In yesterday’s Keynote presentation at WWDC 2013, Apple announced a few new products and a bunch of new features for both iOS and OS X. Two products that I feel weren’t given their fair share of the limelight were the new base stations — the AirPort Extreme and AirPort Time Capsule.

Apple is keeping consistent with the naming convention of AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule, but that is about it. The new base stations have a radically new design. Apple’s engineers wanted to increase the performance and as such, put the antennae at the top of the tower.

Now, the base station stands 6.6″ tall with a 4″x4″ footprint, giving you more space on your desk for more TPS reports. Not only did they move the antennae, but they added more of them! With a total of six antennae — three for the 2.4GHz band and the remaining three for 5GHz — you will certainly notice the boost in speed.

The changes to the shape have certainly had an impact on speed and efficiency. The new AirPorts are now up to three times faster utilizing the newest 802.11ac technology. This new protocol can theoretically reach data rates of up to 1.3Gbps. However, there is no need to worry if you don’t have any devices that are using 802.11ac — Apple has ensured their backwards compatibility to work with 802.11a/b/g/n as well.

They also support simultaneous dual-band 802.11ac. That means no matter which frequency you are on (2.4GHz or 5GHz) your device will automatically connect to whichever band will give you the fastest speeds. The last performance upgrade is some crazy thing called “Beamforming”. Most base stations emit a constant signal that decreases in strength as you get further away. Beamforming creates a tractor beam (not really but it sounds cool) between your device and the base station, but instead of pulling you in it just gives you the strongest, clearest and fastest signal possible.

Most other features have remained the same. Just like before connecting is as easy as ever. Using either your Mac or compatible iOS device you can set up your home network in three easy steps. Once you have the whole kit-n-caboodle up and running, you can manage the network once again from either your Mac or iOS device. If you opt for the iOS version you will want to download the AirPort Utility App found “*here.*”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/airport-utility/id427276530?mt=8%26uo%3D6%26partnerId%3D30.

If you choose the Time Capsule over the Extreme, you will once again be left with the decision between 2TB or 3TB; easy right? And regardless of which model you go with, you still have the ability to print without wires with Apple’s AirPrint technology.

My one gripe is with the ports in the back. Sadly, the AirPort Extreme still has a USB 2 port and not a USB 3. I suppose the engineers at Apple figure the bottleneck will be your network speed and not the USB’s speed but come on, Apple — you’ve already got the tech there, so just use it! Besides that, I simply love this revamp to the AirPort line. I know that I will be getting an Extreme as soon as I can.

If you are interested in the “*AirPort Extreme*”:http://www.smalldog.com/category/Apple/AirPort_and_Wireless or “*AirPort Time Capsule*”:http://www.smalldog.com/category/Apple/Time_Capsule, we have them on our website available for pre-order.

The iDL45 is a dual alarm clock radio for iPad, iPhone and iPod that lets you charge your iPad, iPhone or iPod and lets you wake and sleep to either one, to a custom playlist, or to FM radio. Charge and play via flexible Lightning dock for iPad, iPhone and iPod or USB port for iPod and iPhone (cable not provided).

By far one of the cutest speakers we carry, the iBT16 by iHome packs a punch in a small size. It allows you to stream wireless digital audio via Bluetooth or plug in directly with an aux cable.

The iBT16 also comes with a long-lasting rechargeable battery to provide the utmost in portability!

Join Apple business experts for a seminar series with a Q&A, and find out how iPad can change the way your business works. They’re free, and they start next week!

*iPad at Work: General Productivity*
*Tuesday, June 18: 10:00AM PT, 1:00PM ET*

With iPad, you can perform the most common productivity business tasks without being tied to your desk. In this session, see a demo on getting right to work with built-in iOS productivity apps. Learn how to access and work with common business documents, attend and host online meetings, and collaborate with colleagues or customers.

*iPad at Work: Sales and Field Service*
*Thursday, June 20: 10:00AM PT, 1:00PM ET*

In this session, we’ll demonstrate how to analyze business intelligence reporting, track and update your company’s CRM, as well as create invoices and process sales transactions — all on iPad. See for yourself how you can manage your business from anywhere.

