Kibbles & Bytes Blog

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  • So Many Apps: Part 2

    In my last Tech Tails article we discussed a few reasons why cleaning up your Mac regularly is good to do and how uninstalling software is different than doing so on a Windows machine. You may recall Apple’s macOS does not include a built-in uninstaller tool showing a list of all of your installed software like a Windows machine with the add/remove programs tool found through Windows Control Panel. In addition very few software manufactures offer packaged un-installers with their applications for macOS because most macOS applications are contained within themselves and don’t run background components or alter system settings files. This is what makes uninstalling software in macOS generally a straightforward procedure. Use an un-installer packaged with the application if there is one or locate the application, move it to your trash can empty it and your done. Simple, right?

    Well, there are some instances where removing preference files, support items, and sometimes hidden files or kernel extensions are necessary especially when you are dealing with corrupt software installations that you are trying to reinstall and get working again. So to follow-up on my last article, I wanted to go through the various locations to search for files and folders left behind that you may need to delete. This can be dangerous as you are modifying system-level locations, so as always, *back up before you do this!*

    For removing preferences and application support files, there are two locations within macOS that you should check. Both are found within your Library folder, the first at the top level of macOS and the other is inside your Home Folder. Let’s first start at your top level /Library.

    You can access this directory from either your Finder menu by clicking on *Go >Go to Folder…* or by using the keyboard shortcut *Command + Shift + g* and entering */Library*. Once there, you’ll need to look for and remove any files or folders which contain the name of the program or the software manufacturer in the names you’re looking to remove.

    I would first search these following locations and look for folders containing items with the name you are looking for:

    * /Library
    * /Library/Application Support

    Next check the following folders for single files to full folders containing the name you are looking for along with .plist files that follow the naming convention com.”manufacture_name”.”program_name”.plist:

    * /Library/Preferences
    * /Library/LaunchAgents
    * /Library/LaunchDaemons

    Now we want to check the following folder for any .prefPane files relating to the name of the application you are removing;

    * /Library/PreferencePanes

    Generally I find that most software does not use LaunchAgents, Preference Panes or Startup Items; only items that control system behavior or to keep processes running in the background do. I like to check one final location to be 100% sure and remove anything with the name I am looking for:

    * /Library/StartupItems

    We can now move to the Library Folder within your Home Folder and search the same set of folders as you did above and repeat the step of removing any similarly named files or folders. This folder is hidden, so you can hold down *Option* and click on the *Go* menu item in Finder to find it or use *Go to Folder…* and enter *~/Library*.

    * ~/Library
    * ~/Library/Application Support
    * ~/Library/LaunchAgents
    * ~/Library/Preferences
    * ~/Library/PreferencePanes
    * ~/Library/StartupItems

    Empty the Trash to complete the process. If you get a message that an item is “in use and can’t be deleted” reboot the Mac, then try to empty the trash again.

    For the majority of applications that’s all you need to remove and you’re done. But what about the exceptions? In these cases you need to look at kernel extensions and hidden files. Working with both kernel extensions and hidden files the names sometimes may not be apparent. Please do some research online about the components for the specific software you are working to remove.

    Applications that do run processes in the background, like antivirus or device sync programs, can often times add one or more kernel extensions as part of its installation.

    Before explaining how to search for and remove kernel extensions I would first like to give a public service announcement on dealing with kernel extensions. They are necessary for correct operation of your system. Do not move or delete any items unless you have the ability to recover from changes made by booting from a second Mac, bootable drive, or recovery partition and restoring changes made to the hard drive. Please, on no account should you move or remove files without understanding the consequences of what you are doing and without a complete backup of your system on an external disk.

    You are going to be looking for file names that end with the extension .kext and contain the name of the software or manufacturer in the name. As a precaution and a second layer of protection along with your backup, drag any .kext files that you are looking to delete to your desktop to create a backup copy. Now you can safely move the original to the trash. Before actually empty your trash, reboot your system and see if the reason why you were trying to remove these files went away. If your problem still persists, then restore those files and try looking again. Once you find the culprit extension/s, you can now complete the process by emptying your trash. You can access the below directory where extensions are installed like we did in my other examples above.

