SPECIALS: Moshi Mania

It’s Super Bowl time again, so I’ve rounded up my top five apps that will help you get ready for the big day. But first, a few stats:

* Last year, 111 million people watched the Super Bowl, with roughly 150 million watching at least part of the game
* Around 54 million pounds of guacamole will be consumed, along with almost 30 million pounds of potato chips (side note: I thought that would be the other way around)
* 6% of Americans call in sick the Monday after the Super Bowl (presumably, those 6% were part of the 111 million…however, if not, that’s an unfortunate day to be legitimately sick because no one will believe you. I’m looking at you, Rob Amon…)

Anypigskin, let’s get to it:

1. “*Super Bowl XLVI,*”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sb-xlvi-guide/id413928892?mt=8%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30 free
A must if you’re actually headed to Indianapolis for the Super Bowl, the official guide, presented by Verizon, features information about local restaurants, nightlife and NFL-sponsored events. There’s also a 3D map of Indianapolis and Lucas Oil Stadium.

2. “*Twitter,*”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/twitter/id333903271?mt=8%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30 free
If you’ll be glued to the couch, follow along via the internet, of course! Since Twitter is a running dialogue of what’s happening at any given moment, you’ll feel like you’re right there with everyone else as you follow the commentary and tweet SB-related developments yourself. Be prepared for some awesome trending #hashtags.

3. “*Food Network in the Kitchen,*”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/food-network-in-kitchen-recipes/id399072152?mt=8%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30 $1.99
The Food Network’s app is updated to include favorite game-day recipes, such as “crowd-pleasing finger foods and easy appetizers, like hot wings and quick dips.” A great resource for anyone who is entertaining this year!

4. “*Super Ads: Best Super Bowl Commercials,*”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/super-ads-super-bowl-commercials/id419743566?mt=8%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30 $1.99
This one would be perfect for Don (see below) and anyone else only in it for the ads.

5. “*Domino’s Pizza,*”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dominos-pizza-usa/id436491861?mt=8%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30 free
Don’t want to cook? Well, Domino’s knows this and has made ordering a pizza easy. In their words: “Did Domino’s just launch an iPhone app? Oh, Yes We Did!”

Honorable mention for those of you with an Android: “*NFL Trash Talk*”:https://market.android.com/details?id=com.bonfiremedia.android_nfl_chat&hl=en doesn’t have an iPhone counterpart, but promises to make trash-talking on game day a lot of fun…

Have others that would make game day more fun? “*Tell us here!*”:http://blog.smalldog.com/article/super-bowl-tiiiiiiiime/

“__Stats source__”:http://www.treehugger.com/culture/by-the-numbers-super-bowl-facts-and-figures.html

This week was a busy week for Apple. From the hubbub regarding manufacturing conditions in China to reactions from their quarterly earnings to the ever-present new product rumors the release of Mac OS and software updates, Apple has dominated mainstream news.

Here’s a handy round-up of what’s notable from this past week:

*__That__ NY Times Article*
As Don mentioned above, the internet (and seemingly everyone else) was hot about the news that conditions in the Foxconn facilities in China were not meeting basic standards of workplace safety.

Read the “*original article that sparked controversy here.*”:http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/26/business/ieconomy-apples-ipad-and-the-human-costs-for-workers-in-china.html?pagewanted=all
Read Apple CEO “*Tim Cook’s response to here.*”:http://9to5mac.com/2012/01/26/tim-cook-responds-to-claims-of-factory-worker-mistreatment-we-care-about-every-worker-in-our-supply-chain/

*Apple Releases Updates*
Apple released a couple of software updates this week–AirPort Utility 6.0 and Mac OS 10.7.3, which includes Safari and Wi-Fi bug fixes.

Read about “*AirPort Utility 6.0 here.*”:http://www.tuaw.com/2012/01/30/airport-utility-6-0-for-os-x-lion-retools-interface-to-match-ios/
Read about “*Mac OS 10.7.3 here*.”:http://www.tuaw.com/2012/02/01/os-x-lion-10-7-3-released-with-safari-5-1-3-wi-fi-bug-fix/

*Facebook Prepares to Go Public*
Social media site Facebook filed the largest IPO (Initial Public Offering) ever at $5 billion this week. The founders and execs will likely become billionaires, and a section of their nearly 3,000 employees will become millionaires. Facebook’s profits were totaled at roughly 1 billion in 2011.

Read a good recap of “*what this means here.*”:http://www.pcworld.com/article/249206/facebook_goes_public_surprising_facts_learned_from_ipo_paperwork.html

Have thoughts on any of these stories? “*Visit our blog, Barkings!, and leave a comment!*”:http://blog.smalldog.com/article/weekly-apple-news-recap-1-30-2-3/

_Dear Friends,_

It is February and we hit 50 degrees yesterday amidst rain, rainbows and a little sleet. The plow guys are busy spreading sand for the icy roads but there hasn’t been much snow to push around. Meanwhile, I am dreaming of spring…

After Apple’s spectacular results last week, there was a lot of bad press regarding the working conditions in the factories that make Apple products in China. I received several letters from customers and friends asking my opinion on the piece in the New York Times. While I feel that the article was sensationalist and had many inaccuracies, the concern expressed by many over working conditions is legitimate.

