Author: Emily Dolloff

  • Setting up Parental Controls

    Our devices are powerful tools. They provide us with endless resource options and allow us to create just about anything from anywhere. With power also comes the ability for young users to access information and content we might not want them to. Thankfully both Mac OS X and iOS on iPad and iPhones have fairly robust parental controls. I recently set up restrictions on both my Mac mini and my kids’ iPad to ensure I didn’t have to worry about what they were seeing or doing when using these devices.

    Admittedly the OS X operating system has significantly more options for restrictions and settings when it comes to parental controls. As many of us know, Mac OS X allows you to set up multiple users with different access levels, and managed parental control is one of them. Setting up a new user on your Mac is very easy. From your admin account simply go to **system preferences > users & groups** and select the **+** sign. From here you can easily set up a new account that specifically is set up as **Managed with Parental Controls,** and create a new user ID and password for the new account. This account will have a password associated with it, so make sure it’s not the same as the admin password.

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    From here you can quickly and easily set multiple levels of controls such as restricting adult content on websites, what applications the user can access, and even setting time limits. For my purposes I set up my kids’ account to only be able to access specific websites. Apple makes this easy by starting you out with a default list of a dozen or so approved sites. You can add to this list or remove them all together and add your own sites. To ensure my settings were correct I tried to visit a website that was not in the list and I was quickly denied access. One great feature to this is that it does give you the ability to approve a website to the list without switching user accounts. All that you need to do is enter the admin username and password to quickly update the list. To further set up restrictions you can access **parental controls** from system preferences and adjust restrictions as needed. You can limit the time of day the user can access the machine with time limit, which applications on the computer they can or cannot access and even “**manage controls from another computer.**”:https://support.apple.com/kb/PH18571?locale=en_US

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    With iOS you can also set up a number of restrictions as well. In my opinion the settings on the iPad are not as convenient as those within OS X. The biggest limitation is that you cannot set up for an individual user, so any restrictions apply to the iPad or iPhone itself. Nonetheless they are very effective and simple to set up. Simply go to **settings > general > restrictions.** From here you will be asked to set up a PIN code to access and update the restrictions and can customize many options from disabling Safari or the App store to restricting explicit lyrics. In my testing I did find some more refined restrictions such as age limits on Apps were not as effective as I had hoped. I did hope to restrict my kids from my FaceBook App by using age restrictions but regretfully it was still accessible. However you can easily restrict specific websites or even location services like you can within OS X.

    While I admit I do prefer the options within OS X, it’s good to know that no matter what Apple device your kids are using there are several options available to parents to control the content and usage of those devices. While in my house my kids might not be thrilled with the new settings, as a parent, I am much more comfortable when I hand over a device to them!

  • The dog days of summer are here! We are in the heat of summer here in Vermont and with it we have seen some pretty extreme weather conditions; even in the beautiful Green Mountains of Vermont we are not immune from extreme heat and torrential rains. These past few weeks it seems that if it’s not hazy, hot and humid the sky is pouring down upon us. There are still many weeks of summer ahead of us and I hope that mother nature gives us all a little rest from some of these extreme weather conditions we are all experiencing.

    It seems that this time of year, no matter what the weather conditions are, we see an increase in liquid and accidental damage in our service departments. Many of us use our devices wherever we go, even our computers. All too often an unexpected accident causes stress and heartbreak to our customers over an unexpected drop or glass of lemonade across the table. At Small Dog we have recently begun selling “*Safeware*”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/85003/safeware-mac-warranty-w-applecare-3yr accidental damage coverage in our stores. One of the huge benefits of “*Safeware*”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/85003/safeware-mac-warranty-w-applecare-3yr is that it works in conjunction with your Applecare, customers whom buy a new computer with Applecare have the opportunity to purchase accidental damage insurance through Safeware to help ensure that no matter what life has thrown at them, their computer will be covered.

    We have been working with Safeware here at Small Dog for about two years now and have been incredibly impressed with how easy the company is to work with and how smooth repairs are for our customers. We feel confident recommending it to all of our customers purchasing a new computer for that added peace of mind.

    Thank you for reading!
    Emily

  • More Dog Days of Summer Specials!