    * /System/Library/Extensions

    The last items we want to check for in a complete software removal process are Hidden files. Hidden files are items whose name starts with a period “.” and unfortunately, they do not display by default in the Finder. Programs sometimes use hidden files for authentication purposes or preserving the state of a utility and many are located in your home folder.

    Here you will need to use the built in Terminal with macOS located in Applications/Utilities to remove any hidden files that may be in question.

    Using the following set of commands will navigate to your home folder (~), list all contents, and then delete the hidden file for the software you are looking to remove;

    $> cd ~
    $> ls -al
    $> sudo rm .”file_name”

    (Replace “file_name” to the hidden file to the software you are removing)

    When using sudo, please have your admin password handy as you will be required to enter it to run the command and don’t be alarmed that you don’t see any characters or dots appearing; this is normal behavior in Terminal.

    I know this is a lot of information to digest and dig into therefore I will discuss some software applications that are available to aid in automating the process of uninstalling and cleaning up your Mac in Part 3, the final segment in this series.

  • _Hello Fellow Technophiles,_

    It is officially autumn and you know what that means? It’s Apple season! Fall has become the most exciting time of year for us Apple fans as this has become the time that the new OS for both the iOS and Mac devices has been released for the last few years. I have been using Sierra and I am finding it really fun to talk to my computer and have it answer now that Siri is integrated into macOS. On the other hand, I am not sure the people around me are enjoying it as I tend to talk kind of loudly and over-annuciate as I speak to her…or it? I have tried out the different voice options and none is quite right. I guess I will only be happy once they make Majel Barrett’s Enterprise computer voice an option. (editor’s note: Obligatory Star Trek reference complete; picture on left justified)

    It is also actually apple season. I took my family apple picking at “*Burtt’s Apple Orchard*”:http://burttsappleorchard.com/index.html over in Cabot, VT. The view from this hillside orchard was amazing and the kids loved the apple slingshot that they set up to dispose of the less than perfect apples. Burtt’s also participates in the “*Apples to iPods*”:https://www.vermontvacation.com/apples-to-ipods promotion that is run in partnership with Small Dog, the State of Vermont, Woodchuck Draft Cider and the Vermont Tree Fruit Growers Association. At each of the participating orchards a wooden apple is hidden somewhere and if you are lucky enough to find it, you win a free iPod! Get out there and start looking!

    Thanks for reading,

    Mike
    “*michaeld@smalldog.com*”:mailto:michaeld@smalldog.com

  • Drift off to Music or Books

    Ever want to drift off to your latest audio book or maybe even some music that’s on your iOS device? There’s a somewhat hidden feature in iOS that allows you to use a sleep timer, perfect for those who might not have a docking station or speaker system with a built in sleep timer or while traveling.

    iBooks in iOS has a built-in sleep timer that can automatically pause playback after a specified amount of time, perfect for listening to an audiobook as you drift off to sleep, just tap the Moon button below the volume slider. What if you prefer listening to content that’s not in iBooks? No problem! To set a sleep timer that works for Music, iTunes or any other audio app, open the Clock app and tap the Timer button. Next, tap ‘when timer ends’ (iPhone) or the selected sound (iPad), scroll to the end of the list of sounds, and select ‘stop’ playing. When your ready to listen as you drift off to sleep, start the timer just before or immediately after you press play.

    Now, no matter where you are, you can easily set a timer at any time to listen to your favorite audio bytes!

  • Doing The Two-Step

    How secure is YOUR Apple ID? Remember when all those celebrities had their iCloud accounts hacked? Did it make you wonder about your data? There is good news, you can do the two-step! In this article, I will explain the difference between two-step verification and two-step authentication both of which can help make your Apple ID and data more secure.

    I really didn’t know much about two-step authentication until I started testing the Mac OS Sierra beta and the Watch OS beta to play around with unlocking my Mac with my Apple Watch. I love that capability and I know you will, too. In order to take advantage of this unlocking feature I had to activate two-step authentication. So, I did that and I will show you how. But then I noticed that I was not getting any mail from my iCloud email address. Well, it turns out that if you are using apps that do not support two-step authentication, such as my favorite email client – Airmail, that you need to generate an app-specific password. That got me interested in the two-step and I don’t mean line dancing.

