The Foundation is proud to be looking for our next Field Technician. We’re an Apple Authorized Service Provider and responsible for repair and dispatch of AppleCare support services in the Twin Cities. We’re not just fanboys, though. To be our next Field Tech, an expansive knowledge of both Apple, and Windows is necessary. We go both ways. Bring your track shoes, as we pride ourselves on providing quick, and accurate, responses to our business clients’ technical needs. A Field Tech is the face of the company, and that means you’ll need to talk to people, too. No hiding behind keyboards. We work with Creative folks, and need to be able to speak their language.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide on-site support to Apple and Windows desktop and laptop client support.
• Apple and Windows client connectivity to Xserve, Open Directory and Active Directory environments.
• Active Directory Users and Computers, manage computer accounts, user accounts, distribution lists and security groups.
• Cross-platform file server connectivity, especially permission/file attributes and SMB/AFP issues.
• Email support for Microsoft Outlook and Apple mail clients, including personal folders and Outlook profile configurations.
• Microsoft Exchange and Kerio Connect mail data migration.
• Security configurations and settings for Mac and Windows clients.
• VPN/Firewall hardware configuration and client implementation for Mac and Windows clients.
• Printer configuration and support for Mac and Windows clients.
• Hardware upgrades for Mac and Windows Clients (RAM, RAID, Hard Drives).
• Software upgrade and installation for Mac and Windows Clients.
• Patch Management for Mac and Windows Clients.
• Network services troubleshooting and connectivity, including wireless.
• Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware support. (For Windows, silly.)
• Trouble ticket management and documentation of support issues/resolutions.
• Mobile Devices support including iPhone and Android.
• Knowledge of Mobile Device Management platforms and profile configuration.
• Ability to speak tech without sounding techy.
• Good humor.
• Ability to work both independently and with a team.

For more information, including key functions and responsibilities for our Field Technicians, please give us a call at 612.465.0700 or contact us at careers@fndtn.com. Thank you!

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

Congrats!

Because you are our friends, you can join us at Macworld 2012. Er, I mean iWorld. Yeah, iWorld. We’re very excited to go, and to help bring you with, we’ve started an Instagram account to give you access to all the fun that is in store.

Our Instagram username is “thefndtn”, so make sure you add us to your feed.

Who can resist all the newest shiny gadgets through a retro lens?

The event starts January 26th in San Francisco – but who knows what we’ll see in the mean time.

You may think we’re crazy.

But that’s ok.

We’re on Pinterest because every day, we see our clients do great work. Inspiring work, and we’d like to share it. And then very shortly into the experiment, we realized that we’re hooked.

Pinterest is a site dedicated to sharing images that are meant to make you laugh, make you think, make you smile, and make you want to share. It is a digital collage that lets you take images from any site and share them with friends, and the world. It is a great place for designers to explore, data folks to find infographs, and is probably best known for awe inspiring architecture pictures.

It’s been two days and we have about 70 pins up on our board. In that two days, we’ve been repinned 27 times, and gotten 10 likes.

If you have any aspirations of creativity, you may have just found a rabbit hole to explore.

Enjoy!

The FBI has said that only 3% of laptops that are stolen, are ever recovered.

That’s a horrible statistic.

Being a Macintosh guy, I’ve never really had any security concerns per se. However, I realized awhile ago that there are different types of security concers: device security, data security, and network security. These three arenas have very different games being played, and it is important to think about all of them.

Device Security
People do bad things, sometimes even in good places. At college, students are advised that the best defense against laptop theft is taking away easy opportunities. The first step in that equation would be to physically control the environment. Kensington lock sets are the easiest deterrent for most environments. At around $50, they provide you with a cable that connects to your computer, and loops around some solid (ideally non-movable) object like a desk. These are easy ways to have a physical method to protect your computer, and about 80% (or more) laptops have the locking port built in.

Sometimes though, that’s cumbersome. We’re human. We forget to lock it up, or forget to bring the cable everywhere we go. Personally, I struggle daily to find my car keys – adding something like a security cable to my laptop wouldn’t be my best spent money. For me, I’ve invested $15/year in a program that assists in the recovery of stolen computers. It’s called Hidden. The software runs on my Mac, and if it ever gets stolen, I log in to a web portal where I can find it on a map, and see pictures that the built in camera starts taking as soon as I report it stolen or lost.

