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I upgraded to 10.8 Mountain Lion several weeks ago, and I’ve been experiencing a couple of odd issues since then — perhaps some of you have, too.

*Problem:* In-Browser Blank PDFs
*Solution:* Install Adobe Reader

Occasionally, I’ll click on a link to a PDF to view it in my browser-of-choice, Safari (in this case, Safari 6.0). It has always popped up quickly within my window (provided the file itself wasn’t too huge). However, since I upgraded to 10.8, I kept getting a blank screen where my PDF should be. Really frustrating, especially since most of what I needed to access what work-related.

I would get around this by using either “*Chrome**”:http://www.google.com/chrome or “*Firefox*”:http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/ in the meantime, but as great as they both are, I wasn’t ready to give up Safari as my default. I had tried to see if there was an update to either Safari or Mountain Lion that would fix it, but no dice.

Finally, I came across a link that directed me to download and install Adobe Reader separately. I did that, and success! I’m not sure what the official reason for the problem was — whether it didn’t work as a result of a corrupted update or something else — but if you’re having the same issue, this should fix it.

“*Get Adobe Reader here.*”:http://get.adobe.com/reader/

__*It’s a sound troubleshooting step to always check web oddities in another browser first before doing something more drastic.__

*Problem:* App Store Connectivity Issues
*Solution:* Update DNS server numbers to Google’s

This has been a really perplexing one to me (and a lot of others, I find). There’s a known problem with Software Updates on some computers with Mountain Lion, in which you’ll see an error that the computer cannot connect to the App Store. This has been the case for me since 10.8.0, and many people found that it happened after the 10.8.1 update as well.

After perusing the Apple Support Communities for answers, I stumbled across a thread where the advice was to add Google’s DNS numbers in place of the default ones in Network Preferences. To do this, go to *System Preferences > Network > Advanced… > DNS* and press the “+” button to add the following: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 (on separate lines).

Once I did this, I was able to connect again! The support article I referenced explained it thusly: “DNS Servers do translation, [so] think of them as Address Books.” “*See the thread here.*”:https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4243502?start=0&tstart=0

It’s worth mentioning that I’ve been using Google’s DNS servers for several years now on my personal machines, but I hadn’t entered any on my work machine. Heed the following warning if you’re using a work machine that may be configured in a different way:

__*Note: Be aware that in some cases, changing to Google’s DNS numbers may upset some networking preferences, such as the availability of networked printers. If you find that you all of the sudden can’t print to a printer you’ve been using for a while, just go in and remove Google’s numbers.__

Unfortunately, the above happened to me, meaning that to connect to the App Store, I need to use Google’s DNS numbers and to print to our networked printers, I need to use our network’s default numbers. Here’s hoping Apple addresses this issue in 10.8.2!

_Dear Friends,_

Our sympathies and best wishes go out to all of those impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Vermont was pretty much spared the brunt of the storm, even though we had a lot of jitters from our experience last year with Irene. But the devastation on the East coast — in NYC and New Jersey — is simply amazing and horrifying.

More frequent and more severe storms seem to be the trend, and mother nature has a way of re-working the earth. We are still recovering from Irene in Vermont over one year later, so I know that there is a long row to hoe for our friends on the coast.

We received our first iPad mini demos and we have some models for sale in our stores, starting today! I spent a few hours today working on the location of the magnet for the sleep function so that we can incorporate it into our new iPad mini cases.

Of course, it is in a different location than previous iPad models, and once I found it, I had to figure out how to determine the polarity of the magnet. Kerry came up with a thread to suspend the magnet, and since magnets always align North/South, I just needed to know which way the magnet was facing. We should have our leather and poly leather cases for the iPad mini in time for the holidays!

My very first impressions of the iPad mini (only hours old) are that this is going to be one spectacular product. I have begun to use my full size iPad for reading and I think reading on the iPad mini is going to be a better experience because of the size — it can be held in one hand and just seems like a paperback book. We will post more first impressions later today “*on our blog.*”:http://blog.smalldog.com

I had my friend (and former employee) Troy Kingsbury come to WDEV as our special guest for “*Small Dog Speaks*”:http://www.smalldog.com/sdspeaks this week. Troy owns the local convenience store in the Valley, the Village Grocery (or as it’s called around here, the “VG” or “Troy’s”). Troy was the one who suggested a charitable giving program that allows us to accept donations on our website that we then match. He hasn’t stopped giving, either — in fact, his gasoline pumps are named Giving Gas because he donates 1 cent per gallon to charity. He also actively collects tires in partnership with our Lt. Governor, Phil Scott, to be sold in fundraising efforts. The money raised goes toward providing heating assistance to the needy in our state.

