Google has announced that users of Google Drive can now use the familiar keyboard shortcuts Ctrl + C (or ⌘ + C on Mac), Ctrl + X and Ctrl + V to copy, cut and paste Google Drive files via the Chrome browser.

Timesaving And About Time 

By (finally) introducing what is now a decades-old feature to Drive, Google says it will save users time by allowing them to copy one or more files and move them to new locations in Drive, and across multiple tabs, with fewer clicks.

Easily Paste Into Document Or Email 

Google also says that a link to the file and its title will be captured when copying a file, which allows the user to easily paste them into a document or an email.

Shortcuts 

To help users more easily organise files in multiple locations without necessarily creating duplicate files, Ctrl + C, Ctrl + Shift + V will create shortcuts.

Tabs Too 

Google also says that, with the update to Drive, users can open files or folders in a new tab using Ctrl+Enter. This will allow users to easily view multiple files at once or use different tabs to organise files more easily between two different folder locations.

OneDrive and Dropbox

Introducing the shortcuts to Google Drive adds a little more flexibility than rival cloud file storage platform Microsoft’s OneDrive, which doesn’t support the cut, copy and paste shortcuts. It does, however, offer ‘copy to’ locations on right-mouse click. Dropbox offers some keyboard shortcuts by clicking ‘Files’ and pressing the question mark key to access the keyboard shortcut menu. However, this is still unlikely to be a convenient and familiar to many as offering straightforward cut, copy and paste keyboard shortcuts.

Copy and Paste From The 70s

The cut/copy-and-paste commands to move and copy text first came into use with text editors at Xerox’s Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) in 1974. “Larry” Tesler was credited with proposing the terms ‘cut’, ‘copy’, and ‘paste’ for these actions.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

Using cloud-based platforms for collaborative work as well as secure and convenient storage has become much more popular since the lockdown and with the advent of hybrid working. Any time-saving, straightforward features are likely to be valued by businesses, and it may be a surprise to many that it has taken so long for Google to introduce such an old and widely used set of commands. However, it is better late than never, and the introduction of these keyboard shortcuts are one of a constant stream of updates and improvements that Google is making to try and retain users and compete against rival platforms like Dropbox and OneDrive.

With Macs getting a huge boost in popularity over the pandemic and a new report showing Mac shipments growing almost twice as fast as the PC market as a whole in 2021, we look at why more businesses are embracing Macs, and also what challenges Macs can bring.

The Pandemic And Digital Transformation 

Digital transformation in many businesses was dramatically accelerated by the need to work remotely, which has now become hybrid working. With this came a surge of device-buying. It appeared to be the case that Apple products became more popular than ever with business and individuals. For example, Apple finished 2020 with its most profitable quarter ever, and Apple’s sales of laptops and phones rose to a record-breaking £65bn in the first quarter of 2021 (revenue up 54 per cent on the same period of 2020). Although this was driven partly by the effects of having to stay at and work from home, plus a surge in demand in China, IDC reported that Macs reached 23 per cent share in US enterprises, showing that businesses are now more likely to be choosing Macs.

Other Drivers 

That said, it should be noted that some of the other drivers for the growth in Mac sales last year included the launch of the Apple iPhone 12, the publicity about and the launch of the M1 Pro and M1 Max MacBook Pro models (October 2021), and surge in demand in China at the end of 2021.

Old Perceptions and Growth 

The business computer market has always been (and still is) dominated by PCs (almost half are PCs). Operating system figures confirm the gulf between PCs and macs with OS shares for desktop and laptop computers, showing Windows as the most used at 75 per cent, followed by Apple’s macOS at 15 per cent. In the smartphone world, Android leads with 72 per cent market share, and Apple’s iOS has 28 per cent.

Older perceptions of the computer market depict Apple Macs as being more suited to (and more the domain of) those in the artistic and creative world, e.g. creative professionals, graphic designers, app developers, web developers, video editors, and audio engineers. This may be because of the more intuitive OS of macs, the aesthetic appeal of the hardware, and Apple’s marketing.

Strengths For Businesses 

Macs offer a number of strengths to businesses (compared to PCs). These include:

– Assisting with improved productivity and job satisfaction. For example, a Forrester report (2021) showed that employees using Macs were 20 per cent more likely to stay with their companies.

– Macs are generally thought to offer a more positive user experience than PCs due to their intuitive OS, and perhaps an enhanced feeling of security and the feeling that Macs are more of a luxury/high-end tool (feeling more valued by the company by being given Macs to use).