It’s pretty neat. Granted, in doing so, my information is still vounerable (see Data Security), and I am without my computer, plus I am relying on the police to safely recover it. I have heard a great success story from a friend of mine using this, which is part of why I said the $15/month is an easy investment for me. I’ll just bring my lunch to work one day this week.

Another option that is a little more robust would be from LoJack. They are experts in security software that protect laptops, cars, and far more. One advantage that LoJack has over Hidden, is the ability to lock and erase the computer, as well as similarly track and take pictures. With the more advanced features, also comes a higher price point; it starts at $39.99/year.

Neither is a proactive approach to theft deterrent, but its strength is in the recovery of your computer, and potentially protecting your data.

Data Security
If someone does get a hold of your computer, how vounerable is your data? There are a few things to consider when it comes to your data. Do you back it up? I always think everyone has the greatest of intentions to back up their data, but hardly ever do. Mac OS X makes it incredibly easy to back up – plug in a hard drive and let Time Machine do the rest. On Windows, there are software programs that help let you establish a routine as well. The problem is that we all need to actively do it, and that’s where we get too busy or forget. An alternative is a product that is developed locally, and quite fantastic. The folks over at Code 42 Software have something called CrashPlan. It takes your information, and backs it up to their servers (or, a hosted environment depending on your need). What’s great is that you are backed up, and it isn’t your responsibility to do anything – it runs in the background. The downside, is if your computer gets lost, stolen or even broken, downloading your data can take a fair amount of time. That’s where a hosted solution, where we can help expidite that process, comes in to play.

One very important item that is free and often overlooked, is the security that is built into the computer. Enable a password, and have it set so that even if the computer is asleep, you need to enter your password to use it. This is a first-line of defense for your computer, and there’s no reason not to do it.

Network Security
One of the great things about the internet, is that we don’t associate it with a physical space, or realize how it is all actually connected. One of the biggest misconceptions about the internet is that you always go from point a to b directly, and no one can bump into you on the way there.

Independant of what type of organization you are in, network security should always be top of mind. If your organization has a server that you connect with, make sure that you have a good security device, a firewall, in front of it. There are numerous different options for firewalls and VPNs. We can help find the right solution to fit your organizational needs to help protect your information as it goes from one location to another.

For security concerns, whether it be Mac, PC, or even iOS, there are ways to help protect your investments – both physically and the data that resides on them. If you have questions about what your organization can do to protect itself, reach out and see where we might be able to help.

^MW

Sure, you may think that Adobe CS3 or CS4 programs are meeting your needs. And that very well may be the case. However, I encourage you to take some time to investigate the latest release, Adobe Creative Suite 5.5.

Why? For one, it has some great new features to talk about, but that isn’t why we bring it up.

In Adobe’s FAQ, we learn that their upgrade policy is changing in 2012. The affect of which could be fairly dramatic for your organization. Once CS6 is announced, it appears that you will not be able to upgrade from versions more than one number back. If you are currently running any Adobe CS4 programs, be aware that to upgrade to the inevitable CS6 due in 2012, you’ll need to purchase the full version – upgrades will not be available.

Reasons to purchase CS5.5 right now
If you are currently running an older version and have any thoughts about upgrading to Mac OS X Lion, then the latest verison of the Adobe products is really what you want.

There is also a significant change in tax law for 2012 that may affect depreciation of both hardware and software purchases made. (Consult your tax advisor for more information, as we are merely nerds with keyboards.)

Being an Adobe Partner, we can offer you the same great discounts that Adobe is offering through the end of the year, including 20% off upgrades. This offer ends December 31st, 2011, so act fast!

For more information, contact our sales team at 612-465-0700 or info@fndtn.com

The era of dictatorial IT is slowly coming to an end. With great technologies like smart phones and the iPad, it is impossible to ignore the business implications of these devices. Businesses are becoming more mobile than ever, which can make some IT partners nervous.

November 9th at 7:30am, The Foundation’s Matt Woestehoff will be representing Atomic Data for a keynote and discussion on what emerging technologies mean for a business owner. From managed IT to Bring Your Own Device networks, there are different scenarios for each businesses. Come hear ways to thwart your nervousness.

Atomic Data specializes in moving businesses to the cloud, hosting network data, providing security and help desk support, and assisting in iPad deployments; all while keeping it simple, safe and smart.

Matt Woestehoff has been in the technology business for over eight years, and spending nearly seven with Apple, Inc. He continues to help his clients get back to work, by providing solutions for efficiency and ease.