    **Save $20** on the Lacie Rugged Mini, 2TB of storage for just $149.99!

    Keep your iPhone 6 safe in a new case from Speck! **Save $10** on the Candyshell or Candyshell Grip

  • ios 9

    iOS 9 is Apple’s newest operating system for iOS devices like the iPhone and the iPad, introduced at WWDC on June 8. iOS 9 builds on the content introduced with iOS 7 and iOS 8, bringing subtle design changes, refined features, improved functionality, and performance enhancements.
    iOS 9’s biggest focus is on intelligence and proactivity, allowing iOS devices to learn user habits and act on that information, opening up apps before we need them, making recommendations on places we might like, and guiding us through our daily lives to make sure we’re where we need to be at the right time.
    Siri is at the heart of the changes, and the personal assistant is now able to create reminders and search through photos and videos in new ways. Swiping left from the home screen also brings up a new screen that houses Siri Suggestions putting favorite contacts and apps right at your fingertips, along with nearby restaurant and location information and important news. Deeper search capabilities can bring up results like sports scores, videos, and content from third-party apps.
    Many of the built-in apps have been improved. Notes includes new checklists and sketching features, Maps now offers transit directions, Mail allows for file attachments, and there’s a new “news” app that learns your interests and delivers relevant content you might like to read. Apple Pay is being improved with the addition of store credit cards and loyalty cards, leading “Passbook” to be renamed to “Wallet” in iOS 9.
    The iPad’s gotten some major feature additions in iOS 9, like split screen multitasking that lets two apps be used at once and a picture-in-picture function that lets you watch a video while doing something else on the tablet. The keyboard on the iPad has deeper functionality with the addition of a new toolbar, and on both the iPhone and the iPad, there’s anew two-finger swipe gesture that makes it easier to select content, cut, paste, and move the cursor on the screen.
    Other changes include wireless CarPlay support, an optional iCloud drive App, built-in two factor authentication and optional longer passwords for better security.
    Along with these features, iOS 9 features significant improvements. Battery optimizations provide an additional hour of battery use under typical conditions, and a new Low Power Mode further extends battery life up to three hours.
    With app thinning and size improvements, many app install sizes are smaller and Apple’s own iOS updates will take up much less space, so iPhone and iPad owners with only 16GB of space will be able to install iOS 9. iOS 9 will also run on all devices capable of running iOS 8, including the iPhone 4s and the iPad 2.
    iOS 9 is currently available to developers and will see a public beta testing period that starts in July ahead of a fall launch.

    Apple’s described iOS 9 as being more “intelligent,” thanks largely to Proactive Suggestions. Proactive Suggestions, the major feature addition in iOS 9, turn the iPhone into a lifestyle management tool and make Apple’s personal assistant Siri more responsive and able to complete more tasks than ever before. Proactive suggestions are systemwide and will work in myriad ways, offering up apps and recommendations at appropriate times.
    For example, if you often listen to music in the morning, iOS 9 will automatically open the Music app to a favorite playlist when you plug in your headphones. If you always open up the weather app to check what’s going on outside, it might open it automatically after your alarm goes off.

    Split-screen multitasking has been a much anticipated feature for the iPad that’s been rumored to be in the works for over a year. With Split-screen multitasking, it’s possible to use two different iOS apps on the same screen, so you can read a website while on a FaceTime call, or watch a video while composing a message in Mail.
    iOS 9 includes three different multitasking features: Slide Over, Split View, and Picture in Picture.
    Slide Over can be activated within any app by swiping left from the right side of the iPad. This gesture brings up a small side pane that displays a secondary app alongside the first app, in a 1/3 screen space arrangement. Choosing a new app for the side pane can be done by swiping downwards from the top of the screen within the pane.

    Picture in Picture, as the name suggests, is a third feature that lets you watch videos or participate in FaceTime video calls while using other apps. When on a FaceTime call or when watching a video, tapping on the home button sends the video to a corner of the iPad’s display. From there, it’s possible to use other apps while you view the video or continue on with the FaceTime conversation.

    In iOS 9, there’s an optional iCloud Drive app that can be installed through the iCloud section of the Settings app. The iCloud Drive app lets you see, access, and manage all of the files that you have stored within iCloud Drive, and will be a welcome feature for customers who have asked for such an app.

    So, as you can see it’s going to be Awesome! There is so much more, so feel free to come in to us at Small Dog Electronics and one of our staff would be excited to show you more.

    Launch date for Beta version is launching in July, so stay tuned….

  • Protect your investment!

    How do you keep your Mac clean (and we’re not talking about the hard drive!)? Well the first thing to remember is that while you may not like a dirty Mac, what your computer hates even more is getting wet! Never spray anything directly on the computer, avoid abrasive cloths and cleaners, and avoid wet cleaning cloths!

