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Did you get an iPad for the Holidays but no one bothered to get you the essential accessories? Well then, this bundle is perfect for you. Coming with a sleeve style case, an anti-glare screen protector and a stylus for only $30 this has to be one of the best deals of the year!
For all of you peeps who made the ever-popular New Year’s Resolution to work out more and get into shape, I have some great apps to help out.
I have never been a great runner, but I do it because…well…I’m not good at it. When I decided that I was going to run more, I started by searching for an interval app that would help me ease into this whole process. Instead of getting on the treadmill and just going for it, I downloaded “*Run 5K*”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Frun-5k-interval-training-coach%2Fid313494823%3Fmt%3D8%26uo%3D4%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30 and started the process of trying to become a “runner.”
Run 5K is an eight-week program that has you running three days a week for 20-30 minutes. Those 20-30 minutes consist of a 5-minute warmup, 5-minute cooldown and a series of different intervals that involve walking and running. There are both audio and visual cues telling you when its time to run or walk. The first week starts off super easy — warm up for 5 minutes, jog 45 seconds, walk 90 seconds, jog 45 seconds, walk 60 seconds and repeat 5 times. Each week you’ll run a little longer and walk a little less. The goal by the end of the whole thing is to be able to run a 5K (or 3.1 miles) straight without walking.
“*Run 5K*”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Frun-5k-interval-training-coach%2Fid313494823%3Fmt%3D8%26uo%3D4%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30 is $2.99 and is also available in a 10K version. I highly recommend it for those of you who want to ease into the running thing and also like planned workout routines.
Another great app for tracking your outdoor activity is “*MapMyRun.*”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Fmapmyrun-gps-running%2Fid291890420%3Fmt%3D8%26uo%3D4%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30 MapMyRun uses the GPS feature to track and log your pace, live route map, distance, calories and elevation. I’ve used it mainly for running and walking, but you can also track a hike, stairs, biking, swimming (hopefully with a waterproof case) and all sorts of other exercise. I love it for tracking how far I’ve run outside and to see what my pace was. It will also give you voice prompts when you’ve gone a mile, or two, three, four…etc.
“*MapMyRun.*”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Fmapmyrun-gps-running%2Fid291890420%3Fmt%3D8%26uo%3D4%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30 is a free app and definitely worth checking out if you are a fan of keeping track of your progress.
My third and final health and fitness app recommendation is “*MyFitnessPal,*”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Fcalorie-counter-diet-tracker%2Fid488519281%3Fmt%3D8%26uo%3D4%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30 a calorie counter and diet tracker. It’s easy to use and also quickly makes you realize just how much you’re really eating. Log your breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with your snacks and how much water you’re drinking during the day. The app has many major brands of foods ready to choose from; for instance, not just orange juice, but Tropicana No Pulp orange juice with all the nutritional information preloaded. This makes adding it to your food diary really simple.
The only downfall to MyFitnessPal is that sometimes it can take a long time to add your meal. Overall though, it’s a great way to keep a virtual food journal going, and it’s free!
Whether you’re choosing to start your New Year off in a highly active way or just trying to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle throughout the year, I’d recommend checking these apps out. I use all three throughout the year and find that they each bring something helpful to the table (pun intended!).
Lately, I have been dealing a great bit with color (not too surprising for someone working in the marketing department!). I’ve found that Apple has a great base to build upon with their Colors Utility.
If you’re wondering what the Colors Utility is, it’s a good bet you’ve used it without realizing. In apps like Text Edit, Mail and “*Pages*”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Fpages%2Fid409201541%3Fmt%3D12%26uo%3D4%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30 to name a few, there is a utility that lets you choose the colors you want for text, backgrounds and other stuff. You may find it in the Inspector in the native Apple apps, or in various menus, but it usually can be found with the same keyboard shortcut (Command + Shift + C). Once opened, you are able to select the color you want by choosing it via the virtual box of crayons or from the full color spectrum.
If you’d like to select a specific color from a source on your screen, you can use the magnifying glass, found in the upper part of the Colors window. If you click the magnifying glass, you can then hover over any part of your screen and then click to pick the color your cursor is over. Once the color is picked, it is now your active color and you can drag it to some highlighted text or shape to change the color of that element. My primary use is to figure out the RGB and CMYK values for certain colors I find.
Unfortunately, not every app has a need for the Colors Utility even if ??you?? might (like I do). I stumbled upon a “*website*”:http://www.robinwood.com that has a script to launch the Colors Utility as a standalone app. There’s an article that the developer wrote about the Colors Utility “*here;*”:http://www.robinwood.com/Catalog/Technical/OtherTuts/MacColorPicker/MacColorPicker.html just scroll to the very bottom to find the link for her ColorPicker app.
Once you have downloaded it, just drag the script anywhere you’d like (I put it in the Applications folder). Click on it like you would any other app and it will launch the script. Then you are all set to start picking colors, regardless of the app you are currently using. Good examples: Now you can save that color you came across on a random website, or Facebook blue just because.