    Which two-step? Two-step Authentication.

    Two-step verification

    Two-step verification will require you to enter a 4-digit code sent to one of your devices. Apple requires two-step verification for many of the sites we use for sales and service information. When I surf over to those sites and enter my Apple ID and password it will ask if I want to send a code. When I say yes, a four digit code is sent to my devices that are registered with Apple. Usually, that means I simultaneously get the code on my Mac, my iPad, my iPhone and my Apple Watch. Once I enter the code, I gain access to the site. Two step verification protects your Apple ID even if someone knows your password. Two-step verification, once activated is needed whenever you:

    • Sign in to your Apple ID account page
    • Sign in to iCloud on a new device or at iCloud.com
    • Sign in to Messages, Game Center, or FaceTime
    • Make an iTunes, iBooks, or App Store purchase from a new device
    • Get Apple ID related support from Apple

    To set up two-step verification you have to surf over to the Apple ID account page – https://appleid.apple.com/#!&page=signin

    Sign-in and under two-step verification click “getting started” and answer your security questions and follow the steps to finish setting it up.

    Two-step Authentication

    Two-step Authentication is a more advanced security feature built into the later operating systems. So, before you activate it make sure you meet or exceed these requirements:

    • iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 9
    • Mac with OS X El Capitan and iTunes 12.3
    • Apple Watch with watchOS 2
    • Windows PC with iCloud for Windows v5 and iTunes 12.3.3

    With two-step authentication, your account can only be accessed on devices you trust, like your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. When you want to sign in to a new device for the first time, you’ll need to provide two pieces of information—your password and the six-digit verification code that’s automatically displayed on your trusted devices. By entering the code, you’re verifying that you trust the new device. For example, if you have an iPad and are signing into your account for the first time on a newly purchased Mac, you’ll be prompted to enter your password and the verification code that’s automatically displayed on your iPad.

    The good thing about authentication is that once you have signed in you won’t be asked for a verification code for that device again, unless you sign-out completely, erase the device or change your password. When you sign in on the web, you will be asked if you want to trust your browser so you won’t be asked for a verification code the next time you sign in from that computer.

    The code is sent to a “trusted device or phone number”. A trusted device is an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Mac that you have already signed in to using two-factor authentication. It is a device that Apple knows is yours and can be used to display an authentication code. A trusted phone is a phone number that can be used to receive a text or phone call with the code. You MUST have at least one trusted phone number to utilize two-step authentication.

    Two-factor authentication is currently available to iCloud users with at least one device that’s using iOS 9 or OS X El Capitan or later.

    Follow these steps to turn on two-step authentication.

    On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 9 or later:

    • Go to Settings > iCloud > tap your Apple ID.
    • Tap Password & Security.
    • Tap Turn on Two-Factor Authentication.

    On your Mac with OS X El Capitan or later:

    • Go to Apple () menu > System Preferences > iCloud > Account Details.
    • Click Security.
    • Click Turn on Two-Factor Authentication.

    A few things to remember once you have activated two-factor authentication. Keep you trusted phone numbers up to date. You can do this at the AppleID account page. At that page you can also view and manage your trusted devices. So, if you sell your Mac to upgrade, you want to remove it here.

    App-specific Passwords

    This is what led me to learn all I can about the two-step. As you may know, I run AirMail as my email client. I love it and am part of their beta program, too. But it is not Apple’s Mail client (which does NOT require an app-specific password). But for AirMail and other apps that might need to utilize your Apple ID you can generate a password just for that app. You will need one of these special passwords for each device. So, when I generated an app-specific password for my Mac it only works for my Mac for that one app. I had to generate another for my iPad and one for my iPhone too, since they are all running AirMail.

    Here’s how you generate an app-specific password:

    • Sign in to your Apple ID account page.
    • In the Security section, click Edit.
    • Click Generate Password and follow the steps on your screen.
    • After you generate your app-specific password, enter or paste it into the password field of the app as you would normally.

