This week we wanted to bring your attention to the new 24-inch LCD CinemaView Display. This monitor has similar good looks as the Apple LED Cinema Display, and is also the first non-Apple display to use a Mini DisplayPort connector. However, it costs half as much as the Apple LED Cinema Display, which many of us will appreciate in these lean times.

The current iMac, MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and Xserve models all use Mini DisplayPort as their sole video out port, while the Mac mini and Mac Pro models have both a Mini DisplayPort and either a DVI port (Mac Pro) or an HDMI port (Mac mini). One of the major advantages of the CinemaView Display is that it is plug-and-play with all current Macs–no adapter required. Many computers from Dell, Lenovo, HP, Fujitsu, and Toshiba also use Mini DisplayPort for video-out.

The CinemaView Display has a 16:9 cinematic aspect ratio that is well suited for viewing movies, HD TV or Mac desktop data. The CinemaView Display also has four USB ports on the back, making it easy to attach important peripherals.

The CinemaView senses when your Mac is turned on or wakes from sleep and turns itself on automatically–and importantly, it also turns itself off when your Mac is switched off or drops into sleep mode. A master power switch permits simply turning the display fully ‘off’ when not being used.

The CinemaView Display’s only limitations are that it only supports desktop spanning, but not mirroring (or cloning, as some people call it), and it’s not eligible for AppleCare. Also, it uses the older (but still attractive) LCD technology, rather than the more energy efficient LED technology Apple has adopted across the board.

We’re offering the CinemaView Display for $399.99 with free shipping for the rest of this summer. If you’re looking for a nicely priced display that works beautifully with your newer Mac, the CinemaView Display is an excellent option.

“Click here to read a review of the CinemaView Display from Macsimumnews.com.”:http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/macsimum_review_a_look_at_the_upcoming_cinemaview_display_exclusive/

“Click here to read a review from Unplggd.com.”:http://www.unplggd.com/unplggd/collins-america-cinemaview-24-unplggd-test-lab-114019

I’m the kind of person who thoroughly enjoys road trips, and since I’ve been -surgically attached to- using an iPhone, it has dramatically changed the way I travel. This past 4th of July weekend, I discovered something extremely helpful on my iPhone about half an hour into my five hour+ drive.

In the Maps app, getting directions are amazingly easy. I use the app a lot, and on this particular trip, I was trying out a new (scenic) route. I had stopped to get some refreshments at a quaint country store, and wanted to map my route from my (then) current location.

The “current location” finder is used in numerous ways across the iPhone, and though I’ve selected it frequently in the Maps app, I couldn’t find an option for it on the screen (since I had already mapped from home to my destination). I think that there are some scenarios where it’s not an option to click, but that doesn’t mean it’s inaccessible.

Simply click on *Edit* in your Maps screen, and by typing the letter “c” in the *Start field,* it will automatically give you “current location” as an option to select (just like it would be in your address book). Voilà!

_Dear Friends,_

It’s an official heat wave here in Vermont with temperatures over 90 for the past 4 days with humid, hot and hazy conditions. I am glad that I live in the woods on a mountain side because we always seem to have some shade and nice breeze. I do not have AC but yes, I sleep with my dogs; my bulldog is quite the bed warmer, which is nice in our long winters, but hey–Hammerhead stays away these days!

The strawberries were very early this year and yesterday, when I came home, Grace had picked a huge bowl of ripe blueberries! I love berries and blueberries are my favorite, so I have prime grazing at my house with blueberries for breakfast and snacks all day. We are expecting a break in the heat wave with some rain this weekend.

We now have some of each model of iPads in stock at our retail stores. This device continues to amaze me, both in its capabilities and the sales volume. We are already buying Verso cases for the fall to make sure we do not run out of stock. Come on in to either of our stores to see the new iPad.

I have some good news to announce. Our retail stores in S. Burlington and Waitsfield have been authorized as AT&T retailers and we will be adding AT&T products to our offerings over the next several weeks. We hope to be able to offer the iPhone, too, at these locations once all of the approvals are in place. We are also working on similar approvals for our new Manchester, NH location.

We have finalized our drawings and are in the permitting phase of the build out for the new store. In the meantime, Kerry and Katie are busy advertising for and locating staff for the new store. The marketing team is working on our marketing plan and the grand opening for this coming September if all goes according to plan. We are all very excited about this new store.

I have been sending Katie (who has been given the new title of Retail Experience Visionary) to some of our friends in the Apple Specialist community to see their stores and learn about best practices and get ideas for our own store. Apple Specialists are a very special type of retailer. I have not been in any industry where there is such a strong willingness and eagerness to share and to help each other succeed. I am very very proud to be an Apple reseller, but I am even more proud to be a part of the Apple Specialist community.

Apple recently updated the Mac mini, a sometimes forgotten gem in Apple’s line of desktops. As we replaced all of the outdated Mac minis in the South Burlington store, we really gained an appreciation of all of the upgrades the little guy has received. The new 2.4Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo processor coupled with 2GB RAM, expanded 320GB hard drive, and improved graphics card all aid this little giant in executing your entertainment needs.

In the South Burlington Store, we attached the Mac mini to a large 42″ TV and display sports videos of the season. We tried to play HD videos from the Discovery Channel’s “Life” series on our old Mac mini, and it just couldn’t handle the graphics required. Since putting the new mini up on display, we have been streaming Netflix, watching HD movie trailers through iTunes and watching other videos stored on the hard drive. We have all been impressed with its performance, and many of us are thinking about picking one up to use as a home computer replacement or as a home entertainment solution.

