Command Control Power: Apple Tech Support & Business Talk

Sam Valencia, Jerry Zigmont and Joe Saponare discuss working with Apple technology and clients. Drawn from their combined experience of over 20 years in the Apple Consultants Network, they discuss technical support issues both with the technology and working with clients.

In this episode of Command Control Power, the hosts discuss recent events including a vacation and the ACEs conference. They dive into a detailed troubleshooting story involving QuickBooks server issues and explore the challenges associated with setting up Windows PCs and QuickBooks for clients. Additional topics include managing one password admin access for clients and a debate over using cases for Macs. The episode also highlights the 10th anniversary of the Mac Admins community and offers useful insights for managed service providers.   00:00 Introduction and Greetings 00:08 Vacation Recap: London and Spain 01:11 The Sunday Roast Experience 01:52 Yorkshire Pudding and British Cuisine 03:50 Party in Spain: Music, Conversations, and More 08:50 Back to Work: QuickBooks Troubles 28:46 QuickBooks Desktop vs. Online: The Cost Debate 29:11 Client's PC Purchase and Windows Upgrade Issues 30:12 Navigating Windows Setup and Software Challenges 31:00 Billing and Discounted Rates Discussion 33:00 Two-Factor Authentication Troubleshooting 35:11 One Password Support and Admin Access 47:10 Mac Admins Community and Personal Anecdotes 49:50 Client Device Trade-In and Repair Issues 51:58 Case or No Case: Protecting Your Devices

In this episode, the hosts of Command Control Power discuss their personal lives and tech experiences, including outdoor activities and everyday tech issues. They delve into a peculiar issue one encountered with a MacBook Pro during an update, which turned out to be related to Dell Display Manager. The conversation also covers Backblaze backup anomalies, Apple's migration assistant quirks, and problematic customer service interactions with vendors like Microsoft and RingCentral. To wrap up, the team reflects on the importance of considering user behavior in quality assurance for tech products and services. 00:00 Introduction and Catching Up 00:54 Unexpected MacBook Pro Issue 03:33 Dell Display Manager Mystery 05:27 Annoying Software Bugs 08:48 Client Troubleshooting Story 17:55 Apple Watch Repair Misunderstanding 23:48 Backblaze Exclusions and Concerns 25:13 MacBook Air Story and Backup Issues 26:32 Backblaze Deduplication and Support 28:15 Trust Issues with Backblaze 30:48 Considering Alternative Backup Solutions 33:53 Client Concerns and Backup Costs 41:48 RingCentral and Phone Services 49:39 Quality Assurance in Tech 52:18 Concluding Thoughts and Listener Invitation

Sam Valencia, Jerry Zigmont and Joe Saponare discuss working with Apple technology and clients. Drawn from their combined experience of over 20 years in the Apple Consultants Network, thaey discuss technical support issues both with the technology and working with clients.

Interview with Adam Engst: Navigating AI, Tech Ethics, and Business Models   The hosts of Command Control Power are joined by Adam Engst of Tidbits Content Network for a wide-ranging discussion on the state of AI, the ethics of technology in business, and how evolving business models are influencing content creation. Topics include the 35th anniversary of Tidbits, the importance of maintaining human decency in business practices, the future of AI-based answer engines compared to traditional search engines, and the need for businesses to develop AI policies. Engst also shares personal anecdotes and offers insights on how to responsibly integrate AI into everyday professional tasks.   00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:09 Celebrating 35 Years of Tidbits 01:14 Navigating Current Events and Business Ethics 04:51 Challenges in Business and Academia 07:06 Handling Offboarding and Client Relations 10:12 The Impact of Media and Fiction on Real Life 12:12 A Lesson in Communication and De-escalation 18:15 The Rise of AI and Apple's Struggles 31:35 Introduction to Answer Engines 31:48 The Role of Original Sources 32:12 Impact of Answer Engines on Source Verification 33:03 Commercial Content vs. Non-Commercial Content 35:05 Challenges with Paywalls and Advertising Models 36:04 Micropayments as a Solution 37:07 The Evolution of Business Models 40:46 The Rise of AI Answer Engines 44:30 The Future of Search and AI Integration 58:40 The Importance of AI Policies in Business 01:01:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts