Author: Mike Moffit

Director of IT

  • Unlocking 'Local Items' Keychain Issue in Mavericks

    For anyone who has been keeping track of my Tech Tails articles, you might start to see a pattern. If you see where I’m going with this, then you can safely assume that my latest article is — you guessed it — more insight into Keychain Access!

    Perhaps one of the most widely used utilities for all users, Keychain Access is designed for your convenience, but even the most convenient apps can cause massive confusion when error messages surface.

    It’s been brought to my attention that with the latest version of Mavericks (v10.9.1), some users are experiencing a repeating prompt that asks you to unlock the ‘Local Items’ keychain. If this has happened to you, don’t worry; your password is, in fact, correct. This prompt is a complete error on the part of the OS.

    Why does this happen? I’m not entirely sure, but I have seen a pattern with anyone who has a problem upgrading to the latest version, or if the software’s directory becomes problematic.

    The good news is that there’s a relatively simple fix for this, so please follow these steps to prevent the prompts.

    # In Finder, select *Go > Go to folder…* (⇧⌘G)
    # In the window that appears, type the following: ~/Library/Keychains/
    # Click “OK”
    # Look for a folder with a name similar to this: ‘A8F5E7B8-CEC1-4479-A7DF-F23CB076C8B8’ ??*NOTE:* Each folder has a unique number??
    # Move this folder to the Trash
    # Immediately choose *Apple Menu > Restart…* to restart your Mac

    After restarting the computer, a new folder is created in the Keychains folder with a name similar to ‘A8F5E7B8-CEC1-4479-A7DF-F23CB076C8B8.’ However, there is no need to double check and/or repeat the steps in this article, or to delete this folder. The new folder is expected, and corrects the symptom that I’ve described.

  • Hello readers,

    When I thought about what to write about in my intro this week, I was stumped at first. I had yet to come across anything in the past two weeks that was useful enough to share with you. Usually, there’s an obvious topic, such as a network issue, daily hardware troubleshooting, or something like an Outlook problem that a customer has. Though we saw issues here and there, there wasn’t enough that I thought could benefit others who are far beyond your average consumers!

    Luckily for me, I came across some juicy rumors. The newest (and most interesting) rumor I came across involved one of my favorite Apple products, the Apple TV. Allegedly,* Apple is testing out designs for a new model, possibly due sometime in the first half of this year. A persistent part of the rumor was that it would be combined with the AirPort Express. Not only would this make Apple TV a dedicated router, but it would also make any online streaming and AirPlay a lot faster since it would work within the unit (much like being plugged into ethernet). The new model may also include a TV tuner that would allow you to control your cable with an Apple user interface.

    These rumors, combined with the strong possibility that the next Apple TV will have built-in App Store access, make the Apple TV even more valuable. I’d love to be able to play games using my iOS device(s) as a controller — I will be sure to have my wallet open if it’s available!

    Thanks for reading and enjoy!

    Barry
    “*barry@smalldog.com*”:mailto:barry@smalldog.com

    __*Rumors!__

  • Super Bowl 48 vs. Puppy Bowl 10

    I’ll be honest here, I am not a huge Super Bowl fan. Last year, when the power went out during Beyonce’s performance (yeah…

  • Cold Weather vs. Your iPhone: Some Tips to Keep It Safe

    There are two things that I am constantly interacting with every day: Vermont’s bitter cold and my iPhone. Apple officially states you can safely use your iPhone between the temperatures of 32 and 95 degrees (F), but if you are like me and live in the real world, you’re probably popping these guys out during times where the radio is trying to tell you to stay inside (yeah right; I’m from Vermont, after all).

    It’s no surprise that the past four years have put a smartphone into the pockets of most Vermonters, but as we drift through these gruesome winter months, a mystery still remains: What are we mountain folk actually subjecting these devices to?

    The first thing to consider — and most important to me — is the battery. The chemicals in the Lithium-Ion batteries totally hate extreme temperatures and will drain much faster than they should. In some cases, your battery will display a decent amount of a charge but in reality, will be on its final leg, and you will discover your phone dying out of nowhere.

    If this does happen, DO NOT TURN IT ON.