– Despite having a reputation for being much more expensive, Macs have a lower total cost of ownership (TCO) when taking into account factors like increased productivity, fewer support calls, and greater job satisfaction.

– The build quality of Macs is high, and they are reliable and durable. This can save repair and business disruption costs.

– Macs are seamlessly compatible with other Apple devices used by employees, e.g. Apple phones. This can help with productivity and minimise disruptions and problems.

– Macs tend to be more secure than PCs because the macOS is based on Unix, which is challenging to exploit, given Apple has full control over the hardware and software. This means that Apple can very quickly implement new security features and patches. Better security is especially important to businesses today and can help with compliance and protect against costly and potentially disastrous breaches.

Challenges 

Macs, however, also have challenges that businesses need to consider. These include:

– A degree of uncertainty about when security updates will be released, thereby making it more difficult to plan. Also, responsibility for when security updates are installed is in the hands of the user (rather than the admin) and while this sounds convenient, workers can forget or put off updates. This could have an impact on security and productivity. Also, unsaved work could be destroyed by an update, thereby wasting resources.

– Uncertainty about how long updates for different version of the OS will be produced, and uncertainty about what will be supported (apps and services) by older versions.

– The added costs and complexity of businesses having to manage Macs and PCs together.

– The incompatibility of proprietary business software with MacOS.

– Complexity with licenses – a Windows license application might not apply to the Mac version.

– The added cost of needing an Apple technician to repair or upgrade a Mac.

– Fewer hardware configuration options compared to PCs.

– Many apps and tools for Macs (antivirus) may not be as robust as their PC counterparts, though of course this could be mooted either way.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

More Macs in business may bring benefits such as security (arguably) and a better user experience but it can mean that IT admins will have a different workload. It also means the need to re-evaluate traditional IT operations and figure out ways to accommodate new devices (no more ‘one size-fits all’), re-consider usability, productivity and device management strategies, and find ways to effectively plan for and deal with the potential weaknesses of Macs, e.g. making sure updates happen and patches are installed by users.  Some admins find that reducing the versions of MacOS that are in place can be one way of making support easier and reducing potential security risks. That said, although having Macs and PCs together can increase IT management complexity, the Mac benefits of security, productivity, lower TCO, and happier users (who stay with the company) do appear to be valued by more and more businesses.

A recent ‘Mobile Phone Trends’ report has highlighted how the quality and reliability of mobile phone calls in the UK are improving. So, what’s helping to bring about this change and why is it so important now?

The Figures 

Some of the key figures highlighted in the report (by testing company RootMetrics) that show an improvement in mobile phone call quality include:

– Only 1per cent of calls dropping during UK-wide testing in 2H 2021. RootMetrics hails this as an excellent result when compared to its 2 per cent benchmark.

– Dropped calls are rare, especially in major cities (well below 1 per cent).

– Blocked call rates fell from over 4 per cent in 2017 to 1.7 per cent in 2021

– Call setup times (the time it takes to establish a virtual circuit across a telecoms network) have improved from 4.9 seconds in 2017 to 2.2 seconds in 2021.

Why The Improvements? 

Some of the main reasons for the improvement in mobile phone calls in recent years include:

– Most UK mobile phone calls (85 per cent) are now transmitted using the more reliable VoLTE. Launched by all four major UK mobile operators in 2015, VoLTE is a kind of VoIP that uses 4G LTE technology to transmit calls over the data network instead of using the older, less reliable circuit-switched connections. As well a clearer calls and fewer blocked and dropped calls, VoLTE enables the transition from Wi-Fi to 4G LTE during calls, plus the simultaneous usage of the internet while making a phone call. VoLTE also uses a Quality of Service (QoS) strategy to improve its calls.

– The use of fibre networks for digital voice services rather than networks of physical lines producing higher quality voice calls, lower volumes of scam calls, and lowering cost, complexity, and energy consumption.

– The introduction of 4G and now 5G.

– Wider, improved networks and a shift to small-cell networks (dense networks of small, high-capacity cells).

– Improved analytics for mobile operators, helping to channel investment for greatest value.

– Software improvements for operators, e.g. software-defined networking (SDN) and network-functions virtualisation (NFV).

– Improvements to smart phones.

Challenges 

There are still, of course, challenges to overcome to keep mobile phone call reliability levels going in the right direction. These include, for example:

– Power outages in some areas stopping IP phones from making calls, e.g. to the emergency services. However, all mobile operators claim to give the highest priority to emergency service calls, and modern smartphones now roam to the operator with the best coverage to make emergency calls.

