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Why AppleCare?
If you are like me, you usually react negatively to the hard push for extended warranties on that washing machine, car or TV. In most of these cases the value is simply not there. AppleCare is different. With AppleCare for your Mac, as an example, your 1-year Apple warranty is extended to 3 years. Not only that but the 90 days of free access to Apple’s award-winning telephone technical support is extended to that same three years.
The hardware coverage not only covers your Mac but also other Apple peripherals purchased at the same time, such as AirPort base stations, Apple USB SuperDrive, or Apple Display. Your technical support covers not only the Mac but the OS X operating system, questions about iLife and iWork, or connecting to printers and AirPort networks.
Take it from me, just about any out-of-warranty repair to your Mac will cost more than the cost of AppleCare. Now, if you “*add SafeWare to AppleCare you can also cover accidental damage, as well.*”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/85003/safeware-mac-warranty-w-applecare-3yr
AppleCare is called AppleCare+ for most of the other Apple products such as iPad, iPhone and Apple Watch. In these cases, AppleCare extends the 1-year Apple Warranty to 2 years and tech support from 90 days to 2 years. But AppleCare+ also adds accidental damage coverage which makes it an even more valuable purchase for your mobile devices. Drop it in the ocean and fish it out with a net and Apple will be able to get it repaired or replaced up to two times for a small service fee ($49 in the case of the iPad).
We definitely recommend AppleCare or AppleCare+ for all of your devices. It can make the difference between tears and cheers!
I am heading over the lake to Lake George for the annual Americade rally. It is always fun to ride over to see all the motorcycles and weird bikers like me but it is really the ride over through the Green Mountains over Lake Champlain on the Shoreham ferry and then through the Adirondacks to Lake George that is the highlight of the annual trip.
Thank you so much for reading this issue of Kibbles & Bytes!
Your Kibbles & Bytes Team,
_Don, Dean, Bronson & Mike_
Embrace the AM/FM Cassette
I recently had a conversation with our product manager Will about tapes. Specifically audio cassettes. Remember those things? We happen to carry the little adapters that fit into car stereo cassette players so you can use an AUX jack to connect your iPhone or other music player to your old stereo. Will was flabbergasted that anyone was still buying them. “Who still has these stereos? Who uses cassettes anymore?” he asked. I told him that I did! I recently purchased a “classic” car and was very insistent that it come with the factory stereo and not one of those cheap aftermarket stereos that grace the DIN slots of so many older cars.
Unconvinced, I tried to explain to him that people were actually still releasing new music on audio cassettes. They can be hard to find, but a lot of really small or quirky labels still do it (to satisfy their old-car-having fans maybe?). For me, it’s all about the nostalgia factor. When I’m driving around in my car, I want to actually feel like I’m sitting in 1991, tape deck and all. Nothing hurts my car sensibilities more than seeing a nice classic Porsche with an ugly out-of-place aftermarket stereo slapped into the dash.
That said, I do get it. I understand that people nowadays have an iPhone, iPad, iPod, or something that they’re using to play all their music. Surely they want to use that device while in their car, but what do you do if you don’t have a car new enough to have Bluetooth or a built-in AUX jack? As far as I know, there are only three options:
* First, you can replace the stereo. On most older cars with a standard DIN head unit, this isn’t that difficult, and a basic aftermarket stereo with an AUX jack can be found for under $100.
* Second, if your car isn’t old enough to have a cassette player, but not new enough to have an AUX jack, your only option will be to use an FM transmitter. These work well sometimes, and not so well other times. It really depends on the car and how the radio antenna is built and positioned. A friend in high school had a 1995 Dodge Neon and his FM transmitter worked pretty much flawlessly. Another friend had a 2003 Subaru Outback and could almost never get the FM transmitter to work.
* Finally, if you have a car with a cassette player, you can get one of those AUX-cassette adapters. There’s no radio transmission, so there’s no interference to fight.
You can always choose to be like me though, and embrace the retro-ness of the cassette player. Don’t try to hide it. Take pride in your pre-Clinton era car. Where do you get new releases on tape? I recently ordered King Tuff’s (a Brattleboro, VT native!) second full length album on cassette from “*www.insound.com!*”:http://www.insound.com
Seagate Personal Cloud Home Media Storage
Seagate Personal Cloud home media storage allows you to create your very own cloud that is accessible outside the home. Organize all your family’s photos, videos, music and important documents in one secure central location on your home network, and back up not only all your PCs and Macs, but your cloud services as well. Personal Cloud can automatically and continuously back up every PC and Mac computer in the home wirelessly. Stress less knowing that all your networked computers are backed up and set your own backup schedule using the included Seagate Dashboard software.
Do you use Dropbox or Google Drive? If so, you can easily transfer and back up files stored on your favorite cloud service to Personal Cloud. Free up space in the cloud or simply have local access to all your files you choose. Personal Cloud leads the category in streaming to the top-selling Smart TVs and connected devices. Access your music, movies and docs from computers, game consoles, Smart TVs and other connected devices throughout the home. If you own a Roku Player, Samsung Smart TV or Blu-ray Disc player with Smart Hub (2012 model or later), you can take advantage of the Seagate Media app to enjoy easy content browsing with your remote control. You can also use the Seagate Media app with your smartphone or tablet and cast your content to a Chromecast, LG Smart TV or Roku player when you want to share it on the biggest screen in the home: your TV.
*Features:*
*Your Personal Cloud*
Share, stream, store and organize all your music, movies, photos and important documents all in one place on your own personal cloud.
*Easy backup and protection*
Back up your PC and Mac computers, smartphones, and tablets. Transfer files automatically from other cloud services so everything is stored safely in one place.
*Access from all your devices*
Your files are always at your fingertips. Access your files from smartphones, tablets, and computers. Even stream to your TVs throughout the home.
*Access on the Go*
Enjoy access to your media and files on the go-all you need is an internet connection. Use a free Seagate Access Account. Encryption ensures your files stay secure.
“*Buy now and save!*”:http://www.smalldog.com/wag900001836/at_kb