iOS 5.1 Software Update Released

If you’re like me, you are a happy, happy iPad 2 owner. With the iPad announcement on Wednesday, you might be wondering if you should trade up or just hang on to your beloved iPad. For now, I’m going to hang onto mine, but I might look at ways to really trick it out so I’m not feeling so bad when March 16th rolls around.

Here’s a bundle of stuff for your iPad 2:

First in the basket is a set of Chill Pill speakers. I mentioned these last week, that I love their compact design and great sound. But don’t just believe me–check out the “reviews.”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/71679/at_kb

Next, I’m going to toss in the “Leather Folio for the iPad 2”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/78191/at_kb so that I protect my sidekick in genuine leather (um, what other kind of leather would it be? Disingenuous?).

I’m going to throw a stylus into the mix, so I’ve chosen the “lanyard stylus”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/79313/hammerhead-lanyard-stylus-black so that I don’t lose it. I’m also going to find a way to hang my glasses on the lanyard, so I don’t lose those, too.

Throw in an Apple Wireless Keyboard and the Ethnic WINGStand, and you’ve got the entire bundle for *$70 off at $129,* exclusively for Kibbles & Bytes readers!

This week, we’re featuring the *21.5-inch iMac with AppleCare and the LaCie 1TB Neil Poulton Drive for $100 off!*

I’ve lost data before and have regretted not buying AppleCare for peace of mind in the past, so learn from my mistake! This is a sweet deal, so don’t buy a brand-spankin’ new Mac without AppleCare and a backup drive, ya hear?

Waiting around for Apple to make their announcement on Wednesday, really made me miss attending Macworld EXPO. Back in the day, Don and I would make the trek to San Francisco (or NY or Boston) and there would be this great energy.

One year, we were treated by Ingram Micro, one of our distributors with VIP tickets to one of Steve’s Keynote addresses. Picture hundreds (if not a thousands) Mac fanatics hanging on every word Steve spoke. I think Don and I made a game of getting to other people to applaud by applauding at really weird things.

One vivid memory I have is standing on the steps in San Francisco looking over a sea of people with their MacBooks on their laps. This was the single, largest collection of like-minded geeks in one spot that I had ever witnessed. I miss the opportunity to mingle with other geeks. The closest that I come now to satisfying my need to socialize with other geeks is watching The Big Bang Theory on TV.

Each time I watch the show now, I fantasize about getting Sheldon to wear a Small Dog T-shirt. Now I just have to figure out how to get a shirt to him. Maybe readers will help?

Perhaps you’ll join me in a “Sheldon wear our shirt” campaign? “*Follow us on Twitter*”:http://twitter.com/hellosmalldog and spread the word!

__No copyright infringement intended–we just want Sheldon to wear our shirt…__

Tim Cook kicked off the Apple Media Event on Wednesday with an Apple TV update. Now offering support for 1080p video (also now available through the iTunes Store), the Apple TV features a new UI, among other updates.

Features overview:

* New user interface includes icon-based category buttons and large artwork for content
* TV shows now support 1080p
* Movie Genius recommends movies for you based on what you’ve already watched
* customers can re-download purchased movies to any device
* iTunes playlists from iCloud now port to Apple TV
* PhotoStream images are pushed directly to Apple TV from iCloud
* Same $99 price point
* Available next week

“*Check out our blog, Barkings!,*”:http://blog.smalldog.com for all of the new updates and more.

No…it’s not an iPad 3. Nor is it an iPad HD. But, the iPad announced at Wednesday’s Apple Media Event does have most of the amazing features everyone was hoping it does: Retina display, updated processor, 4G capability (and more). It’s so feature-rich, we don’t even care that it doesn’t have a fancy name and that everyone at Apple kept referring to it as the “new” iPad.

Here’s a breakdown of what’s new in Apple’s third-generation mobile device.

*Retina display*

* 2048 x 1536 pixel resolution with 3.1 million pixels for sharp text and fine image detail
* Over a million more pixels than a 1080p display at 1920 x 1080
* 44 percent better color saturation

*A5X processor*

* A5X chip with quad-core graphics
* iPad 2 features a dual-core A5 chip by comparison

*5-megapixel camera*

* iSight camera has advanced optics for photos
* 1080p HD video recording
* Front-facing FaceTime camera for video calling

*Dictation*

* Built-in microphone for writing email, sending texts, creating notes, and searching the web

*4G wireless*

* “Ultrafast” wireless speeds (up to 4G LTE) on 4G networks (where available)

The battery life is about 10 hours, and 9 using 4G. The new iPad is available at the same price points:
* $499/$599/$699 for Wi-Fi models
* $629/$729/$829 for 4G LTE models
* 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities for each

Plus, iPad 2 16GB W-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models are still available at new lower prices: $399 and $529, respectively.

*Available March 16!*

“*View everything here.*”:http://www.smalldog.com/category/Apple/iPad/iPad_3rd_Gen/

I have a wicked case of spring fever. I’ve been getting into work earlier and earlier as the sun is up early. That will change this weekend as we enter Daylight Savings time by setting the clocks an hour ahead on Sunday. I saw a motorcycle out on the road yesterday, and if it wasn’t for the big snow bank by the garage down here at the office, I’d be out there, too.

Thank you so much for reading this issue of Kibbles & Bytes!

Your Kibbles & Bytes team,
_Don, Kali & Dawn_