    Wait until you get inside and your phone warms up to room temp. Although the effect of cold weather draining your battery is temporary (phew!), you can permanently shorten your battery’s lifespan by trying to power it on immediately after it shuts down. Grandma’s Facebook comments on your pics aren’t going anywhere, so just wait until your phone warms up to check out what she said!

    The next thing the cold will try to kill is your screen! Cold temperatures tend to make your LCD screen way more sensitive then it usually is. Watch how you are applying pressure to your screen, especially if you have any pre-existing cracks and knicks! I had a customer come into the store last week and tell me about how she was talking on her iPhone outside and all of a sudden, heard this pop in her ear. When she looked, the pressure from her fingers mixed with the cold had cracked her screen in half! Definitely keep chats on your phone outside to a minimum!

    One final thing to look out for is condensation. Liquid is the number one enemy to your electronics. Much like your windows, condensation will form underneath your display as your phone travels from the cold to your warm houses. This will cause liquid to damage and corrode your internal parts! This will literally break your phone beyond repair, causing you to have to purchase a new one!

    There are some simple ways to avoid these catastrophes:

    # Keep your phone in a pocket close to your body — DO NOT leave your phone in a bag or in the car
    # Turn it off — your phone can endure a wider temperature range from -4 to 113 degrees (F) if it’s off
    # Purchase a case — not only do these guys provide physical protection, in some cases they provide insulation
    # Charge your iPhone before bringing it outside — this will give your battery the strength it needs to survive
    # Finally, do not get it wet in the snow — perhaps the most obvious one, but please watch where you are busting that phone out!

    So, as a reminder, keep it safe everyone — and be mindful about when you answer that text. Is it really worth replacing your iPhone because you had to check on that smiley emoticon text from mom?

  • Valentine's Day

    It’s coming kids…the big ol’ Valentine’s day! If you are looking for something to give other than flowers or chocolates, fear not — we’ve got you covered!

    We had our super knowledgeable product experts gather the “*best list*”:http://www.smalldog.com/valentine/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=kibbles&utm_campaign=vday of things to give on V day. There’s even a nice coupon in there to use during checkout!

    If you are interested in even deeper discounts (so amazing we can’t show them on the web!), stop by any of our “*retail*”:http://www.smalldog.com/retail/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=kibbles&utm_campaign=vday locations and check out what we have to offer.

    Share the love, everybody!

  • Forgotify

    If you’re a giant Spotify fan like I clearly am, you should check out a new site that has launched called “*Forgotify*”:http://forgotify.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=kibbles&utm_campaign=kibbs. They claim there are over 4 million songs on Spotify that have not been played once. If you currently have an account with Spotify, you can head over to Forgotify, hit “start listening” and prepare to be amazed.

    When I tried it for the first time, this is what I got: Punnaram Kattalle by Vilayil Valsala. A female Indian singer (I think?). Well, you’re welcome Vilayil — you have officially been listened to by one person…me! But apologies to other testers/listeners of Forgetify — now that I’ve listened to it, I guess it comes off the list!

    Give it a try and see what gems you stumble across.

    Next week I’ll continue my music streaming article collection with a more in-depth look at Beats Music and whether I’ll stick with Spotify or convert to Beats! Stay tuned…

  • Power On! (Part 2)

    In last week’s edition of Kibbles and Bytes, I talked about how crucial batteries are for all the gadgets we use today. I started our look at batteries by talking about the ubiquitous lead acid battery.

    I’d like to thank one reader, Gene, who informed me that back in 1989, Apple actually released its first battery-powered laptop, the Macintosh Portable, which used a lead acid battery. The Mac Portable was a predecessor to the PowerBook series. Even the PowerBook 100 still used a lead acid battery. That’s a pretty incredible feat for the trusty little lead acid battery, but these were big and heavy machines, especially by today’s standards.

    The next real step up in battery technology were the nickel chemistries Ni-MH (Nickel Metal-Hydride) and NiCd (Nickel Cadmium). Many older laptops also used these battery technologies. They’re certainly much lighter than lead, but they suffer from their own unique drawbacks. NiCd batteries were developed around 1900, but didn’t see widespread production and adoption until around 1950 or so in the U.S. For much of the latter half of the 20th century, NiCd batteries were the go-to battery for rechargeable consumer devices.