– Coverage challenges.

Why So Important? 

The reliability of mobile phones is particularly important now because :

– Most of us use mobile phones for more aspects of work life and there is now a greater reliance on apps, e.g. WhatsApp, and collaborative working and group comms platforms, e.g. Zoom, and Slack.

– The big analogue switch-off in 2025, replacing the public switched telephone network (PSTN) with a digital, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network will make us more reliant than ever on our mobile phones for calls. Levels of quality and reliability, therefore, will need to be high.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

The big analogue switch-off is only 3 years down the line and most people are already hugely reliant on mobile phones for many aspects of work, social interaction via social media, plus many useful apps. Voice calls, however, remain a particularly important primary function of mobile phones and improvements such as operators using VoLTE have helped improve the quality and reliability of mobile phone calls in recent years. Coverage challenges in some more remote areas is still an issue but as the RootMetrics report showed, reliability, which is highly valued by mobile phone users, is better than ever.

Zoom has announced that its new apps, updates, and features will improve collaboration and creativity, thereby increasing engagement and interaction among attendees of hybrid-working meetings.

Collaborate Mode

Zoom says that its new ‘Collaborate Mode’ will improve engagement by elevating the screen-sharing model to be interactive, with participants seeing the host’s app view (similar to a shared screen view), along with an invite so they can preview the app experience before joining. Zoom says this mode will enable hosts to start collaborative experiences for any app during all-hands meetings, brainstorming sessions, and more.

Examples 

Collaborative Mode works across all browsers, and examples of Collaborate Mode for apps (using apps together within Zoom) include:

– Using Miro‘s online whiteboard in Zoom so meeting participants can launch a collaborative workspace for everyone to interact, co-create, and capture ideas in real time.

– Having fun and breaking the ice in meetings by using Playco’s #AskAway social game designed to help co-workers get to know one another in the minutes before meetings.

– Using MURAL’s digital whiteboard and collaboration features to help teams innovate.

– Using the CODA app in Zoom for taking a vote, prioritising Q&A topics, and uncovering how the team are feeling about a meeting.

– Getting the team involved in fun activities by using Funtivity by Hermis, which also works well for new staff-member onboarding, plus customer advice.

Breakout Rooms 

The other new addition to Zoom to improve collaboration and involvement is Breakout Rooms. This is where meeting participants can break into smaller groups for focused discussions or tight-knit collaboration. With Breakout Rooms, the meeting host can split participants into separate groups automatically or manually, allow participants to select and enter Breakout Rooms as they please, and switch between rooms at any time.

Breakout Room Incorporating Zoom Apps 

Zoom says that Breakout Rooms can also incorporate Zoom Apps to help make sessions more engaging, productive, and fun. Examples include:

– Using Welo’s visual workspace to recreate collaborative physical spaces and create a more human experience.

– Simplifying the whole process of Breakout Rooms by using twine for Zoom, an all-in-one Breakout Room management app.

– Increasing Breakout Room engagement by using Funtivity by Hermis.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

The pandemic launched a major battle between collaborative working platforms such as Zoom, Teams and Slack, all of which received a rapid and vast increase in user numbers. Now, in the post-pandemic environment where hybrid working has become popular, the battle is on to keep adding value, retaining customers, and tempting users to switch.  Allowing customers to collaboratively use a range of engaging, fun, and teamwork-enhancing apps within Zoom, along with the addition of Breakout Rooms allows Zoom to add value, complete with Teams (which also has breakout rooms and allows 3rd party apps), and hopefully retain its huge post-pandemic customer base. Also, by allowing apps like Welo within Zoom (which features a digital house with users represented by an avatars and able to go to individual rooms for a private meeting), Zoom can compete with platforms like Meta (Facebook) and show itself to be forward-thinking and in touch with the new direction of comms platforms.

If you need to hold a group, you’ll be pleased to know that WhatsApp allows users to make a group voice call for up to 32 participants for free! Here’s how:

– Open the group chat you want to voice call.

– Tap ‘Voice call’ and confirm your decision. The first seven people who answer can join the call, and only group members can participate.

– Find the contacts you want to add to the call, then tap ‘Voice call’.

To make a group voice call from the ‘CALLS’ tab:

– Open WhatsApp and tap the ‘CALLS’ tab.

– Tap ‘New call > New group call’.

– Find the contacts you want to add to the call, then tap ‘Voice call’.

To make a group voice call from an individual chat:

– Open the individual chat with one of the contacts you want to voice call.