Note: ColorPicker is not an “Apple Approved” app since it is not found in the App store, so you must use this *at your own risk.* I have been using it for the past two months with absolutely zero issues and I love it. I recommend checking out the article at the very least to learn more about the Colors Utility.
_Dear Friends,_
Happy New Year! We slipped over the fiscal cliff and hit -20° F this morning on the way into work. It’s a good old-Vermont winter temperature, but it is supposed to moderate later this weekend.
I was looking at the “*Internet Archive Wayback Machine*”:http://archive.org/web/web.php and found our original website from 1996, back when the URL was still “Smalldoggy.com,” which will slowly but surely still redirect you to “*Smalldog.com.*”:http://www.smalldog.com Back then, we had the “Haploid Clone Page” with two pictures of Hapy and specials on all of the Mac Clones. The URL Smalldog.com was owned by a small record company at the time, but we made friends with them and ended up trading a PowerBook Duo for the domain name.
This newsletter was first published in October of 1996. In it, we published our entire price list which included such gems as a Power Mac 9500/180MP for $5,599 and a 64MB DIMM for $499! You’re reading issue number 809, a good 16 years later! It wasn’t until 2000 that I started making my annual predictions. To commemorate, here are what my Y2K predictions were:
* Apple stock will hit $175/share
* Internet access will be free for nearly everyone
* Apple will release an innovative Palm device w/color LCD
* Several non-profitable internet companies will fold their tents
* Sammy Sosa will hit over 70 home runs
* Apple will make a surprising acquisition
* LCD Monitors will decline 50% in price
* Small Dog Electronics will be authorized to sell new Macs on the net
* I will put more miles on my motorcycle than last year
* Adrian Griffin will be the NBA Rookie of the Year
* NASDAQ will hit 8000
* Steve Jobs will remain interim CEO of Apple for another year
* The fastest Macintosh will continue to kick butt over any Intel/Microsoft
* Small Dog’s website will reach 5 million hits
I am going back to that simple format for my predictions this year — just a random prognostication for what’s to come in 2013.
*Hello all,*
Happy New Year! 2013 is upon us, and the days are getting longer. Your customers have received their new iPad minis, iPhone 5s and laptops as presents this holiday season. Now is the time to sell them all of the accessories that they need!
*Hammerhead* and *Chill Pill Audio* have got you covered with all the best accessories to protect your customers’ new devices and live their mobile lives out loud!
We are proud to announce new lines of screen protectors for the iPad mini and iPhone 5. We have our famous *Bubble-Free screen protectors* available for both devices, as well as for the iPad 2/3/4. The Bubble-Free screen protector comes in black or white and can be easily removed and reapplied (leaving no residue), preserves Multi-Touch display responsiveness while protecting the screen from scratches, reduces reflection and minimizes fingerprints, and comes with a microfiber cloth. And, as the name says, there will be no annoying bubbles to ruin the beauty of the newest Apple display technology. This is a premium product that will protect screens for years to come.
“*Bubble-Free screen protector for iPad mini*”:https://www.hammerheadcase.com/product/54/Bubble-Free-mini
“*Bubble-Free screen protector for iPhone 5*”:https://www.hammerheadcase.com/product/56/Bubble-Free-iPhone5
“*Bubble-Free screen protector for iPad 2/3/4*”:https://www.hammerheadcase.com/product/38/Bubble-Free-Screen-Protectors
We are also happy to announce new *Crystal Clear* and *Anti-Glare* screen protectors for iPad mini. The Crystal Clear screen protectors are self-adhesive and are made of a high-tech material that is specially designed for Retina displays and offers maximum clarity. The Anti-Glare screen protectors protect the screen while minimizing glare from the sun or other bright lights. These both come in 2 packs to maximize the value for your customers.
“*Screen Protectors for iPad mini*”:https://www.hammerheadcase.com/product/55/Screen-Protectors-mini
We also have *Crystal Clear screen protectors for the iPhone 5* available in four fun colors: green, pink, purple and red. These allow your customers to customize their phones while offering great protection and Crystal Clear screen clarity.
“*Crystal Clear screen protectors for iPhone 5*”:https://www.hammerheadcase.com/product/57/Crystal-Clear-Screen-Protectors-iPhone5
Our new *Bluetooth Chill Pill Mobile Speakers* are this year’s hot new item! This product has the same form-factor as our original Chill Pill speaker, but with the added convenience of Bluetooth connectivity. This product is portable, rechargeable, and sounds amazing! Help your customers “Chill, Unplug, and Recharge” with the Bluetooth Mobile Speaker from Chill Pill Audio!
“*Chill Pill Bluetooth Mobile Speakers*”:http://vendor.hammerheadcase.com/pricelists/SS_CP-BT-speaker.pdf
We also have a full line of *Neoprene Cases* for the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. These are made from heavyweight neoprene and are available in 11 inch, 13 inch, and 15 inch in several colors. You can use the case as a sleeve or reveal the handle when you want to carry the case. Heavy duty zippers keep the case securely closed and an accessory pocket makes sure you always have a place to put your charger.