    When we clean machines the first thing we do is power off the device and let it cool down. If the computer is warm then there is a high possibility that you will leave streaks on the screen. We like the **Hammerhead** micro fiber towel which you can spray with a bit of **iKlear** so that it is damp, but not wet! Trouble spots can be dealt with with light pressure and a circular motion. Too much pressure (especially on displays) can do more harm than good.

    Another great way to clean your computer is to keep it from getting dirty in the first place! Keyboard covers from **KB Covers** and case protection from **Speck** can help you avoid having to do any cleaning for a longer period of time.

    “**Grab this great bundle for $124.99 and keep your computer looking like new!**”:http://www.smalldog.com/wag900001898 Bundle includes keyboard cover, iKlear, speck hardshell case and backup hard drive

  • Safeware!

    This summer we started offering an exciting new protection plan from SafeWare. As you may know, Burlington is a major college town, so at the South Burlington store we see our fair share of accidental damage on Macs. Unfortunately, the standard AppleCare warranty does not cover drops, spills, or cracks. We all like to think that we’re immune to this type of damage, but the fact is, it happens to the best of us!

    With the purchase of a new Mac, and AppleCare, you can add SafeWare’s accidental protection for just $99. You have within the first 30 days of you purchase to add the SafeWare coverage, and after the initial cost, there are no hidden fees. If you do make a claim, there is a $250 dollar deductible, but considering the average cost of this type of repair is over $800, the savings is significant. The coverage lasts 3 years, or until the accidental claims have outweighed the total cost of the computer.

    Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen a major percentage of our customers adding this coverage, and its no surprise. If you’d like to know more, feel free to stop in the store or visits SafeWare’s website for details. Remember to keep your Mac elevated above any beverages on the same surface, and in general, try to keep it out of the hands of a toddler!

  • The Dog Days of Summer are here!

    It’s mid July and it’s a draw around the office if the dog days of summer should be cause for celebration or if we are seeing it as the inevidible end to summer. For me the dog days of summer means I still have plenty of time to lounge around the campfire at night and spending my days enjoying the fresh air at the local lake or walk through the woods with my family. I admit that last summer ended for me with a list of regrets and things I had wished myself and my family had checked off our summer to do list. This summer is not one of those years for us. I have made it a point to unplug, kick back and take in all that summers have to offer us here in Vermont every chance that I get. I am determined to get the most our of the now warmer and dryer weather in the green mountains.

    At Small Dog we want you to get the most out of both your summer and your budget! Starting now we have some great deals running in our retail stores. While the kids might not be thinking about what they need when they return to school, we know many parents are wanting to check a few items off their lists and get back to enjoying summer. Visit any of our retail stores and grab some great deals! Buy any new Apple computer with Applecare and get three years of Safeware coverage for **FREE** and buy any Apple factory refurbished computer with Applecare and get a **$50 Small Dog gift card!**

    We have loads of savings running in all of our stores running now through labor day weekend, you can see a complete list of “**specials and promotions**”:http://www.smalldog.com/dogdaysofsummer/summer-sales by visiting our website or just stopping in.

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

  • I hope everyone had a great 4th of July weekend! I spent the long weekend camping with my family, complete with lots of great times with friends around the campfire and out on the water. As much as I love technology and make it a point to always have the newest products from Apple, it is nice to spend time away from it all. Most of the time where my family and I camp there is no internet, much less any cell phone reception. I admit that I get a bit of a thrill out of letting the battery drain on my phone and not bothering to even plug it in again until Sunday evenings when we return home. Technology is all around us, but it’s nice at times to forget about it all and spend a few days just taking in the world around us.

    Technology is a powerful tool and often times we forget about the power that it can have as we become so accustomed to just clicking and typing away at our machines. In our service department and retail store we continue to see a rise in customer machines with invasive programs such as MacKeeper installed on their machines without their realizing how this invasive program ended up on their machines. Over the years as avid Apple users we have had little to worry about when it comes to these kinds of problems, and for the most part there is still not a lot of worry. Simply double checking before you download a file is often all that you need to do!

    Thank you for reading!

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

  • Summer is here

    Summer has officially started and I must say it’s been a wet one so far! I am starting to feel like it’s been raining more days than it’s been sunny here in Vermont. While it has done wonders for the grass and other green foliage, it seems to be creating a bit of an issue with my lawn. The poor soil is so water logged I am starting to slush my way to the horse barn in the mornings! I have two great big oak trees in my yard which several years back began to loose their luster and many branches died off. We became concerned about the tree and called in our local arborist to offer advice on the condition of our trees, he determined that our lawn was too wet in many places and that the kind of trees we had preferred less moisture. We improved our ditches and drainage around the property and now 4 or 5 years later we are seeing amazing regrowth in the trees, crossing my fingers this wet summer doesn’t set my trees back again.