    You will be asked to name this password and I recommend that you make it as specific as possible so you can manage these later. So, in my case I named them “AirMail-Mac”,“AirMail-iPhone”, etc.

    You can have up to 25 app-specific passwords and can manage them at your Apple ID account page.

    I do recommend that all users activate two-factor authentication. It is the most unobtrusive and easiest to use manner of protecting your Apple ID and hence, anything that might be connected with it. Just get out there and do the two-step!

  • Fall foliage is heading to full peak over the next week or so. I am sure we will get out this weekend on the bikes to see if we can find some roads that are not full of peepers. It is my favorite time of the year with all the colors, apples ready to pick and the geese heading south.

    We will be busy today doing inventory as we head into a new fiscal year and I want to take this moment to thank you for your business and customer loyalty. Small Dog Electronics is nothing without you and we do know that ultimately it is you, our loyal customers, that pay our wages. Thank you so much!

    And thank you for reading this issue of Kibbles & Bytes!

    Your Kibbles & Bytes Team,

    _Don, Emily, Hadley & Amy_

  • Lastly

    A few pictures demonstrating the new portrait mode and the picture quality of the iPhone 7 Plus.

  • Some Great Training Videos

    Lutron is a brand new product line for Small Dog, and for some of our staff, could be a new introduction into Home Automation. Please take the time to review the videos linked below as they are some of the best training materials we have at this time. Our rep will be visiting the South Burlington store, but for other locations we might have to be more creative on training.

    Replacing a single pole switch

    How to Replace a 3-way Switch

  • A New Phone System Is Coming!

    First things first, I’d like to apologize for the poor quality of the phones over the past several months. Even when Morgan was still here, we were working on this and trying to resolve it with the tools we had. Unfortunately, it became unworkable and we had to seek out an alternative solution.

    Enter HBPX (Hosted PBX). We will be migrating the entire company to a new phone system in the next week. The actual cut date (when the old system will cease working and the new system will come online) is scheduled for Thursday, October 6th in the evening after 7pm when Burlington closes. Leading up to that, you will start to see new physical phones on your desks soon, if you don’t already have them. You probably saw us doing wiring over the past few weeks, as these phones are on a separate switch and network. They connect directly to the internet without passing through any of our routers.

    IT will continue to be your primary contact for support of the phones, though we may have to pass off certain issues to the telecom that is hosting the system.

    Training on how to use the new phones will be happening over the next few weeks, but I want to assure everyone that these phones are very easy to use, and if you’re mostly dialing, receiving, and logging in and out of queues, training will be very simple. I’ll likely be creating wikis for that over the next several days and will share that information with everyone as soon as it becomes available.

    Once again, I want to thank everyone for their patience with the current phone issues. I know it’s made customer service very difficult. Please extend that patience and understanding while we transition to the new system.

    -Hadley

  • Using Calendar to Manage Your Life

    I don’t know how many of you know this, but before I started Small Dog Electronics I had a “real” job working as the General Manager of a software company that produced address book software and calendar software. Day-to-Day Calendar was the calendar product that came out before I left the company. So, I know a little about calendars and what goes into making a great calendar product.

    I like Apple’s Calendar and I use it extensively. These days I can set calendar appointments directly from email messages or ask Siri to set a date for me. My calendar is always available to me; that same calendar is on my Mac, my iPad, my iPhone and on my wrist on my Apple Watch. Further, with iCloud it is available anywhere I have internet connectivity.

    You do have to make a commitment to using calendar, especially if you are a busy person. It won’t do to have just some of your appointments and reminders on the calendar. The best way to use calendar is to make an effort to put them ALL on there.

    I have a lot of regular meetings that happen weekly so those time slots are booked as repeating events. I also know that on Thursday I have to write Kibbles & Bytes, so I block that time slot off so I don’t accidentally find myself without time to write.

    Let’s go into some of the details of how to use calendar. We all have devices that will not be that useful unless you have the same calendar on all of them. That is the big benefit of iCloud Calendar. So, my first recommendation is to make sure all of your devices are logged into the SAME iCloud account. If you have multiple iCloud accounts you are not going get full benefit from Calendar. Surf to iCloud preferences on each device and make sure you are signed into iCloud with the same Apple ID. Then make sure Calendars is checked in iCloud preferences on each device and you are ready for a unified experience.