Please RSVP at http://www.tbrseminarnov.eventbrite.com to claim your seat.

Event Details:

With the recent release of iOS 5 and a slew of new and exciting apps there are a ton of things we all want to talk about and share. We invite you to join us for our second North Loop App Group meeting. If you don’t want to miss out on the lively discussion join us on Wednesday, October 26 at 3:30 PM. We will be talking about apps you love and apps you want while enjoying coffee from North Loop’s very own Corner Coffee. By far the best way to end a Wednesday workday.

Date & Time:

Wednesday, October 26 from 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

RSVP Below:

Map:

If you have not heard of CoCo, take the time to check it out. Scott Belsky, author of Making Ideas Happen and founder of the Behance network, has said that the next era of revolutionary work will take place in coworking and collaborative environments. CoCo is just one of those environments. With an awe inspiring space, it makes the idea of work beyond just palatable, and truly enjoyable. Their newest location is the trading floor of the Grain Exchange. Huge crown-moulding ceilings, retrofitted telephone closets, and a gigantic ticker-board that gives you the sense of the grandeur of your work and how change is inevitable.

We’re happy to announce a new partnership. A partnership designed to help even the smallest of businesses see their needs met.

There are several arenas of professional services that often get put aside when businesses start. Technology is no exception. The Foundation offers economic technology solutions for any organization. Which is why we’re so excited to be a part of the next generation of incubators for good work.

We don’t just speak the benefits of CoCo, we’re now members too. Our newest desk will find a home on that hardwood floor, and we’ll be available for consultations, service, and of course, to chat.

It won’t stop there. Beyond merely offering IT support, we can help you find the right solution for the future. We’re also working to provide training on consumer level applications, and professional series as well. CoCo members will be getting exclusive access to new products and services as they come out, as well as discounts on current offerings.

We’re excited to be a part of the equation, and look forward to seeing you there.

CoComsp.com

All at once Twitter was trending #letstalkiphone, Infinity Blade 2, iTunes Match, Find My Friends, One More Thing, Phil Schiller, World Phone, and Skynet (Have you met Siri?). On Tuesday afternoon the Internet was full of live bloggers whose websites were crashing as consumers worldwide were intently focused on the latest Apple presentation. It must have been an iPhone day.

Since the beginning of the presentation began with facts, figures, recaps, and future stores we’ll cut straight to the chase and give you what you came here for, the new announcements. But you shouldn’t forget about iOS 5 and iCloud (with iTunes Match). Those will be a part of the mobile Apple experience regardless of iPhone, iPod, or iPad starting on October 12.

Introducing the new members of the iPod family: the nano, the white touch, and the shuffle. The new iPod nano tracks your runs and walks with Nike+ built in. Runners, get those shoes laced, run to your nearest Apple store as soon as you finish reading this (yes, it’s available now), and start tracking without any gadgets or add-ons. For those that like to wear the nano as a watch will get new faces. Mickey Mouse anyone? Plus, there is the new white iPod touch that comes with HD video and gyroscope.

Then it was time for the main event, the new iPhone.

Yes, it’s an iPhone 4S folks. It’s coming to you with the same exterior as the iPhone 4 but with all new interior including an A5 dual-core chip that makes the iPhone 4S 7x faster. The A5 chip was showcased through a demonstration of Infinity Blade 2 with shocking amounts of detail. The iPhone 4S is also considered a World Phone containing both GMS and CDMA antennas.

The camera also boasts an impressive upgrade from iPhone 4. The new 8-megapixel camera aims to complete with your point and shoot by taking pictures with blazing speeds: 1.1 seconds to take the first picture and .5 seconds to take the second picture. It also has a lens with a F2.4 aperture and a Hybrid IR filter for even better colors. The video capabilities of the new camera are an upgrade from the standard 720p to 1080p with real time image stabilization. But the camera isn’t the only feature of the iPhone 4S that has everyone talking.

Meet your new iPhone 4S Assistant, Siri. Siri understands not just words, but their meanings. Go ahead and ask your iPhone questions, it will give you the answers. Although, not too sure if the “Ultimate Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, The Universe, and Everything” will be available. Just scratching the surface, Siri can read and write your messages for you, as well as post updates to your calendar.

Expect to see the iPhone 4S on over 100 carriers worldwide, including AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint by the end of the year.

See you all on October 14th.

Apple Press Release