Author: Emily Dolloff

  • Heading Into The Library Stacks

    I remember way back when, that Grace and I would go to the Chicago Public library to “do our homework”. When we actually…

  • Are You Ready For iOS 11?

    Some of you might have already jumped on the “public beta”:https://beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram/ program for “iOS 11”:https://www.apple.com/ios/ios-11-preview/. If you did, you might have discovered that some apps have stopped working for you. If you haven’t installed it yet this is a good time to get ready.

    I’ve been an iPhone user since the iPhone 3GS and I’ve been an iPad user since the original iPad came out. iOS 11 brings on some similar hiccups that have plagued macOS, most apps and applications ( if it’s on the Mac ) will carry over and run, but eventually some apps and applications will stop working and you need to either replace or update them. Here’s the run down on why and what to look for with your iOS apps.

    Through the iPhone 5, fourth-generation iPad, original iPad mini, and fifth-generation iPod touch, Apple used 32-bit processors. However, in 2013, Apple instead began putting 64-bit chips in all new iOS devices. Apple encouraged developers to make their apps run on 64-bit mode but kept iOS7 compatible with older 32-bit apps. Starting in 2015, Apple required apps to run in 64-bit mode to receive App Store approval. iOS 10 initially warned that 32-bit apps might slow down your device and later said 32-bit apps would need to be updated.

    First off, don’t worry about what 32 and 64-bit mean, all you need to know is that 32-bit apps are old and won’t run on iOS 11, and that 64-bit apps will continue to work as they always have. But how do you know which of your apps are 32-bit? For apps that you use regularly you’ve probably seen one of these warnings. But other apps you may open only occasionally. How can you figure out which of those are destined for the chopping block?

    In iOS 10.3, Apple added a feature to call out these apps. Navigate to Settings > General > About > Applications to see a list of 32-bit apps that don’t have direct updates available. Note: you do need to be running specifically iOS 10.3 for this to work. If you are on iOS 10.3 and Applications won’t let you tap it, it means you do not have any 32-bit apps. When I looked up any potential issues I found 4 of my 122 apps are 32-bit. Now what? Well there are some options for handling this.

    p{text-align: center;}. !http://blog.smalldog.com/images/5160.png!

    **Delete the app.** If it’s an app you don’t use much or perhaps at all anymore just get rid of it! Simply press and hold the icon until you get the familiar shaking apps and tap the X.

    **Look for an update that’s a new app** It’s very possible that the developer simply released a completely new version of the app that you need to downloaded. This unfortunately might mean that you have to buy a paid app again, but if you like that app well enough it will be worth it.

    **Look for an alternative app.** Few iOS apps are truly unique, so you may be able to find an alternative that does basically the same thing.

    If you are in an unfortunate situation where it’s an app you must keep using but there is no update to 64-bit then you’ve got some options, but they may not be ideal. Just like when OS X came out and countless users were faced with costly software upgrades from OS9 to OS X, you might consider running an older iOS device exclusively for that app. You could also consider not upgrading to iOS 11 and keep your device back. Both of these options come with drawbacks and eventually you’ll need to upgrade and migrate to newer versions of the app, so this is only a bandaid. The best advice is to work to replace that older app as soon as possible.

    p{text-align: center;}. !http://blog.smalldog.com/images/5161.png!

    You’ve still got several weeks to work out a plan and prepare for the official release of iOS 11. For myself, I’m going with the easiest option and just deleting the apps and looking for alternatives.

  • All of us at Small Dog Electronics send our best wishes for a safe and happy Independence Day. I’ll be under the Prickly Mountain float in the parade pushing our people-powered creation just as I have done for 4 decades! Then it is the traditional strawberry daiquiri party with mountain croquet and bocce at my house. My fingers are red from cutting up strawberries by the end of the day!

    ??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…??

    The most powerful statement ever on human rights and the relation of government to the governed. We celebrate our independence on Tuesday, keeping these sage words in mind.