“*Neoprene Case for MacBook Air/Pro*”:http://vendor.hammerheadcase.com/pricelists/SS_neoprenecase_laptop.pdf
See our full 2013 Dealer Price List “*here.*”:http://vendor.hammerheadcase.com/pricelists/SS_dealer-pricelist_12.12.pdf
Thanks for reading. Team Hammerhead wishes you and yours a very happy and healthy 2013.
Tony
We’ve begun to offer one-on-one lessons in South Burlington.
For the month of November, our lessons are *$39.99 for an hour with one of our well-trained associates.*
To book a lesson, swing through the store or give us a ring.
*Lessons are scheduled M-F from 11am – 5pm.*
They are a perfect way to learn how to use your fun new Apple device!
Hardly a day goes by when I don’t get the question “What is the Retina Display?” Of course, it’s higher resolution, meaning more pixels per square inch, but what does that really mean? How does that affect my day-to-day experience?
Right now, Small Dog has a multitude of options for iPads out there, and it can be quite confusing spotting the differences and figuring out whether spending a little extra cash will be worth it for you. This is the question I try to answer for anyone who calls or walks through our door, since it’s a common one.
The Retina display made its first debut with the iPad (3rd generation), which was released March 16th, 2012. Fast forward six months later to the announcement of the 4th generation (and current) iPad on October 23rd, 2012, which naturally also has the Retina display. Apple has also released the iPad mini, a smaller, lighter iPad that does __not__ have a Retina display, but does that matter?
The mini boasts the same resolution as the iPad 2, but because the screen size is smaller, and therefore the pixels denser, you’ll find it to be sharper. The iPad mini display has smaller pixels than the same resolution on the iPad 2, resulting in a higher pixel density. But still, why Retina? In the simplest of terms, having a retina display means you are not able to distinguish the pixels, which does make it easier on the eyes when reading content and enjoying your cinema experience to the max.
So now that you know the difference between Retina and standard displays on the iPad, you might still be asking yourself which one is for you. This is the million dollar question — both devices have a long list of advantages, and sometimes the best way to determine what features are most important to you is to stop by one of our stores and experience the devices in person. Our knowledgeable staff can help determine which features and advantages will get you the most for your money and uses!
We bet a number of you have received tech gifts or given tech gifts for the holidays. As ever, I want our customers to be empowered with knowledge of how to love and care for their devices, and to foster a long and successful lifespan of the products we sell every day.
**Charge ‘er up all the way, then unplug.**
The best thing you can do for battery longevity is to charge and discharge your battery regularly. Keeping a device plugged in all the time will run too much unused current through the cells and ends up decreasing battery life substantially.
**Don’t be afraid to clean that screen.**
All it takes is a soft cloth, such as a microfiber, and streak-free cleaning solution. Just avoid using Windex or other abrasives. We recommend the aptly-named AppleJuce device spray cleaner. Smells good and oh, we sell it too!
**Mind your cables.**
The AC adapter is one of the most tossed around piece of equipment you own. It is also probably the most under-appreciated. I find most people don’t realize how important it is until their dog chews one up or their kid plays Indiana Jones with it. Keep the cord protected and, when traveling, don’t wrap it up too aggressively or else the internal wiring will suffer stresses, particularly at the power block (also yes, it’s normal for that white block with the Apple logo to get quite warm).
As Emily mentioned, we offer affordable one-on-one lessons in our stores and I happen to be one if the folks here in Waitsfield who teaches them. If you need any suggestions for keeping your device happy and healthy just stop by the store or schedule a lesson for a more comprehensive look into your digital life. We’re here for you, especially now that you have an electronic present or two!
Hello all,
The new year is upon us. I always get some version of my life flashing in front of my eyes around now, plans for the future swirling around with everything that happened in the year passing away. That usually lasts for a week or two and then it’s back to business as usual.
My only resolution this year is to try and give this experience the contemplation it deserves — it’s not often we get inspired for self-examination and if you let it slip by, it seems like a lost opportunity.
Even though we are taking a break from Tech Tails until next week, Don wanted to say hello to all of you, and I figured I’d say Happy New Year as well. As always, thanks for reading.
Liam
“*liam@smalldog.com*”:mailto:liam@smalldog.com
Need a quick replacement for your Apple Earpods? Well, we have got a great deal for you. Save $3 on a pair of…
I think I am going to take the 4-day weekend coming up and relax and get ready for a busy January and February. I’m heading out to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in a couple of weeks and then out to Cupertino for some meetings with Apple.
Looks like some snow shoveling is in my immediate future, though.
Thanks for reading this issue of Kibbles & Bytes and from all of us at Small Dog Electronics, have a very Happy New Year and may 2013 be the best year ever for you and your family!
Your Kibbles & Bytes Team,
_Don, Kali, Stephanie & Mike_
The perfect companion to a Mac mini or a secondary display for your iMac. Plus you SAVE $10 on the whole thing!