    Too much moisture isn’t good for my yard and it’s certainly not good for electronics either. Liquid damage is probably the second most common repair in our service department next to failed hard drives (though with SSD drives becoming the new standard, this is happening less and less) and is one of the most frustrating for customers. Often times liquid finds it’s way into computers without the user realizing it, there is little that we can do to offer ways to prevent this, but what we can offer is a great accidental damage insurance policy from “**Safeware**”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/85003/safeware-mac-warranty-w-applecare-3yr for **$99** when you buy a new or factory refurbished computer with Applecare. Safeware gives you the peace of mind should your computer have liquid accidentally spilled on it, you can get your computer repaired easily and economically.

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

  • _Hello Fellow Tech Enthusiasts,_

    It’s been a great couple of weeks here in the Green Mountains! After a slow start to the planting season I was finally able to get my veggie garden planted, ok most of it! It’s taken several years of trial and error, but I think I have finally figured out how to plant the right kinds of produce for my garden and the right quantity. Year after year we would get a little too overzealous with our wishes for the growing season and at one point even had two gigantic gardens. After two failed years we realized we simply were taking on too much and have scaled back considerably. It’s made for a much more enjoyable gardening experience!

    Yesterday was an exciting day in the world of Apple! Apple had their annual WWDC event and Apple announced many exciting new software features. El Capitan, OS X 10.11 was announced, there is a new Safari interface, improved search features, the ability to split your screens and so much more! iOS 9 was also announced, significant improvements were made to multitasking and even a picture in picture feature! I think my favorite feature talked about was the ability for iOS 9 to allow users to gain up to an extra 3 hours of battery life. El Capitan will not be available until sometimes in the fall, but those of you who can’t wait to get your hands on iOS 9, Apple will release the public beta version in July. Many of the features in iOS 9 do require the iPad Air 2, so much like iOS 8 and Apple pay, among others, there are some new hardware requirements for some of latest features.

    Stayed tuned for more tips and tricks to prepare for upgrading your computer or iOS device to the latest operating systems. As always, we thank you for reading our latest edition of Tech Tails!

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

  • _Greetings Friends,_

    I hope everyone had a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend! I spent the long weekend breaking in the camping gear with my family as we officially kicked off our summer camping season. It was a little bit chilly, but we still made the best of it! It is nice to spend a weekend relaxing and just enjoying time together. We even managed to survive an entire weekend without cell phones or internet! With all the technology around us, and working with it on a daily basis, I admit it’s a great feeling to disconnect and recharge for a few days. 

    This past week I encountered a few machines which were suffering from data corruption. Data corruption can be a very tedious and frustrating process to sort through, in some cases it can actually mean loss of files. Data corruption can not always be avoided, but there are some simple steps you can take when using your machine to try and reduce the likely hood of data corruption. One is to try to avoid force powering down your machine; whenever possible always follow proper shut down and sleep procedures. Avoid force quitting programs as well as just unplugging external drives unless it’s absolutely necessary; force quitting your programs and unplugging drives without properly un-mounting them can lead to data corruption. If you have a program that is crashing on a regular basis, this can be a sign that potentially data corruption had occurred. If you are noticing crashes within your programs, try repairing permission on your disk through disk utility. Installing a solid state hard drive can running regular Time Machine backups is another simple step and precaution one can take to try and minimize any potential corruption to your data. Solid state drives are much more stable than traditional drives. Lastly, keeping your Time Machine backups current could be a real life saver in the event your data does get corrupted. Time Machine allows users to restore from specific back ups. This was a lifesaver for me once with a Windows partition on my machine that ended up with a virus. Thanks to Time Machine I was able to restore data prior to the virus infecting my machine! 

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

  • Small Dog is pleased to be partnering with RETN for this one-of-a-kind, “*FREE event*.”:http://www.smalldog.com/retntest/ipad-event RETN instructors Ross Ransom and Doug Dunbebin will guide you through the essential features of iMovie 10 in this hands-on workshop. With ample time for practice and questions, you will be walking away from this course with the skills to turn your photos and videos into finished professional-level movies.

    *Time*: 9am – 12pm

    *Date*: Wednesday, June 10th

    *Location*: Black Box Theatre, Main Street Landing 60 Main Street Burlington, VT

    *Cost:* *FREE*

    “*Register Here!*”:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/top-10-tips-tools-for-making-mobile-movies-tickets-16902800732