    Now you can start adding meetings, events, appointments and activities as well as set up event alerts, reminders and notifications. When you add an event you will be presented with a number of options including when the event starts and stops, whether it is a repeating event, where the event takes place, how long it will take to drive to the event, when you should be reminded, etc.

    p{text-align: center;}. !http://blog.smalldog.com/images/4820.png!

    If you add the location, like the name of a major league ballpark, Calendar will fill in the address and show you a map, the weather and when you should leave to get there on time. You can invite meeting attendees and Calendar will send them the invite which can be easily added to that person’s calendar.

    You can share your calendar, too! That is especially handy for significant others, kids, co-workers and anyone that needs to know when you are free. iCloud makes that easy. You can also subscribe to public calendars like an academic calendar, the Boston Celtics schedule or hundreds of others that you can find “here”:http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/calendars/.

    Siri makes calendar even easier. Now that Siri is on the Mac it is easy to say “hey Siri, set up a meeting with Emily for Tuesday at 2” and bingo it is added to my calendar and an invite is sent to her. Or you can ask Siri when your next meeting is or just to tell you your schedule when you wake up in the morning.

    Apple Calendar plays well with others, too! You can set up Calendar to work with Apple’s iCloud, Google Calendar, Microsoft’s Outlook, and even CalDav calendars from your own or your company’s servers. Because iOS has a unified calendar database, whatever you add or change in Apple Calendar will also be reflected in any third-party calendars you have and vice-versa.

    This is just an overview of the many features of a very powerful Calendar. I think as you get to know Calendar you will, as I do, find it an indispensable part of your digital lifestyle. I do remember the days of paper organizers, I carried one around for a very long time and I just do not know how I could manage without Calendar, now.

  • Lutron!

    Lutron Basics

    Lutron started and still is a leader in home automation. They are leaders in lighting, and in turn shade control. They sell everything from simple light switches to complete home automation systems that can control the temperature of your hot tub or turn every light in your home to 10% intensity. The Casesta line we’ll be carrying is their consumer line and is considered in many cases a DIY automation product.

    This is a great place for us to start. We’ll have a selection of light switches, lamp dimmers and two smart hubs which allow customer to control everything. The entire line is home-kit enabled and with the iOS 10 update means our customers can control their lights with their iPhone, Apple Watch or Siri. Even though these products are consumer DIY, we hope to make a strong push for our consultants to do home installs of these products. There are several products in the line up, I ask hat you all checkout the video on the Lurton site and browse the Caseda line and their products.

    Hubs

    Lutron has two HUBS, the Smart Bridge and Smart Bridge Pro. First these are both Home Kit enabled, so no matter what product they purchase they’ll have the ability to control it on their phone. The difference between “REGULAR” and “PRO” is it’s ability to work with other products in home automation. This means if a customer already is using products like Savant, Logitech, Control 4, etc… they want the Pro. This line is also only available through Lutron distributors meaning there is no competition online. Customers don’t need a hub, they can purchase switches and pico remotes but if they want to control from iOS they have to use a hub.

    Check out the features of Pro

    Switches

    The Casesta switches are sold in several styles, in-wall, lamp, and pico remote. In-wall is available in either a dimmable switch, on off switch or my favorite, dimmer with favorite. Lamp Control allows for two lamps to be plugged-in and controlled by either an iOS devices or the Pico Remote. Pico remotes are great, they can be used on a pedestal, mounted to the wall to appear as another in-wall switch, or simply left around to be picked up and moved around as you please.

    See the full line of switches and remotes

    Package Deals

    We will have three bundles available for our customers, two “regular” and one “PRO” these are a great place to start for our customers. Like Sonos, we have several repeat customers who start with one or two Sonos units, and come back for more and more! We want this same thing to happen with Lutron. Start them off with the ability to control their living room and kitchen, and they’ll be back to have us setup their bedroom, or better yet, their entire home!