    Thank you for reading this issue of Kibbles & Bytes!

    Your Kibbles & Bytes Team,

    _Don, Emily & Hadley_

  • Take Awesome Fireworks Photos With Your iPhone

    It’s that time of year, summer, including the fourth of July and fireworks. I seem it be on a roll so to speak when it comes to iPhone camera tips, so here’s a few more for the upcoming weekend, most of us will have our iPhones in our pockets and might want to capture that amazing moment.

    **1: Pick A Good Location**

    Consider your position before it gets dark. If you’re too close, you might not be able to capture the full glory of the massive color burst. Too far away, the fireworks will be little spots of light. Make sure there aren’t any power lines or lamp posts between you and the fireworks. If there’s nearby water, you might be able to take some interesting reflection shots.

    **2: Turn off the Flash**

    The iPhone’s flash works only at short distances, so turn it off to avoid annoying people around you. In the Camera app, tap the lighting bolt and then select off.

    **3: Disable HDR or Enable Keep Normal Photo**

    You probably want to disable HDR by tapping HDR on the Camera screen. and then tapping Off. HDR or High Dynamic Range, combines three exposures into one photo, which works well when some parts of a scene are dark and others are light. The problem with HDR is that fireworks will move slightly between the exposures, which may cause the photo to blur. That could be an interesting effect in its own right, so if you want to try leaving HDR on, be sure to enable Keep Normal Photo in Settings > Photos & Camera. That way, you can see whether you prefer the normal image or the HDR version.

    **4: Hold Still or Use a Tripod**

    To reduce the chance of your fireworks photos coming our blurry, keep the iPhone as still as possible. Try holding it with both hands and pressing your elbows to your sides. Even better, you can set up a tripod (selfie sticks can sometime work as well) to better stabilize your phone. Even a small portable tripod can work wonders. If you’re fortunate enough to get the right parking spot you can place the tripod on the roof of your car.

    **5: Try the iPhone’s Special Modes**

    **Burst Mode:** A great option! (also works well with lightning storms) Press and hold the shutter button to take multiple shots at once.

    p{text-align: center;}. !http://blog.smalldog.com/images/5145.png!

    **Live Photos:** Fireworks are all about motion, the slow climb, the pause and then the explosion of light and sound. If you enable Live Photos by tapping its bullseye icon in the Camera app (it then turns yellow), tapping the shutter button will take a mini-movie of the action. Tip: when you’re done with the fireworks photos turn off live photos to reduce the amount of space your photos are taking up on your phone.

    **Slow-Mo Video:** This is a really cool way to take these kinds of pictures and even more fun if you plan to share them on social media. Sure a regular video will work just fine, but there’s something extra special about seeing the color explosions slowly unfold.

    **Time-Lapse Video:** Another really fun way to capture the show! You can record the entire event in a time lapse video. Time lapse will compress the entire show into a few short minutes, just flip to Time-Lapse in the Camera app. Tip: you will need a tripod for the time-lapse video to work.

    p{text-align: center;}. !http://blog.smalldog.com/images/5146.png!

    **6: Use an App for Longer Exposures**

    Apple’s build-in Camera app doesn’t let you increase the length of exposures, which can provide striking light trails of fireworks. Lots of independent apps do offer that capability, including “LongExpo”:https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/longexpo-slow-shutter-and-long-exposure-camera/id594078421?mt=8 (free), “Shutter”:https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/shutter-manual-camera/id1019169526?mt=8 (free), “Slow Shutter Cam”:https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/slow-shutter-cam/id357404131?mt=8 (.99), and “Manual”:https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/manual-custom-exposure-camera/id917146276?mt=8 ($5.49).

    Try out these tips this weekend if you can and Happy 4th of July to all!

  • Summer is officially here and an already short Summer in Vermont feels even shorter with all the rain we continue to get. We really only get 2 months of summertime weather here in the Green Mountains. I continue to think positively that the continuous rain in the daily forecast will come to an end. The one plus is that I’m taking every advantage I can to enjoy the sunshine when it does come out.