*iPad at Work: Integrate and Deploy*
*Wednesday, June 26: 10:00AM, 1:00PM ET*
During this in-depth session, we’ll discuss specific product features of iPad and how it integrates into corporate environments. Learn about the layered approach to secure data access and discover best practices for deploying iPad to your users.

Learn more here: “*Smalldog.com/seminars*”:http://www.smalldog.com/seminars

Father’s Day is this weekend and if you are still searching for a last minute gift then look no further. Small Dog has a bunch of great sales that will make your dad proud.

It is unlikely anything purchased online will get to your Dad before the big day but all of these specials are valid in-store as well. So if you’re VT or NH, stop by one of our “*showrooms*”:http://www.smalldog.com/retail/ to pick out the perfect gift. Otherwise just give him a card with a picture of what you got him that says “It’s in the mail”.

Here is the rundown of what we are offering:

*Up to $100 Off Any New MacBook Pro or Air*
Purchase any new MacBook Pro or MacBook Air with AppleCare and you can save $100 on the 15-inch models and $60 on every 11 or 13-inch. But the savings don’t stop there. We are also including one of our Hammerhead Neoprene Cases (a $29.99 value), absolutely FREE!

* “13in MacBook Pro & 11in/13in MacBook Air”:http://www.smalldog.com/wag900000725?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=mdg
* “15in MacBook Pro”:http://www.smalldog.com/wag900000724?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=mdg

*Up to $100 Off Any New iMac*
Purchase any new iMac with AppleCare and you can save $100 on the 27-inch models and $60 on 21.5-inch. Not only do you save cold hard cash, but, we are tossing in a Hammerhead Dual Port AC Adapter (a $14.99 value), absolutely FREE!

* “21.5in iMac”:http://www.smalldog.com/wag900000726?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=mdg
* “27in iMac”:http://www.smalldog.com/wag900000728?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=mdg

*Buy Any iPad & Get Free Accessories*
Purchase any new iPad or iPad mini and receive your very own Hammerhead Accessory starter package absolutely FREE! The starter kit includes your choice of either a Capo Case for iPad mini or Folio Case for iPad, a screen protector and a stylus, a value up to $79.99! ??Due to our restrictions from Apple you’ll have to call in or stop by one of our stores to cash in on this special.??

* “iPad”:http://www.smalldog.com/category/Apple/iPad/iPad_with_Retina_Display_4th_Gen?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=mdg
* “iPad mini”:http://www.smalldog.com/category/Apple/iPad/iPad_mini?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=mdg

*Save 10% on Select Hard Drives*
Purchase any external hard drive from LaCie, Seagate or G-Tech and save 10% right off the bat! ??Due to our restrictions from these manufacturers you’ll have to call in or stop by one of our stores to cash in on this special.??

* “LaCie”:http://www.smalldog.com/mfg/?MfrName=LaCie&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=mdg
* “Seagate”:http://www.smalldog.com/mfg?MfrName=Seagate&page=1&refinecat=Storage_and_Backup|External_Hard_Drives&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=mdg
* “G-Tech”:http://www.smalldog.com/mfg/?MfrName=G-Technology&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=mdg

“*BoGo Chill Pills*”:http://www.smalldog.com/wag900000729?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=mdg
Everyone loves our Chill Pill and now you can share the love with our buy-one-get-one special. Choose any color Chill Pill for you and someone else — they never need to know theirs was free.