    Leads

    Our hope is to grow this business by ensuring our staff and customers know about the integration these products offer. This will come by speaking to customers in-store about their needs, and our consultants recommending other products when they are in customers home. A great example is, the pico Sonos remote. A simple lutron pico remote that allows customers to control a Sonos zone with Play/Pause, Volume, Next and Favorites. This is just the start, as we go forward we’ll offer customers with solutions from Savant, iPort, Triathlon shades, Sonance as well as Nest and the products they offer.

    Training

    We have access to a Rep based out of the New Hampshire, Joshua N. Strzempko, feel free to reach out with questions you may have. Rob and Will are your best contacts within the company always feel free to reach out and ask us anything. We’ll be in-store and hope to create a home automation center in South Burlington. I have included some installation videos below which cover the two most basic setups our customers will have.

    Our Lutron Rep:
    Joshua N. Strzempko
    Outside Sales 
    Yusen Associates 
    Cell: (413) 426 6985
    jstrzempko@yusen.com

  • The Small Dog Insider!

    Welcome to another edition of the Small Dog internal newsletter system, now known as the Small Dog Insider. As promised this will be our primary and main means of providing company wide information and training.

    I want to take a moment to thank everyone who help with another successful day of inventory counting. I’m writing this e-mail late afternoon on Friday the 30th, I think that all locations have completed their counts. When I first started for Small Dog I worked in the warehouse as a shipper and we ended our year on a calendar year. This meant myself, Art, Hapy and other team members counted inventory AFTER the store ( it was only the Waitsfield location back then ) closed for the day on New Years Eve. We began counting inventory at dinner time and didn’t finished until very late at night. I’m not gonna lie, I do not miss those days at all!

    In this first edition of the Small Dog Insider I will share information about our latest product line to hit our stores and an update from Hadley and Eric on our phone system.

    Thank you for reading,

    Emily

  • iPhone 7 Plus Camera Review

    I was fortunate enough to get my hands on and receive the new iPhone 7 Plus on release day. I skipped the iPhone 6s when it came around so when the 7 was announced I jumped at the chance to upgrade and I haven’t regretted it once. Despite the suggestions from my co-workers I’ve yet to drop my phone into a glass of water…perhaps that review will come in a future issue. For now, I’ll still be playing it a bit safe!

    Like many of you, I’ve read some of the reviews out there and some reviewers are less than impressed with the camera. Coming from an iPhone 6, and after a few blunders with my first few photos, I can say it’s clear that there are significant improvements in the quality of the photos. I am not a professional photographer by any means but I enjoy taking photos and take a lot of them. For the first few photos that I took with the phone it appeared that the phone was struggling to focus on the object I was trying to take a photo of. For about a minute the camera was blurring and coming into focus, then blurring again. Once the camera focused, there hasn’t been a single hiccup with my photos but briefly I did wondered if I’d gotten a defective phone.

    My first round of photos were taken around dusk so the lighting was low and flat. The pictures came out much better than I expected, and the optical zoom worked much better than I would have thought. I was taking pictures of my campfire and was pleasantly surprised with the details the camera picked up from the fire. Later on that night I took pictures well after dark and quickly learned the flash was not the best option to use even though it was completely dark. The photos all came out very washed and the colors were completely off; turning off the flash dramatically changed the quality of the photos. My iPhone 6 never took a good picture at night but the iPhone 7 plus in comparison takes amazing photos! I took a picture of my dog Piper and the only light was from the campfire and a small outdoor light. I was very impressed!

    Night time photos are always something that I’ve struggled with, so I also made sure to take my phone along with me on our trip to the local fair and there I was frankly blown away at the quality of the photos. I took photos all day long, in dimly lit buildings, outside in the bright sun and in cattle barns. Each photo taken that day came out amazing and the details that the camera picked up were way better than I ever expected.

    Lastly I finally tried out live photos, which I’ll be honest I never really understood the value of that when the 6s came out. Frankly I still don’t, but it sure is cool! I’m thinking that live photos could be a great opportunity for some very creative memes and some good laughs for my kids. Ultimately, despite what some reviews are reporting, my testing and responses from co-workers on the photos I took over the weekend, the camera in the iPhone 7 plus stands up to the expectations.