft has shared so far, this doesn’t affect your screen brightness. Which is good news, because nobody wants their screen dimming and brightening all day.
Instead, it seems to focus on gently slowing down components like your processor and graphics chip when they’re not working hard. Those are two of the biggest power drains in a laptop. Easing off on them could mean you get a lot more time before you need to hunt for a charger.
It’s not switched on by default. You’d need to turn it on yourself in your laptop’s settings. And of course, not every test feature makes it to the final version of Windows 11, but this one feels like a no‑brainer to me.
The benefits for businesses are obvious. Your people can work for longer between charges, whether they’re in meetings, out visiting clients, or working from a coffee shop for the afternoon.
Fewer frantic dashes for a plug socket means fewer interruptions and less stress.
And over time, better battery efficiency could even help you extend the lifespan of your laptops by reducing how often they’re run down and charged up again.
Right now, adaptive energy saver is being tested in the Canary channel, which is where Microsoft tries out ideas before releasing them more widely.
I spend a lot of time looking for small changes that add up to a big difference for productivity. This is exactly the sort of improvement that does just that. It’s early days, but if Microsoft rolls this out, Windows 11 laptops could soon feel like they’ve had a major upgrade without you having to buy a thing.
If it’s time to upgrade your devices and you need expert guidance, get in touch.
by Richard Jones | Feb 10, 2025 | Business, IT Management, Microsoft, Mobile, New Technology, Productivity, Working from Home
It feels like we have a gadget for everything these days, doesn’t it?
The average office worker now carries around three devices to get through the day. Think laptops, tablets, headphones… and even multiple phones.
Technology keeps teams connected and helps us work smarter – but there’s a downside: Managing so many devices can get a little overwhelming.
What happens every time we add a new device to our daily work routine? There’s something else to charge. Another thing to carry. One more item to keep track of.
In fact, carrying around all this tech adds up to an average 4.1 kg of extra weight. That’s like carrying an air fryer to work every day!
Another issue is the mental load. Many professionals say they feel bogged down by the notifications they get across all their devices. It’s common to get dozens of notifications every day, and the constant flow of alerts can be such a distraction.
One way to get around gadget overload is to try out devices that handle many functions, like foldable phones, or hybrid laptops. This way, one device could do the same thing two or three of your devices are doing.
Another great strategy is to upgrade to a smarter system, like Windows 11.
Windows 11 makes it easier to switch between tasks, reducing the need for extra devices. With a smoother, more integrated experience, your team might not feel they need as many gadgets to stay productive.
Need help streamlining your setup? We can help walk you through the options. Get in touch.
by Richard Jones | Feb 3, 2025 | Business, Business Continuity, Cloud, Cybersecurity, IT Management, Microsoft, New Technology, Productivity
Still holding on to Windows 10 in your business? It’s time to start thinking about making the move to Windows 11.
Three years after its release, Windows 11 is making major headway, with its market share reaching 35.55% in October 2024. While Windows 10 still holds around 60.97% of the market, change is on the horizon – and there are some compelling reasons to consider the switch.
First, let’s talk about the big news: From 14th October, Windows 10 will no longer receive free support from Microsoft. Although this doesn’t mean Windows 10 will stop working, it will stop getting important updates, such as up-to-date protection against malicious software and cyber threats.
Microsoft will be offering extended security support for Windows 10 for an extra year, but this will cost businesses $30 (around £23) per device and could get expensive. And this is only a temporary solution.
So, why has interest in Windows 11 spiked recently?
For one, the PC market has picked up. This is partly because of the rise of “AI PCs”, which use hardware that is more capable of handling AI-based tasks. People want to make sure their devices are compatible with the latest software, including Windows 11. There’s also buzz around the rollout of “Windows Intelligence” – a possible rebrand of some Windows 11 AI features.
Upgrading to Windows 11 isn’t just about keeping up with the latest tech, though. Another reason people are moving to Windows 11 is that it offers a more streamlined and user-friendly experience. New features include customisable widgets and an improved File Explorer, helping you to get things done faster.
Another major benefit to businesses is that Windows 11 brings improved security, offering better protection against cyber threats like:
- Ransomware, where you get locked out of your files and held to ransom for its (possible) return
- Phishing attacks, where you get tricked into revealing sensitive information through things like fake emails
If you want to stick with Windows 10, Microsoft’s one-year extension could offer you a bit more time. But if you want our advice? You’d only be delaying the inevitable, while missing out on the benefits of upgrading.
We can help make the switch stress-free. Get in touch.
by Richard Jones | Jan 27, 2025 | Business, Microsoft, New Technology, Productivity
Imagine turning on your computer and having all the apps you need for the day already open and ready to go. That’d be useful, right?
Windows 11 lets you set your favorite apps to launch automatically when you log in.
Setting it up is easy. And it’ll help you and your team dive into work faster.
For some apps, you can set up auto-launch like this:
- Head to Settings
- Click Apps
- Then select Startup
Here, you’ll see a list of apps that support auto-launch. Flip the toggle for the apps you want to open when you start your computer, and they’ll be ready for you next time you log in.
If an app doesn’t appear in the Startup area of Settings, don’t worry. You can set the app to auto-launch another way.
For this, head to the special Startup folder in Windows 11. Here you can add shortcuts to any app you want to launch automatically.
Here’s how you do it:
- Hit “Windows Key + R” to open the Run tool
- Type ‘shell:startup’
- Click OK
Now you’ll be able to add a shortcut to your chosen app using its executable file (usually shown as an .exe file in Program Files).
If the thought of doing this makes you feel nauseous, get us to do it for you.
One thing to remember, though. While it’s tempting to set all your favorite apps to launch automatically, opening too many at once can slow down your computer. Stick to the essentials.
Need help getting your tech set up for your business? We can do that, get in touch.
by Richard Jones | Jan 20, 2025 | Business, IT Management, Microsoft, New Technology, Productivity
Wouldn’t it be great if your Windows 11 computer could handle tasks just like a real-life assistant?
That’s exactly what Microsoft wants to achieve with Windows Agent Arena, its new AI project.
The goal is to create smart virtual assistants, known as AI agents. They will be able to complete tasks on your computer. They could save time by doing repetitive tasks for you, such as managing apps or organising files.
So, what exactly is an AI agent? And how could it help your business?
An AI agent is a type of artificial intelligence designed to interact with your computer. Instead of only giving you information, AI agents can perform actions for you.
For example, you could train an AI agent to run your morning routine. It would open your calendar, launch your email app, and check the news. When you begin your day, the agent would know what info to share with you, like a virtual assistant.
Imagine having AI agents that update your software, or even edit documents for you. They could enable privacy options in Microsoft Edge, install extensions or update settings. This saves you time and hassle, so you can focus on bigger things.
The project is open source. That means developers around the world can contribute to help these tools evolve. Although they’re still in development, the potential for businesses is exciting.
For now, one of the best ways to see how helpful AI can be for your business is to give Copilot a try. Need help getting started? Get in touch.