Speaking of entertainment, Apple has finally added an HDMI port to the back of the Mac mini. This makes it incredibly easy to switch between monitors and televisions alike. The mini can support video over the HDMI port with a resolution up to 1920 x 1200. It can also support up to 2560 x 1600 resolution with Mini DisplayPort. Plus, Apple added an SD card slot to this model so it’s even easier to get your photos on your mini to share.

Some may have been disappointed that Apple raised the price of this computer to $699.99, but I think with all of the upgrades it is well worth the $100 extra!

“See it here.”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/76350/mac-mini-2-4ghz-2gb-320gb-superdrive-geforce-320m

Even though your new Mac comes with a wealth of exceptional software bundled in, there are still a few important add-ons to consider. Here is a list of a few titles to help get prepared for the first day of classes.

*Apple iWork:*

Though TextEdit (Snow Leopard’s included word processor) can be sufficient for jotting a few quick notes or drafting a letter, it lacks the power and features to handle more advanced word processing tasks such as research papers. iWork is Apple’s productivity suite, and includes three robust and powerful apps: *Pages, Numbers, and Keynote.* Pages is a fully featured word processor which also doubles as a page layout tool. Numbers is a deep spread sheet oriented application, and Keynote is a presentation tool that makes creating elegant presentations a breeze. At $79.99, iWork is much more affordably priced than Microsoft Office. It integrates many of the key features of Office in a more accessible and appealing package. All three of the applications are cross-compatible with Office file extensions, so you’ll be able to share and collaborate with PC users without issue.

Feel free to evaluate iWork “*here*”:http://www.apple.com/iwork/download-trial/ and be sure to check out our $30 rebate when you purchase it with a new Mac.

“Buy it here.”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/72887/apple-iwork/at_kb

*Circus Ponies NoteBook:*

In lieu of hauling a backpack full of books, many students opt to save paper and their backs by typing class notes. Taking notes on the computer can have drawbacks, however. If you leave your notes unorganized it can be a pain to find the information you need when an exam rolls around. Thankfully Circus Ponies’ NoteBook software enables even the messiest of us to de-clutter our digital lives. The software mimics an actual notebook, letting you organize by category and sub category, tabs, and so on. You can also implement virtual sticky notes or flags to leave yourself reminders. The software is compatible with many other types of media beyond text too. You can easily keep track of outlines, images, sketches, and web clippings in addition to notes.

You can download the trial version of NoteBook “*here.*”:http://www.circusponies.com/notebook-free-trial/

*FileMaker Bento 3:*

Bento is a great piece of personal database software from FileMaker. While its uses are varied and potentially unlimited, it has a few key features that tend to make it a favorite of students. With contact and calendar syncing from Address Book and iCal, Bento can easily import your existing information. By means of its sophisticated database features, this software enables you to organize and visualize your information like never before. Bento also features a project tracking component which allows you to keep track of approaching deadlines and manage your tasks efficiently. While database software and “easy” typically do not walk hand in hand, Bento borrows heavily from the Mac’s overall UI making the learning curve virtually non-existent.

Try Bento 3 for yourself “*here.*”:http://www.bentotrial.com/trial/form/entry.aspx?try=bentoPPtry

“Buy it here.”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/74620/filemaker-bento-3/at_kb

*Adobe Photoshop Elements:*

Photoshop Elements translates many of the most popular tools, filters, and effects from its older and more expensive sibling into an easy to use and affordable consumer package. Elements allows users to enhance digital photos far beyond the options offered in iPhoto. With a number of filters and tools to aid in the creating the perfect image, Photoshop elements is a gem. While not quite as intuitive as iPhoto, new users need not be scared off by the typically steep Adobe learning curve. If you’re new to digital imaging and ready to take your snapshots to the next level, Elements is a great and relatively inexpensive way to do so.

A free trial of Elements can be downloaded “*here.*”:https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?product=photoshop_elements_mac

“Buy it here.”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/74600/adobe-photoshop-elements-v8-0-for-mac-1-user/at_kb

*MobileMe:*

Taking a number of iDevices to school with you, but worried about keeping all of your information in sync? MobileMe is here to help. Utilizing “cloud” based technology, Apple’s subscription service stores your email, contacts, calendars and photos on a centralized server that can be accessed from any computer with a modern browser. Perhaps my favorite feature of MobileMe is that it keeps your info in sync between multiple devices. For instance, if you change the date of an appointment from your iPhone, it will also change on your iPad and computer. This annual service also includes an iDisk with 20GB of online storage. I personally used this a ton at school. Unable to justify the continued purchase of ink cartridges, I eventually abandoned my printer in favor of public ones available in the library. Using the iDisk, I was able to easily transfer papers I needed to print from my MacBook Pro to the library computers. The range of free iOS apps available for MobileMe in the App Store make the $100 price tag even more worth it.

The 60-day demo available “*here*”:https://secure.me.com/wo/WebObjects/Signup.woa?svi=25FAB08C05012815-4000010760003B7C is definitely worth checking out.

“Buy it here.”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/74171/apple-mobileme-single-pack-new-renewal-1-year-for-mac-pc-iphone-ipad/at_kb