    I was talking to a customer last week who, like me, is doing his best to enjoy the warm summer weather every chance he can. We’ve been experiencing a lot of sudden showers. One minute it’s sunny and in a matter of minutes it’s pouring down on us. Unfortunately for the customer I was talking with his MacBook Air was caught in one of these sudden showers. He had been working on his MacBook Air on his deck and listening to music, while cooking dinner a pop up shower erupted and he unfortunately forgot his computer was on the deck. Well you can guess what happened next, another tragic story if liquid damage to a computer. These kinds of accidents happen all of the time, I could write a book about all the ways I’ve heard of how a computer ended up with liquid damage. Broken shampoo bottles in suite cases, the cat running across the desk and hitting the glass of water on the way by and the champagne toast that didn’t go as planned. Thankfully, for some customers this worry and concern is now by the wayside. With Apple’s introduction of AppleCare+ for Mac, customers can now have peace of mind when it comes to life’s mishaps with liquids and their computers. Many customers choose to skip AppleCare because of the Macs reliability, but with the added protection of accidental damage everyone should be purchasing AppleCare+ for Mac with your computer purchase. Apple now also only gives you 60 days to get this protection, so I strongly encourage it at the time of purchase. AppleCare+ can make your next trip to the service department a lot less stressful!

    I hope everyone has a safe and memorable 4th of July weekend. Our offices will be closed as well as our retail locations so that everyone can enjoy this special holiday.

    Thank you for reading.
    Emily Dolloff
    “emily@smalldog.com”:mailto:emily@smalldog.com

  • Did You Get A New Computer?

    Last week I had my daughter tell me my new computer was great, but it really needed a mouse. I couldn’t help but chuckle out loud, my “new computer” was my iPad connected to a keyboard case. I couldn’t pick on her too badly though. A quick looked and an untrained eye might be fooled by this iPad case from “**Brydge.**”:http://www.smalldog.com/search?search=brydge?search=brydge&page=1&refinecat=iPad_and_iPad_mini_Accessories

    I’ve been using and testing the Brydge 9.7in Bluetooth case and I love it. I’ve never used a keyboard case before on an iPad so I was not sure how I would use it and if I would even like the idea of having a keyboard attached to my iPad. To get used to the idea I forced myself to abandon my MacBook Air in the evenings and exclusively used my iPad with this keyboard case. Ultimately I found it very functional. While I am a huge fan of this iPad case, like with many cases there are a few drawbacks to it. However, for me, the advantages to this kind of case outweighed the few negatives I’ve found while using it.

    **Features that make this case a winner for me**

    There are several features about this iPad keyboard case that I really enjoy. Unlike many iPad keyboard cases, this is just the keyboard. Your iPad slides into the hinge system with rubber covers to tightly grip your iPad. Whether you pick up the iPad itself or just grab it by the keyboard and carry it around like a laptop your iPad will not go anywhere. Linking the Keyboard via Bluetooth was fast, a quick launch of **Settings,** **Bluetooth** and hitting the power button on the keyboard was all it took. A little detail that you don’t always see on keyboards for iPad is that the power button illuminates when you hit it so you know the keyboard is on. That was it, about two minutes of my time and I was up and running. I immediately liked the feel of the keyboard. It feels very similar to the Apple Bluetooth keyboard and while it’s not a full size keyboard it does not feel restrictive when I type. Specialty keys worked flawlessly. I can quickly lock my iPad screen, launch Siri and adjust brightness from the keyboard. Lastly, the look! This is a very professional and eye-catching setup. My daughter thinking it was a new computer is a perfect example. This keyboard case comes in coordinating colors to match your iPad and because it’s designed to use without a case your iPad remains a focal point.