– Tap ‘Voice call’.

– When the contact accepts the call, tap ‘Open > Add participant’.

– Look up the next contact you want to add to the call and tap ‘ADD’.

– Tap Add participant to add more contacts.

Following the launch of the new business-focused WhatsApp Cloud API, we take a look at where Facebook’s (i.e. Meta) popular secure chat app is heading.

Cloud API 

Last week, Facebook’s WhatsApp announced that it was opening WhatsApp to all businesses and developers with a new cloud-based API service. WhatsApp Cloud API, on the WhatsApp Business Platform, offers businesses secure cloud hosting services provided by Meta and the new API (application programming interface) allows apps to communicate with each other. This will mean that businesses can, for example, build-in a customised customer service chat feature to their website that uses a customised version of WhatsApp (built directly on top of WhatsApp), accessible via a dashboard, for the conversation. Previously, businesses had been set up on the non-cloud version, including Vodafone, BMW and KLM.

Easier, Faster, and Cheaper For Businesses 

As well as making it much easier for businesses to set up a customised customer chat service using the trusted WhatsApp platform, Meta says that WhatsApp Cloud API will increase the speed at which businesses users can respond to their customers, and will eliminate costly server expenses for its partners, giving instant access to new features. Meta says that WhatsApp Cloud API will mean that business wanting to work with one of its 100+ partners or access the service directly, will be able to cut down the start-up time from months to minutes by using this new service.

Free Hosting, Pay Per Message 

Although the hosting service is free, businesses will be charged on a per message basis, thereby giving Meta an opportunity to monetise WhatsApp for business users.

More Advanced Features To Come 

WhatsApp also says that as the use of its Cloud-based API grows it will be adding more advanced features to help businesses run their operations beyond just a few people and further amplify their brand online. These advanced features will include the ability to manage chats across up to 10 devices to enable the handling of multiple chats, and a new customisable WhatsApp click-to-chat link to help businesses attract customers across their online presence. WhatsApp says that these additional, optional features will be offered for a fee in the WhatsApp Business app as part of a new premium service (full details yet to be announced).

Other Business-Focused Services

Other business-focused services recently announced by Meta also include:

– A ‘Recurring Notifications’ service (available on Messenger  and also available for businesses on Instagram by autumn) to help businesses re-engage people in the right messaging thread, choose the topics that people can opt-in to, and how often customers can hear from the business.

– Communities on WhatsApp which will enable users to bring together separate groups (e.g., schools, local clubs, and non-profit organisations, and businesses) under one umbrella with a structure.

– Reactions – a set of six different emojis (a red heart, thumbs up, laughter, a sad face, a surprised face/wow, and a “thanks” emoji) that can be used in busy group chats, e.g. as part of ‘Communities’

– Improved voice messaging services on WhatsApp.

Business Communications & Integrating Facebook’s Apps 

WhatsApp (Meta) says that times have changed and that customers need instant information and, according to its own 2020 survey, 75 per cent of adults “want to communicate with a business the same way they do with friends and family through messaging”. WhatsApp says that messaging and conversations are now, therefore, the primary way that people share information with each other and that not setting up an effective chat channel with customers could see businesses missing out on sales.

It is, perhaps, not surprising that WhatsApp/Meta would say this because it owns Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram, and has long planned to find ways to consolidate and leverage the power of them by integrating them and making them interoperable, and by monetising aspects of them through tailoring offerings to businesses.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

Most businesses are familiar with WhatsApp and may already use WhatsApp’s free services and the WhatsApp Cloud API may be something to tempt them into WhatsApp Business. WhatsApp/Meta has been expanding its businesses services, finding ways to tie its existing messaging platforms and hosting together to create new sources of revenue other than advertising. WhatsApp also needs keep finding new ways to add value and compete with competitors that grew over the lockdown period, e.g. Snapchat, Slack, and other business collaborative working and comms platforms. WhatsApp’s owner, Meta, is also re-positioning itself for the future with its ‘metaverse’ concept, escaping from past scandals, criticism, and the threat of closer regulation and finally trying to find ways to make money from and leverage the unique synergies and possibilities of combining and augmenting the messaging services and platforms that it owns. For businesses, Cloud API may represent a fast and uncomplicated way to set up a secure and scalable direct messaging channel (when the new promised features are added) with customers that could boost sales in a changing environment where fast messaging responses are now expected by customers. For WhatsApp/Meta, it is another step towards expanding its business customer base and the associated revenue stream.