*$10 off Select Headphones*
Purchase any headphone made by Sennheiser or Urbanears and instantly save $10! Choose from our more popular models like the “*Urbanears Plattan*”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/81150?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=mdg or go with something more portable like the “*Sennheiser CX685 in-ear headphones*”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/83046/sennheiser-cx685-adidas-in-ear-canal-sports-headphones-w-volume-control?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=mdg ??Due to our restrictions from these manufacturers you’ll have to call in or stop by one of our stores to cash in on this special.??
* “Sennheiser”:http://www.smalldog.com/mfg/?MfrName=Sennheiser%20Electronic&page=1&refinecat=Audio|Headphones&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=mdg
* “Urbanears”:http://www.smalldog.com/mfg/?MfrName=Urbanears&page=1&refinecat=Audio|Headphones&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=mdg

*Save Up to 60% Select Altec Lansing Speakers*
Purchase the Altec Lansing BXR1321 and save 60% or get the VS2621 and save 40%!

* “BXR1321”:http://www.smalldog.com/wag900000730?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=mdg
* “VS2621”:http://www.smalldog.com/wag900000731?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=mdg

“*70% Off Matias Keyboard & Mouse Combo*”:http://www.smalldog.com/wag900000727?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=mdg
Purchase the Matias Folding Keyboard & Mouse 2-in-1 combo and save 70%, a $70 value!

*Save 10% on All iPod, iPhone & iPad Cases*
Every single case that fits an iOS device is 10% off, and we mean __every one__ we have from Otterbox to Hammerhead — take your pick! ??Due to our restrictions from these manufacturers, you’ll have to call in or stop by one of our stores to cash in on this special.??

* “iPod”:http://www.smalldog.com/category/iPod_Accessories/Cases_?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=mdg
* “iPhone”:http://www.smalldog.com/category/iPhone_Accessories/Cases?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=mdg
* “iPad”:http://www.smalldog.com/category/iPod_Accessories/Cases_?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=mdg

_Dear Friends,_

It is getting a bit soggy here in Vermont with a lot of rain. The garden likes it, but I think it likes the sun more! I know I do. Last weekend, I bought a little British sports car as a project — a 1968 Austin Healey Sprite convertible — but have only been able to drive it a couple of times. Hapy and I were a pretty funny sight in the tiny car when we went to lunch the other day.

We were streaming the keynote from Apple’s World Wide Developer’s Conference in our own little conference room and I think Phil Schiller summed it all up when he said, “can’t innovate anymore, my ass!” The upcoming version of Mac OS X 10.9, “Mavericks”, was previewed, which has dropped the cat names in favor of places Apple likes in California. Mavericks’ namesake is a famous surf destination, a favorite of big wave surfers with waves sometimes reaching as high as 80 feet during winter storms.

Apple also previewed iOS 7 at WWDC and again showed how they lead innovation in the mobile space. Two great new features are *iTunes Radio,* and *AirDrop.* iTunes Radio is Apple’s take on internet radio, and I can tell you (because I am running the developers’ version of iOS 7) that it is awesome, but dangerous. Listening to new music with “buy” buttons next to the song is certainly going to increase my iTunes bills.

AirDrop allows peer-to-peer file sharing. Craig Federighi (who was a great presenter and demo man at WWDC) said “AirDrop is the easiest way to share with people around you; there’s no need to wander around the room bumping your phone” in a not-too-subtle dig at Android.

I get to be Rebecca’s guinea pig as I run both OS X 10.9 developer’s release and iOS 7 on my iPhone. She reluctantly lets me play with live ammo while reminding me that she isn’t bailing me out if things don’t work. One of the great new features on Mac OS X Mavericks is that it includes Apple’s Maps application. You can now figure out your route on your Mac and send it directly to your iPhone for turn-by-turn directions. Very cool.

The new “flat” pastel/bright icons will take some getting used to — I don’t know if I like them or not yet. I have a lot of apps on my iPhone and Apple’s new icons seem pale and boring compared to the richness of others, but hey, they are just icons! The new functionality of the iPhone, which I am still discovering, is like having a new iPhone. I think Apple has done a great job in moving the goal posts with this new iOS.

It was a rich, innovative presentation and we’ll talk more in-depth about the rest of the new announcements. Among them, New MacBook Airs (which are in stock at Small Dog!), new cool-looking AirPort Extremes, Time Capsules, and a preview of the redesigned Mac Pro that simply looks space aged! Check below for all links and more details.