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Whoever said boomboxes went out of style was dead wrong. iHome’s iBT4 Boombox lets you bring the music with you to share with everyone around you. Stream wireless digital audio via Bluetooth from your iPhone, iPad and other Bluetooth-enabled devices.
The iBT4 also has FM radio, a line-in jack, as well as a line-out jack for an expandable audio experience.
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.
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!
_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.
Monday kicked off the start of Apple’s week long conference WWDC. This year’s event marks Apple’s 24th show, which, according to Tim Cook, is the longest running conference of its kind. The Keynote presentation delivered by Cook and Apple’s top minds introduced a multitude of new features and products we can expect to see from Apple in the near future.
To start, the latest iteration of OS X was announced. Due to a dwindling number of cat species, the clever folks at Apple chose to code name the next generation of operating systems after famous landmarks in the California area. The upcoming version will be called OS X Mavericks — after a famous surf destination in Cali. With the latest OS will come new features like a Maps app, Finder tabs and performance optimizations (just to name a few).
Of course, Apple isn’t going to forget about the mobile developers it has in the crowd — and so we saw iOS 7 unveiled. iOS 7 has a radically new and simplistic design. The rumors of a flat design turned out to be true — and I, for one, love the new look. The home screen will sport a new parallax design that makes the icons truly feel like they are on top of your background. Stunning full-screen animations bring apps like Weather to life. But Apple didn’t just focus on the aesthetics with iOS 7. New features in some old favorites like Photos plus some new apps altogether like Control Center make iOS 7 a sure fire hit when it gets officially released this fall.
Apple also introduced iTunes Radio. I’m sure some of you are familiar with the concept of streaming radio. Some of you may have even used a service like Pandora or Spotify to listen to a mix of music. Now Apple is stepping in to deliver a similar service, but with the Apple twist of ultimate integration and usability.
Software wasn’t the only thing that got some stage time. Apple also released an update to their MacBook Air line. Now you will be able to go all day long without requiring a power outlet (according to Apple). They boast that the 13-inch model’s battery will last up to 12 hours. Of course, this depends on what you are doing, but Apple stated you could watch the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy (or 10 hours of iTunes movie playback) on a single charge.
Apple also “broke away from tradition” with this year’s Keynote by giving everyone a sneak peek at the future. Long forgotten at these events, the former powerhouse Mac Pro got a much-needed upgrade. With plenty of teaser clips and fancy music, Apple piqued the interest of the entire audience with this sneak peek.
Finally, the unsung hero award of the presentation has to go to the AirPort Extreme and AirPort Time Capsule. The new AirPorts sport the latest 802.11ac standard giving you up to 3x the performance. Its unique design allows for what Apple is calling “Beamforming”, a technology that targets your device to give it the best performance it possibly can. Don’t worry though, these new AirPorts are still just as easy to configure as their older brothers and you still have the ability to plug in a hard drive or printer.
Overall, this year’s WWDC Keynote was a hit. We have a lot to look forward to in the coming year, and I am definitely excited to see it all.
Our Famous Garage Sale has been added to over the past week, and much of what’s listed has been reduced — *up to 50% off their already low prices!*
Be sure to check out everything that we still have in stock — prices on great items start at just $1.
There are still some deals to be had!
“*Check it out here.*”:http://www.smalldog.com/garagesale?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=kb
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).