_Dear Friends,_

Happy Independence Day! Some very powerful words were written on July 4, 1776:

bq. ??”We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”?? “*See it here.*”:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/07/Us_declaration_independence.jpg

My home town of Warren, VT has a great parade today and I will be found someplace under the Prickly Mountain people-powered float which remains a secret — known only to the about 200 people involved in building and carrying it. Later, it is the traditional strawberry daiquiri party up at my house and fireworks up at Sugarbush that night. Happy Birth Day USA!

Be sure to check out Small Dog Speaks each Thursday on Radio Vermont, WDEV. Emily and I will talk about Macs, iPhones, iPads, the weather, horses, dogs, motorcycles or just about anything. And we will answer your questions on the air. You can catch the “*stream here*”:http://i1.stretchinternet.com:8000/wdev or give us a call between 1 and 2 each Thursday at 877.291.8255!

My Kibbles & Bytes exclusive this week is on our Hammerhead Jacket case for the iPhone 5 or 5s. We have many different colors and styles of this rugged case including our own exclusive “Hammerflage” design. This week only for Kibbles & Bytes readers, we have a BOGO on Hammerhead Jacket cases — buy one, get one! I know you might like to change up your case from time to time, so here’s a great way to get two rugged Hammerhead Jacket cases for only $14.99!

“*Grab this bundle here!*”:http://www.smalldog.com/wag900001541

“*Grill-It! XL – Recipes for the Grill*”:https://itunes.apple.com/US/app/id364726159?mt=8

Along with fireworks, grilling ranks up there in terms of musts for the 4th. People who have the day off want to be outside enjoying the weather and eating some delightful-charred food. Use this app on your iPad to find the perfect recipe for the grill — whether it’s meat or veggie based, you’re sure to find some inspiration here.

“*July 4th Fun, Facts & Trivia*”:https://itunes.apple.com/US/app/id494896475?mt=8

Sure, we might celebrate this day as a National holiday, but do you know why? Use this app to quiz yourself and others and learn a thing or two while you’re at it! What did people celebrate before 1776? Find out when you download this app!

“*NOAA Hi-Def Radar*”:https://itunes.apple.com/US/app/id458225159?mt=8

We Vermonters know we have to have a weather app on our phones at all times. We know all too well that the weather can change from being warm and sunny happiness to torrential downpour and miserable very quickly. Download this app so you know how wet or dry your fireworks or BBQ experience will be.

“*Beer Wizard*”:https://itunes.apple.com/US/app/id511370906?mt=8

With summer holidays come BBQs, and with BBQs come eating and drinking. I gave you an app already for the eating part, so let’s move on to the drinking side of things. Nothing like a cold refreshing beer to go with that burger or dog! Check out Beer Wizard to help you pick the perfect beverage to pair with your food and mood.

We hope everyone has a fantastic 4th of July! Be safe and enjoy the day!

Recently, I’ve written about RokForm, the Just Mobile Deluxe Car Kit and Belkin’s Car Tune as solutions to mount your iPhone in the car. However, I found that like most accessories, it’s all about what fits the user and in this case, your vehicle.

While manufacturers list most accessories as being universally compatible, we all know with the way cars are set up, that just isn’t the case. Some cars’ cigarette/DC power ports are no longer openly accessible, but rather, tucked away in the center console. The suction cup on the Just Mobile is great, but not for use on all windshields or dashboards. Side note: A friend of mine forgot his phone in it one summer day and it overheated, disabling the phone until it cooled back down (if you’ve had this happen, there’s a specific “temperature” screen that appears).

As a product manager, I have to know all this, and in turn, find a solution for everyone. I tried the *Nite Ize Steelie Car Kit* and I was skeptical at first — a magnet and my iPhone? Hmm… Well, go figure; it is one of the best iPhone accessories I’ve ever used, and not just for the car, but everyday use. The car kit comes with two pieces: a metal ball that mounts to your car and a magnet that mounts to your iPhone (or a to the case on your iPhone).