    If you ever used a cordless drill, cordless phone, or any other battery powered device in the 80s and 90s, it was most likely NiCd. And if you remember using one of those devices, you should remember how you had to run the batteries all the way down before recharging them. Otherwise, the battery wouldn’t last as long the next time you used it. This is called the “memory effect” and it’s one of the biggest disadvantages to NiCd cells. Another problem with NiCd batteries is their toxicity. Much like lead, cadmium is a toxic heavy metal. NiCd batteries should never be thrown away. Always recycle or dispose of them properly.

    When the Ni-MH battery started to become widely available in the early 1990s, it marked the beginning of the end of the NiCd battery. Ni-MH batteries have much greater capacity than NiCds and are far less toxic. If you’ve ever bought AA-sized rechargeable batteries, they were almost definitely Ni-MH. They are well-suited to today’s high-demand electronics like digital cameras and MP3 players because of their ability to deliver high amounts of power efficiently. They’re also very safe to use and their low cost means they see use in a wide array of applications, from robots like Honda’s ASIMO to production electric cars like GM’s EV-1. While they aren’t toxic, it’s still important to recycle Ni-MH batteries because nickel is a valuable metal and recovering it in recycling processes has a far smaller impact on the environment than mining it.

    So how come we don’t use nickel batteries for our iPads and other devices? Well, as I said, NiCd batteries suffer from the memory effect. Imagine if you had to run your iPad all the way down before you could charge it again. Not very convenient. While they would work well in power hungry technology like an iPad, Ni-MH batteries self-discharge at a rate of 4% per day. This means your iPad would lose power even as it was just sitting there unused.

    By now, you may have figured out the punchline in this battery article series: lithium (no, not the Nirvana song, the metal). Check back next week when I’ll explain why we pass over all three battery types in favor of that light, soft, and energetic metal when it comes to making batteries for the latest technologies.

  • Super Bowl 48 vs. Puppy Bowl 10

    I’ll be honest here, I am not a huge Super Bowl fan. Last year, when the power went out during Beyonce’s performance (yeah Bey!) I took that as a sign and opportunity to leave the party I was at and head on home. But if feels wrong not to write ??something?? about the Super Bowl. So I confided in our office football enthusiast, Matty, to point me in the right direction of all of the essentials for game day.

    Here’s his list of must-haves:

    *Chicken wings*

    If you plan on watching the big game without some finger-licking chicken wings, then you are “wicked weird!” Therefore, my recommendation will be to download the app “*Foodie Recipes*”:https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/foodie-recipes/id575737456?mt=8&uo=4&at=11lb7k&ct=kibbs. This month, they’ve chosen 40 different options for the ultimate game day foods. If you already have this app, make sure you update to the latest version to gain access to the 40 different Super Bowl recipes.

    *Beer*

    Well, duh! Food and drink is probably the best part (for me) of the Super Bowl. Check out “*Beer Hunt*”:https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/beer-hunt-fun-beer-tracking/id569979630?mt=8&uo=4&at=11lb7k&ct=kibbs which is an app you can use to track beer, discover new types, rate it, find recommendations, and have competitions with your friends. Just remember to always drink responsibly, folks!

    *Super Bowl App*

    Right from the National Football League themselves, introducing the “*Official Super Bowl XLVIII Interactive Game Program!*”:https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/super-bowl-xlviii-nfl-official/id417071364?mt=8&uo=4&at=11lb7k&ct=kibbs Everything you need to know about the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks. Enjoy animated starting lineups and stadium renderings, Twitter and Instagram feeds, and quickly-updated photos and video from the game. Pretty much everything you need to stay on top of things during the game — all in one app!

    Or, if you aren’t super into the Super Bowl, but you are into PUPPIES, check out the famous “*Puppy Bowl*”:http://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/puppy-bowl?_ga=1.73099856.2121516428.1391011463 on Animal Planet. This year marks the tenth consecutive year, not quite 48, but still impressive.

    bq. ??”Puppy Bowl X brings viewers a lovable lineup that’s itching to play in a winning combination of terrier tackles, touchdowns, puppy penalties, fumbles and Fido first downs. This year’s big game is sure to be a tail-wagger. From barking beagles and spunky spaniels to everything in between, we’ve got the cutest players taking the field on the most action-packed Sunday of the year.”??

    The puppy bowl kicks off on February 2 @ 3pm.