    **Some drawbacks to this iPad keyboard case**

    The nature of the design and function of a keyboard case does lead to a few drawbacks, but these drawbacks are typical of just about all keyboard cases on the market. The first thing I noticed was my lightweight iPad now gained some weight. You’re also stuck in landscape view. There’s not much to be done about these two drawbacks, but your iPad easily separates from the keyboard. It did take a little adjustment on my part to be comfortable reading my digital books in landscape view. I’ll admit it’s still not that comfortable and feels a little unnatural and I’m still adjusting to it. A final draw back that I see is that your iPad isn’t fully protected. The screen is protected when the iPad is closed against the keyboard but the corners and backside are exposed. There’s good news however because this particular keyboard case can accommodate and fits with the Otterbox Universe case for iPad! I thought this was an error when I read it, but it’s true. The keyboard has rubber inserts that help to hold the iPad securely to the keyboard, you simply remove these and your iPad easily and securely fits again to the keyboard with the added protection and convenience of this case.

    If you’re in the market for a new keyboard case for your iPad I strongly recommend this keyboard case!

  • p{text-align: center;}. !http://blog.smalldog.com/images/5126.jpg!

    Have you wondered exactly WHAT HomeKit is or HOW HomeKit works? Do you question how this technology could work for you or why it could benefit you every day? Apple’s HomeKit framework allows for easy installation of Home Automation products designed to make your life easier. **Small Dog Electronics is offering a free seminar in both our South Burlington and Waitsfield retail locations.** There’s no cost and no registration, we’re making it all as easy as possible!

    Please join us on **Friday June 30th at 1pm** in either South Burlington or Waitsfield. Our free seminar will cover and explain how HomeKit works and communicates with accessories in your home. We’ll walk you through a basic setup of HomeKit-compatible products, show you how your Apple TV becomes the hub of your home and more.

    During our free seminar we’ll go over some specific accessories like lighting products from “Phillips Hue.”:http://www.smalldog.com/search?search=philips+hue We’ll demonstrate how you can set up different scenes throughout your house. We’ll cover the set up of locks from “August”:http://www.smalldog.com/search?search=august and explain how virtual keys can provide peace of mind when granting access to your home and help to explain why HomeKit products are secure.

    p{text-align: center;}. !http://blog.smalldog.com/images/4999.jpg!

    p{text-align: center;}. **Friday June 30th at 1pm**

    p{text-align: center;}. **1673 Main St Waitsfield or 100 Dorset St South Burlington**

    p{text-align: center;}. **No registration required**

    p{text-align: center;}. **Have questions? e-mail “sales@smalldog.com”:mailto:sales@smalldog.com**

  • It's A Mesh

    Most of you probably have a single Wi-Fi router that might be an Apple Airport Base station or the DSL or Cable modem…

  • Capture Perfect Photo Moments With Burst Mode

    Have you struggled with getting the perfect photo? How many times have we all struggled with a group photo you have to take multiple times because someone blinked, someone yawned or that toddler in front just wouldn’t stay still? Taking photos of animals like dogs and horses can be equally frustrating. One moment it’s the perfect shot, the next they moved or you just keep snapping that photo at the wrong time.

    The more an object for your photo is moving the harder it is to get the perfect shot. Images get blurry, you capture just half of the body or any number of other factors that take your photo memory from frame worthy to trash can bound. I’ve long considered myself an average photographer. I’ve purchased a few high end cameras over the years but I never practiced or used the cameras long enough to understand what the settings really do and why. Thanks to the iPhone I really do look like a better photographer than I really am!

    Professional photographers shooting sports or even wildlife have been using burst mode features on their cameras to take photos in quick succession for decades, but it typically meant this feature also went along with a very expensive camera set up. Film cameras required a motor to advance the film quickly enough, but now everything is digital. A burst mode simply needs enough processing power and storage space to record frame after frame. Your iPhone or iPad has this capability and is incredibly easy to activate burst mode.

