Spotlight, OS X’s system-wide search feature, was first introduced in Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger in 2005. Since its debut, Spotlight has become the go to resource for quickly locating files on the Mac. While many users are perfectly satisfied clicking the magnifying glass at the top right of their screen and inputing a query, Spotlight’s reach extends far beyond this basic search functionality. For starters, if you’d prefer not to move the pointer to the top right of the screen each time you’d like to use Spotlight, try this simple keyboard shortcut: *Command + Spacebar.* This will open Spotlight with the search field highlighted and ready to go. Just start typing and the results list will begin to populate itself. If the Top Hit is the file or application you’re looking for, press *Return* to open it–look Ma, no mouse!

Is a basic search not cutting it? Then it’s time to get specific. Spotlight accommodates both boolean and type searching in addition to keyword search. To execute a boolean search, enter an initial term followed by an operator such as: *OR, AND, NOT.* These operators must be typed in all caps for Spotlight to recognize them. It is also easy to find files by type. Simply enter your search term followed by *kind:filetypehere.* An example of a type search would be: *dead kind:audio.* This query–on my iMac at least–returns songs and albums almost exclusively by the Grateful Dead. Type searches will work with almost any kind of media or file extension on your Mac.

Spotlight even contains some lesser known search based bonuses. Need to do a quick calculation? Press *Command + Spacebar* to pop open a fresh search field, and try typing an equation. Spotlight recognizes basic arithmetic (+,-,*,/, etc) and more advanced calculations such as square roots (sqrt) and powers (pow). Just remember to bracket and “Please excuse my dear Aunt Sally.”

Yet another great feature of Spotlight is its onboard dictionary. As long as your search term isn’t a specific application name or OS X system component, it is likely a dictionary entry will appear in the top search results. Move your mouse over the mini dictionary icon to reveal the word’s definition, or highlight and press *Return* to open the Dictionary application.

“*Consumer Reports*”:http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/index.htm has published a new report on tablet computers. For those who don’t know, Consumer Reports is the magazine published by Consumers Union (CU), which in their own words is “an expert, independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves.” CU compared the “*Apple iPad 2*”:http://www.smalldog.com/category/x/x/x/Apple|iPad against competitors made by Motorola, Samsung, Dell, Archos and ViewSonic. The iPad 2 with Wi-Fi plus 3G was ranked at the top of the list. The iPad scored “excellent,” Consumer Reports’ highest rating, in almost every testing category. These categories include touch-screen responsiveness, versatility, portability, screen glare and ease of use. They also found that the iPad’s biggest advantage over its rivals is its battery life. CU’s testing determined that the iPad lasted an amazing 12.2 hours while playing video on a loop. As a comparison, the lowest-rated competitor had a mere 3.8 hours of battery life. Consumer Reports was also impressed with the price point of the iPad: “So far, Apple is leading the tablet market in both quality and price, which is unusual for a company whose products are usually premium priced,” Paul Reynolds, electronics editor at Consumer Reports, said in a statement.

To purchase the new iPad 2, give us a call or stop into one of our retail stores. As always, if you are making a special trip, please call ahead for availability.

Spring is in the air, and although remnants of winter are still present in Vermont, plenty of areas are experiencing warmer weather and the first blossoms and buds of the new year. Though all four seasons lend themselves to photography in different ways, spring presents a plethora of picturesque moments as foliage and flowers awaken from their winter slumbers and come into bloom. If you own an iPhone, 4th-generation iPod touch or iPad 2 there are plenty of photography apps to help you document this spring in style. Here are a few must-have apps for your iOS device:

*Camera+*

What many call the definitive iOS photography app, Camera+ has even replaced the default Camera app on some users’ iPhones. Boasting a slick interface and a seemingly limitless level of customization and control options, the app maintains a DSLR-like air while offering non-intimidating, novice friendly controls. While the app offers several exclusive features, flashlight and independent exposure and focus controls on iPhone 4 especially stand out. Additionally, Camera+ offers an onboard image stabilizer, viewfinder grid, and a high-quality 6x zoom. In addition to features for capturing the perfect image, Camera+ offers more post-production options than some exclusively editing-based apps. Users can select from scene mode presets to enhance their photos, crop, apply effects and wrap their images with stylish borders.

“Purchase Camera+ – $0.99”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Fid329670577%3Fmt%3D8%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30

*Hipstamatic*

Hipstamatic is a brilliantly designed app that lends drab iPhone photos a vintage toy camera flair. The app has a great analog feel that harkens back to the days of Holgas and Polaroids. If you’d like to time warp your friends back to the 70s and 80s, this is the app to do it with! Hipstamatic comes preloaded with several lenses, flashes and film types. These three components can easily be mixed and matched to achieve transcendental levels of photography hipsterdom. Utilizing the integrated HipstaMart, users can acquire additional lenses, film, flash gels and camera cases buy purchasing $0.99 HipstaPaks. Synthetic Corp–the folks behind the app–even offer a photo printing service. Simply upload photos from the app, and you’ll receive custom prints in the mail!