Mounting the ball is simple; just use the included alcohol wipe to clean the spot where you want it, dry the surface, and mount the metal ball. This metal ball is what the iPhone will attach to, ensuring you can use the iPhone at any angle or tilt, in landscape or portrait view. I mounted mine pretty high since I mainly use it for GPS. If you mainly use your phone for music or hands-free calling via Bluetooth, I suggest mounting it more out of the way. Next, attach the magnet to the *center* of your iPhone. I will admit that I didn’t center mine and I regret it; luckily, you can buy replacement pieces if needed. Once you have attached both pieces via their 3M sticky, you’re ready to go.

The phone easily attaches to the metal ball and allows for great viewing at several angles. It’s very secure (well tested on our VT dirt roads), and looks stylish when not in use. I’ve taken a few car trips using the GPS and it’s great; in line view so you don’t take your eyes off the road, and easily removed when you get out of the car. Now here’s the best part: there is a magnet on your phone, so it can now stick to __any__ metal surface.

So why do I need a magnet on my iPhone? Think about it — in the kitchen, we need a timer or recipe up, so slap it on the fridge! In the garage, you may want to look at directions, so slap it on the tool chest out, of harm’s way. Working on the car? You guessed it, slap it on the car and watch the YouTube video on how to change your oil. It’s fantastic!

I understand that you may not want this magnet on your phone all the time, so we’re going to give you a free sample case to stick it on if you prefer, and you’ll get free shipping on both! Give it a shot and let me know what you think. Happy 4th of July!

*Free VT Lake Monsters case + Free Shipping with any Nite Ize Steelie car mount purchase!*

The Steelie Car Mount Kit is a perfect example of brilliant, intuitive design: it’s sleek, compact, versatile, adjustable, and so effortless it’s actually fun to use. Here’s how it works: two specially engineered components — the Steelie Magnetic Phone Socket and Steelie Ball Mount — are backed with 3M VHB foam adhesive tape to provide secure-yet-versatile phone docking exactly where you need it.

The Steelie Magnetic Phone Socket Component is a strong, machined aluminum base containing a powerful, circular magnet centered with flexible silicon that attaches to the center of the back of your phone or hard case.

Until next Friday, *get a free Lake Monsters case and free shipping when you purchase a Nite Ize Steelie Car Mount!*

We’re clearing out faster than ever before. Though it may not be as big as past years, this summer’s “*Garage Sale*”:http://www.smalldog.com/garagesale still has dozens (upon dozens) of items at fantastic prices.

With top brands including products from Apple, Beats by Dre, LaCie, Samsung and more, there’s an extremely limited quantity of these deals priced to sell out fast. You could potentially outfit your iPod, iPad or iPhone for $5 or less!

Here are some “highlights of the haul,” with the disclaimer that things go __very__ quickly, so we cannot guarantee availability. First come, first served!

*Lot A036 (New) – Apple iPod Shuffle (1st Gen) Dock – $2.00*
*Lot A015 (New) – LaCie FireWire 400 to FireWire 400 data cable (6-pin to 6-pin) – $1.00*
*Lot A102 (New) – Hammerhead 11in Sleeve for MacBook Air – Purple/Charcoal- $1.00*
*Lot L074 (New) – DODOcase Book Cover for iPad 2 & iPad (3rd gen) – Black w/Red Liner – $10.00*
*Lot L158 (New) – Brenthaven Prostyle II Carrying Case (Sleeve) for 15″ MacBookPro – Black/Copper – $4.00*
*Lot P025 (Demo) – Samsung SyncMaster S19B150N 19″ LED LCD Monitor – $50.00*

Of course, there’s a ton more, so check it out at “*Smalldog.com/garagesale*”:http://www.smalldog.com/garagesale! *Remember — The Famous Garage Sale is ONLINE ONLY. No calls please; orders will not be taken over the phone.* Thanks, and happy shopping!