Troy is also a stock car driver at nearby Thunder Road and launched a program called Race to Read. In this program, he takes his race car to local schools with the challenge that if the kids read 15 books, they can sign the hood of his car. He has over 400 signatures so far! He’s one of the good ones, and it was a pleasure to have him on the radio yesterday.

*iPad mini Debuts*
Today marks the official release date of the brand new iPad mini. We have our hands on some now, and I will echo Don by saying that it’s spectacular. I have never considered an iPad in the past, as it always felt too close to what I had already. (And I hated that I couldn’t hold it in one hand comfortably. Yes, I have small, child hands.)

“*Read more here.*”:http://www.apple.com/ipad-mini/overview/?cid=wwa-us-kwg-ipad-10001
“*See them on our site (available in stores)*”:http://www.smalldog.com/iPads/iPad_mini

*Forstall and Browett Out at Apple*
Apple CEO executed a major shakeup at Apple this week with the announcement that Scott Forstall and John Browett are leaving. Forstall will stay on until the end of the year as an advisor to Cook, but Browett’s role has been terminated, effective immediately. Several Apple employees will have expanded responsibilities, most notable Jonny Ive.

“*Read more here.*”:http://macdailynews.com/2012/10/29/tim-cook-takes-full-control-of-apple-john-browett-and-scott-forstall-out-jony-ive-bob-mansfield-eddy-cue-and-craig-federighi-get-expanded-responsibilities/

*Start Soapbox*

I am partisan and political, but this soapbox is strictly non-partisan and social, __not__ political. My message is simple: *Please get out and vote!*

It has always bothered me that such a small percentage of our population votes. In 2008, less than 57% of eligible voters actually cast ballots. Contrast that with countries that have just recently gained the right to vote where 90%+ is normal turnout. Have we gotten complacent and taken our right to vote for granted? I hope not, because it is perhaps our most important right.

Our founding fathers wanted to create a government of the people, by the people, for the people, and voting is the way that happens. I decry any attempts to make voting harder, and think the cynical voter suppression laws are wrong-headed. People waited in long lines for hours to vote in the 2008 election, and while here in Vermont that never happens, I can see how that could be discouraging. I hope that more states adopt 21st century early voting, voting by mail, and other ways to encourage civil engagement.

Here at Small Dog Electronics, we are letting local groups use our phone banks for “get out to vote” calls all weekend. It is a lot like jury duty, and from where I sit, that makes it not only a right but an obligation. Your duty as a citizen is to inform yourself about the candidates for local, state, and federal officers, and make the important choice that truly makes this a government __by the people.__

Vote for a major candidate or for your favorite person as a write-in, but please, please get out and vote!

What’s your say? “*Tell me here!*”:http://blog.smalldog.com/article/get-out-and-vote/

*End Soapbox*

__You heard the rumors. Apple confirmed it. Now we have one to give away!__

Apple’s all-new iMac is super thin, super fast and features the latest Intel processors, all-new NVIDIA graphics, advanced storage options and the most advanced high-speed I/O. It’s the perfect gift to give away or keep for yourself.

*To celebrate the redesign of the iMac, Small Dog Electronics will be giving away a brand new 21.5-inch iMac!* As long as you’re subscribed to both our Newsflash (General Communications) and Kibbles & Bytes newsletters, you’re eligible, so you’ll just need to then submit a valid email address. We’d also love to know who’s local to our retail stores and how you heard about it!

Note that you’re already subscribed to Kibbles since you’re seeing this, and by entering an email on the contest page, you’ll be added to the General Communications list if you weren’t already (if that address is already in our database, you won’t receive any dupes). *So there’s nothing more for you to do — just click Submit and cross your fingers!*

“*Click here to enter!*”:https://www.smalldog.com/contest/imac2012

Here’s the skinny:
*Who:* Anyone with a valid email address — limit one (1) entry per person
*What:* Grand Prize is a new 21.5-inch iMac
*When:* November 1, 2012 – December 31, 2012

Good luck!