    So, which “Bowl” will you be watching? Puppy or Super?

  • Valentine's Specials!

    // 2/01 TO 2/15 //
    (Note: These exclusive Valentine’s Day specials will expire in two weeks, so act fast!)

    Hammerhead Capo Case for iPad Mini – HALF OFF! – normally $29.99, now $14.99!

    Hammerhead Folio Case for iPad mini – HALF OFF! – normally $29.99, now $14.99!

    Belkin WeMo Power Switch – SAVE $10 – normally at $49.99, now $39.99!

    Belkin WeMo Light Switch – SAVE $10 – normally at $49.99, now $39.99!

    // 2/03 TO 2/14 //

    Audio Specials

    Beats PowerBeats – SAVE $50 (normally $149.99, now $99.99)
    Beats Solo HD – SAVE $40 (normally $179.99, now $139.99)
    Beats Tour – SAVE $10 (normally $99.99, now 89.99)
    Beats Studios (1st Gen) – SAVE $70 (normally $249.99, now 179.99)
    Beats Pills – SAVE $30 – (normally $179.99, now 149.99)


    Hammerhead Chill Pill [RED] – SAVE $15 – (normally $39.99, now 24.99)

    iPhone Specials


    Kensington Portafolio Duo Wallet for iPhone 5/5s [RED] – SAVE $15 – (normally $39.99, now 24.99)


    Hammerhead Jacket Case for iPhone 5/5s [RED] – SAVE $10 – (normally $19.99, now 9.99)


    Hammerhead Bumper for iPhone 5c [RED] – SAVE $6 – (normally $12.99, now 6.99)


    Hammerhead Crystal Clear Screen Protector for iPhone 5/5s/5c [RED] – SAVE $6 – (normally $9.99, now 3.99)

    iPad Air Specials


    Griffin Slim Keyboard Folio for iPad Air [RED] – SAVE $20 – (normally $79.99, now 59.99)


    Hammerhead Folio Case for iPad Air [RED] – SAVE $20 – (normally $39.99, now 19.99)


    Hammerhead Bubble-Free Screen Protector for iPad Air – SAVE $12 – (normally $24.99, now 12.99)

    iPad Mini Specials


    Hammerhead Bubble-Free Screen Protector – SAVE $10 – (normally $19.99, now 9.99)

    iPad 2 Specials


    Hammerhead Bubble-Free Screen Protector – SAVE $12 – (normally $24.99, now 12.99)


    Hammerhead Premium Leather Case [RED] – SAVE $30 – (normally $59.99, now 29.99)


    Hammerhead Folio Case for iPad 2/3/4 [RED] – SAVE $20 – (normally $19.99, now 39.99)

    Computer Specials


    Speck SeeThru Satin Cases for All MacBooks – SAVE $15 – (normally $49.99, now 34.99)

  • 30 Years of Mac

    January 24th marked the 30th anniversary of the original Macintosh debut. “**Apple’s website**”:http://www.apple.com features an interactive history of their revolutionary product line, starting with the 1984 Macintosh, all the way up to today’s current models.

    I strongly encourage even the mildest Mac enthusiast to visit the site, and participate in their “What was your first Mac” survey. This simply asks, “What was the first Mac you owned? What year did you buy it? What did you use if for?” Upon reviewing the survey’s results, it’s amazing to see how Apple’s imprint on the professional world has shifted so dramatically since the beginning.

    Initially, these machines were primarily used for Education and Desktop Publishing. As you scroll forward on the timeline, you see the Education category shrink, and as the Internet/Email field appears, it rapidly takes over the majority of the spectrum. There’s an interesting influx of Graphic Designers who adopted Mac in 1997, and this is the only year after 1994 that you’ll see anything trump Internet/Email. Certain categories such as Desktop Publishing, will disappear entirely as the 1990’s progress. These results are subject to change as more users interact and submit their answers.

    Of course, Apple’s “Thirty Years of Mac” campaign video focuses on the ground breaking artists who rely on their systems today, especially those who adopted early. The incredible thing about Apple is that they have never stopped expanding, always reaching new markets while improving the creative industry every step of the way. As a musician and photo enthusiast, I have yet to find another suitable computer solution. For that reason and many others, I look forward to seeing the next thirty years of Apple’s history.