I also feel, as Apple does, that they have some of the most stringent requirements for their vendors of any electronics manufacturer in the world. It is sad to see them held to a different standard; however, I guess when you are the most valuable company and brand in the world, it comes with the territory. The bottom line for me is that I feel that Apple (with Tim Cook as CEO) is going to continue to work hard to improve working conditions wherever Apple products are made because any other action is, well, stupid, and Apple just ain’t stupid.

I have been to China many times and visited many factories. I can assure you that the conditions at the enormous Foxconn factory/cities are better than many factories that I have visited. Keep in mind that the our culture and the Chinese culture are very different. It was not that many years ago in the USA that we had a similar manufacturing culture. We were the manufacturer to the world and had large factories–many with employee housing and employee stores–and employees who came from the country to the city for work so that they could send money home to their families. As our free market economy grew, the manufacturing center started to move, too–first to Japan and Korea and ultimately to China, which is truly the manufacturing center of the world now.

Yes, employees are mostly young men and women, most of whom live in the big dormitories next to the plant. Most come from the country and work to send money home and then go on to other careers or education. It is interesting to note that this week Foxconn was hiring and eager workers lined up around the block for an opportunity for a job.

Apple’s standards for its suppliers are the rules by which Apple buys their products, but make no mistake: Foxconn is an independent manufacturer and while Apple has huge influence, they do not control that business. Apple is making Foxconn change. Working conditions now are far better than they were before Apple was involved. Nothing changes overnight and we should be proud of Apple’s positive influence in Chinese labor. The sensationalist notion of workers forced to do Apple’s bidding for slave wages is not an accurate picture. Can conditions be better? Of course. Can wages increase? Of course. Will the manufacturing center of the world move again? Of course. You need look no further than Foxconn’s plans to build factories in Brazil.

China has a huge labor force and manufacturing has a bright future in China, but so does improved working conditions and the rise of a middle class that will demand higher wages and benefits. We already see a huge explosion of entrepreneurial zeal in China as young men and women strike out on their own to form companies and embrace a free market economy.

Our own representative in China, Simon Liao, is one of those young Chinese entrepreneurs and I have seen him move from being a sales person at a small company to starting his own business which now includes manufacture sourcing and design. It is a remarkable journey and no one is more concerned about working conditions than the Chinese themselves. I am proud to have Simon as our partner and for him to make sure that the factories we use for our own production have humane working conditions. I am very bullish on the Chinese economy and very confident that Apple will continue to be the leader in change in China.

…like us on Facebook and enter to win our Kissing Photo contest for a **$15 Gift Card and a chance to win an iPad!**

Follow the directions below carefully–here are the details you need to enter:

* Become a fan of Small Dog Electronics on Facebook (if you’re not already).
* Submit a “kissing” photo to “**contest@smalldog.com**”:mailto:contest@smalldog.com from now until February 6th.
* Make sure you include your full name, address and best contact info because every person who submits a photo and is a fan of ours on Facebook will receive a $15 gift card to Small Dog Electronics!
* From February 6th-10th, we will post all of the entries in a photo album; the one with the most “likes” by 11:59PM ET on the 10th will win an iPad!

“**View our Facebook page here!**”:https://www.facebook.com/smalldogelectronics

Ever since I got my 4S and Twelve South’s “*BookBook case,*”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/78820/twelve-south-bookbook-for-iphone-4-4s/at_kb I fell in love with the idea of having my phone and wallet inseparable. While I have never lost my wallet and have seldom misplaced it, knowing that “*Find My iPhone*”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/find-my-iphone/id376101648?mt=8%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30 now applies to the contents of my wallet is very appealing.

After spending a couple of months with the BookBook, I decided to take a break from it after lusting over Speck’s CandyShell Card. I ended up taking the plunge and for the past month and a half, my iPhone has been snug and content in the “*CandyShell Cardholder.*”:http://www.smalldog.com/search/?find=candyshell+cardholder Comparing it to the BookBook in some ways isn’t fair. The BookBook is more of a straightforward wallet as the stitched leather is elegant and truly gives you the feel of reading a small, leather bound book. The downside is that the BookBook hinders a few of the iPhone features–namely the lack of a hole for the rear-facing camera and typing in portrait mode feels a bit awkward.

The CandyShell Cardholder provides a less impaired experience as I am not restricted to typing in landscape mode and I can quickly snap pictures without having to maneuver the case. Both cases feel very protective–the BookBook’s front cover provides screen protection and the CandyShell Cardholder has a protective rubber lip on the front of the case and the back is hard plastic reinforced by rubber.

Both cases, however, hardly have any space for carrying cash which I personally don’t mind too much, but I can certainly see where that would be a drawback for many customers. (“*50 Cent, for example.*”:http://static.taletela.com/media/120112_50cent3a.jpg)

Perhaps one day, I’ll go back to using a standard wallet, but in the meantime, I would highly recommend the CandyShell Cardholder ($39.99), which is available in five colors, and the BookBook ($59.99) for those who don’t mind the features I outlined above and who like the look and feel of leather.

The Super Bowl is this Sunday. I hate both teams, so I’ll just watch the commercials. I will let you know what my favorite was next week before I head off on vacation to the sun for a week.

Thank you for reading this issue of Kibbles & Bytes!

Your Kibbles & Bytes Team,
Don, Kali & Seth