“Purchase Hipstamatic – $1.99″:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Fhipstamatic%2Fid342115564%3Fmt%3D8%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30

*Pocketbooth*

Emulating the aesthetic of photo booths from the 1950s, Pocketbooth is a guaranteed good time. The perfect party app, Pocketbooth replicates the fun of cramming far too many friends into a confined space–at least as best as a 3.5” display can (check out the separate Pocketbooth HD for an iPad-optimized version). With front- and rear-facing camera compatibility, the app functions across all camera-equipped iOS devices. Users can customize their photo strips with several effects as well as select from pose options and paper stocks. Adding to the realism, the app has recently been updated with AirPrint support. Assuming you have an AirPrint-compatible printer, you can print out strips as they’re taken–just like the real deal.

“Purchase Pocketbooth – $0.99”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Fpocketbooth%2Fid385145330%3Fmt%3D8%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30

“Purchase Pocketbooth HD – $1.99”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Fpocketbooth-hd%2Fid416253642%3Fmt%3D8%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30

*8-Bit Pocket Camera*

Though it won’t touch on the same levels of nostalgia for all iOS device owners, gen-Yers such as myself will instantly recognize this app as a lovingly crafted homage to the Game Boy Camera accessory introduced by Nintendo in 1998. 8-Bit Pocket Camera imitates the grainy 8-bit shots of its cartridge-based ancestor perfectly, and includes replicas of the original’s effects and borders. Though iOS device owners lacking exposure to the original device will likely stare at screenshots perplexed why someone would waste a buck on an exponentially worse camera experience than their device offers by default, those who remember the peripheral will get more than their money’s worth in nostalgia.

“Purchase 8-Bit Camera – $0.99”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2F8-bit-pocket-camera%2Fid422754031%3Fmt%3D8%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30

*Instagram*

Less photo app and more social network, Instagram is quickly emerging as the visual answer to Twitter. The photo sharing service allows users to upload images taken within the app or from their device’s camera roll. Users can then select from a series of retro-inspired filters to give their photos a unique look. Similar to other social networking platforms, Instagram allows users to hash and geo-tag their photos for maximum visibility. The app also integrates with other social networks for easy sharing.

“Download Instagram – Free”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Finstagram%2Fid389801252%3Fmt%3D8%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30

*Pano*

While the App Store is saturated with post-production and retro photo apps, one area in which it lacks is photo apps focused beyond the iPhone’s typical image capturing abilities. Pano addresses the lack of panorama abilities in many iOS apps in a package that, while not perfect, is impressive for devices as multi-faceted as iPhone and iPad. With support for up to 16 photo panoramas, the app uses advanced stitching and alignment techniques to produce the most realistic and accurate images possible. With final resolutions up to 6800×800, finished panoramas look incredible and are high enough quality to print and frame.

“Purchase Pano – $1.99”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Fpano%2Fid293709029%3Fmt%3D8%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30

_Dear Friends,_

Yes, it is still snowing just about every day here in Vermont, and March did not have any lamb imitations at all! I leave for China on Saturday, and the weather forecast looks like a warming trend, so maybe I’ll be able to get my motorcycle out by the time I get back. I’ll be attending a couple of trade shows in Hong Kong to look for new products and then visiting several factories in Shenzhen and Dongguan where some of our Chill Pill and Hammerhead products are manufactured. I make it a personal rule to always visit the factories where our goods are made to see what the working conditions are like and to meet some of the people that make our goods.

I am sure I will see a bijillion products for the new iPad 2. This product launch is even more spectacular than the original iPad launch, as more people now know what to do with an iPad. We are getting iPad 2 shipments each week, and just as soon as they arrive, we are getting them in the hands of customers that have been eagerly waiting for their arrival.

We held our annual Apple Sales Pro dinner this week. About five years ago, I gave my employees a challenge – whoever achieves the highest level of Apple sales training, Apple Sales Professional, will go out to dinner with me and have their achievement recognized with a branded article of clothing. The first year we had a small intimate gathering of five Apple Sales Pros. It has since grown each year: This year we had 44 of our 52 employees reach Apple Sales Pro status. Kerry, Katie and I have been planning the bash for months. We rented a big bus and picked up the Burlington crew (we closed the store early) and then picked up the crew in Waitsfield and headed to our Manchester location. There we had the first real opportunity for the team from all of our locations to meet each other in person. Many from the Vermont team had not seen the new Manchester store, so we hung out there until our early 6PM closing and then we all piled back into the bus to go to a Mexican restaurant in nearby Lawrence, MA. There we had some excellent food and were serenaded by a great guitarist and mariachi singer named Charro. It was a fantastic party, and I hope I can top this one next year! Congrats to all the Apple Sales Professionals at Small Dog Electronics!