    The secret hidden trick to using burst mode on your iPhone or iPad is less hidden than you might realize and it’s likely you activated the feature a times without even realizing it. Rather than pressing the shutter button once, just hold it. The longer you hold it down, the more burst photos you will get. You’ll hear a distinctive and continuous sound of the shutter quickly taking photos.

    p{text-align: center;}. !http://blog.smalldog.com/images/5119.png!

    Your iPhone can capture 10 frames per second, so just 2.5 seconds of photos can turn into 25 in burst mode. Sometimes the only challenge to burst mode is sorting through all of the photos and selecting the ones that you want. Do note that Photos appear stacked when your looking at them. When you select the photos you will want to then look for the word “select” so that Photos will then display all of the images caught during your burst.

    Once you have hit “select” and start to look through all the photos you will see the typical circle image in the bottom right hand corner. As your going through the images simply tap on the circle for any photo you want to keep, it will then display in blue. Once you hit the Done button you will then be asked if you want to keep just the favorites you selected or if you want to keep everything. I normally keep just the ones that I have selected as my favorites.

    p{text-align: center;}. !http://blog.smalldog.com/images/5120.png!

    One warning. If you use iCloud Photo Library or My Photo Stream to sync photos between devices it might take some times for all the photos in the burst shots to move from iPhone to Mac. Whoops, one more! If you are using My Photo Stream to transfer photos to your Mac only those photos that you’ve marked as a favorite will transfer. To set it so entire bursts transfer automatically, open Settings > Photos & Camera and enable upload photo bursts.

    Give bursts a try this summer, you never know what unexpected photo moments you might end up discovering.

  • A week ago today Apple held WWDC 2017 and it was impressive to say the least. Apple has several expected announcements like iOS 11 and High Sierra. Historically WWDC is very heavy in software updates, so it was no surprise to see heavy coverage on these software upgrades. If you’re eager to get a feel for these new operating systems you can sign up now for the “Apple beta “:https://beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram/ program and download the public beta once it comes out in a few weeks. Not so highly covered was Apple’s announcement about its App Design awards. High marks went to apps like AirMail 3, Things 3 and Blackbox. About a dozen apps were selected for this “years awards”:https://developer.apple.com/design/awards/ and the apps range from productivity apps to games. Apple has also finally done away with wired keyboards completely and you can now buy an Apple Bluetooth keyboard with numeric keypad. Many users have longed for the convenience of the numeric keypad without the hassle of the wires and last week that wish came true. For $129.99 you can now get this keyboard or upgrade to this option for a minimal fee with a new iMac Purchase.

    Hardware upgrades also took center stage in this year’s WWDC. There are always a flurry of rumors anytime Apple has event announcements and while I expected a bump or two, I personally did not expect so many changes in the hardware lineup. Gone is the 9.7″ iPad Pro, iMacs got a long overdue upgrade, the MacBook Airs got a minor upgrade (we all thought they’d be replaced), MacBooks saw a speed bump and price change and the MacBook Pros now feature the Kaby Lake processor. Apple wowed us with the “**iMac Pro**”:https://www.apple.com/imac-pro/specs/, and while it’s not coming out until the fall with a price tag rumored to start around $4999 it won’t be for the faint-hearted user but man is it an incredible machine! Apple also announced the much anticipated “**HomePod**”:https://www.apple.com/homepod/ and I can’t wait to compare it to my Echo when it comes out.

    One last announcement to touch upon and one that didn’t get airtime during the more than two hour Keynote was “**AppleCare+ for Mac**”:https://www.apple.com/support/products/mac.html. That’s right, accidental damage coverage has finally come to the Mac! We no longer need to fear a Monday morning coffee disaster or cross our fingers that our laptop survived a fall because you forgot you left your MacBook Air on the edge of the table. The only downside that I see to the new AppleCare+ for Mac is that you now only have 60 days to add AppleCare+ to your computer, gone are the days of having up to 1 year to add AppleCare to your computer purchase but I see the peace of mind dramatically outweighing this minor change.

    Thank you for reading,

    Emily Dolloff
    “emily@smalldog.com”:mailto:emily@smalldog.com