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Not counting the Apple personnel, only a few folks had Apple Watches here at the conference, although the Watch team was at one of vendor fairs and I did get a close-up look. I’ll be using my three dog-friendly hotel apps on my drive back to Vermont, BringFido, Pets&Hotels and Dog Friendly all work great to find a place to crash with your pets while on the road.
Thank you for reading this issue of Kibbles & Bytes!
Your Kibbles & Bytes Team,
_Don, Emily, Dean, Mike_
!http://blog.smalldog.com/images/4384.jpg!
With Mother’s Day right around the corner, we have everything Mom needs with *HUGE* iPad bundles! There is also no better time to congratulate that recent graduate of yours with any of our great deals on new and refurbished Macs.
Also, visit any of our stores for a FREE 30 minute one-on-one lesson with the purchase of any new Mac!
“*See all of these fantastic deals here!*”:http://www.smalldog.com/momsdadsgrads/moms-dads-and-grads
Back when I was in high school I was very interested in creating electronic music. I remember going through dozens of different kinds of software and virtual synthesizers. I had a small old Yamaha keyboard that I would use to play more than should’ve been possible on such a simple instrument. We also had a full sized Korg digital piano but I only really used that to actually practice my playing. On the Yamaha keyboard, I would work out some kind of chord progression, riff, or sound that I liked and then move to a piece of software called “*Fruity Loops*”:http://www.image-line.com/flstudio/ on my desktop and try to recreate it with the bank of virtual synthesizers and sounds it had. You had to edit what’s called a “piano roll” which was basically just blocks you drew on a graph. Then when you played it back, whatever virtual instrument you selected would play the notes represented by the blocks.
Fruity Loops was a very complex piece of software. Virtually everything was tweakable. You could change the configuration of synths and virtual instruments. You could add any number of filters and effects and then automate each aspect of them over a section of the track. I remember when I first started using it I was a bit overwhelmed, but after creating a few tracks I started to get really good at making complex and nice sounding songs.
Fast-forward to today. I don’t have any computer that would run Fruity Loops anymore (it genuinely is Windows-only as far as know). While in college I also slowed down on writing music so I’d been out of it for a few years when I recently decided to have some fun playing around with “GarageBand”:https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/garageband/id682658836 on my Macbook Air. Now, I’d used GarageBand back in high school on an iMac running OS X (probably Panther or Tiger, but I don’t remember for sure). I remembered it as a fun thing to make songs, but it didn’t have anywhere near the amount of control over composition that Fruity Loops had given me.
I wasn’t expecting much, but as I played around with it, it was clear that it had really been updated quite a bit since 2004 or so. One thing I noticed right away was that it seemed to now support editing music notation note by note. I was intrigued. Playing around more, I noticed you could edit the configuration of the virtual instruments as well as add filters and automate them, just like with Fruity Loops. Was it actually just as capable as Fruity Loops now?
I decided I really wanted to get back into music production and since I already had GarageBand sitting here, I might as well try to use that. This time though, I tried something I hadn’t tried before. I ordered a USB-MIDI connector. I still have the Korg digital piano and I always knew it had MIDI, but I’d never used it. MIDI-USB connectors are all basically the same, and they’re all pretty cheap. I picked up “this one”:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA3ZS1R42912&cm_re=midi_usb-_-9SIA3ZS1R42912-_-Product from Newegg.com.
When I got it, I plugged the MIDI end into the piano, and the USB end into my mac. GarageBand immediately saw it and I was off and running using the piano as a MIDI controller for the virtual instruments in GarageBand. Wow! I had so much fun! Using an actual keyboard to play the virtual instruments is so much more natural than trying to use the keyboard on the mac. I haven’t been able to play with it too much yet, but the feature I’m most excited about is being able to record the MIDI “performance” inside of GarageBand and then actually be able to edit a piano roll or score of the performance. So if you make a tiny mistake, or your timing is off slightly, you can go into the piano roll, edit the note and it’s like the mistake wasn’t even there!
The great thing about this setup is that if you already have a Mac, you already have GarageBand. All you need is some kind of keyboard that supports MIDI and there are many cheap ones out there that will work. One thing to note though is that when you first install GarageBand it installs with a small subset of virtual instruments in case you don’t want all of them (they take up gigabytes of space). If you want to use all of them, you can download them from the GarageBand menu. It’s a big download, so be prepared to wait, but having all the instruments is definitely worth it.
As tech companies across the world continue to make new gadgets and devices, you just have to sit back, relax, and download the app. Technology today connects us with everything you could ever want and/or need. These various devices and their various network connections are known as the “internet of things.” One particular company that has captured our attention here at Small Dog is Automatic. “*Automatic*”:http://www.automatic.com is a company that could help you unlock the potential that is both under the hood of your car and in your pants pocket. By using your iPhone and purchasing the $99.95 Automatic adapter that snaps into the data port of your car, you can enjoy several added benefits.
Automatic is designed to learn your driving habits and make recommendations on how to be a more efficient driver. The smartphone app will notify you if something is wrong with the car and it will give you recommended tips on how to resolve the issue. The app will also allow you to reset warning lights such as the check engine light or oil warning light as opposed to having to take your car to a specialist. Other added benefits include a tracking system that can be used both in the case of emergencies and/or if you need help locating your parked car.
All in all, the Automatic is designed to help you save money on gas and repairs, help diagnose your engine light, help you never forget where you parked, and help you get help in a serious accident. Users of the Automatic thus far have said things like:
* “Never got a faster 100% ROI on any gadget purchase than @automatic, paid for itself in the first ten minutes of diagnostics!”
* “Automatic could do for driving what the iPod did for music.”
To learn more about the Automatic, visit “*Automatic on the ‘net.*”:http://www.automatic.com
_Dear Friends,_
I found some time to do some writing for Kibbles & Bytes while I was out in San Francisco. I have definitely become acclimated to tropical weather although a couple of days this week it was warmer in Vermont than it was in Key West. But out here by the Bay on the West Coast it was chilly and in the 50’s. My neighbor has sent me pictures of the daffodils around my house on Prickly Mountain so when you read this, Grace and I and the three pups should be cruising up I-95 heading for the Green Mountains.
I was out in the hall chatting with my friend Kevin Langdon, who is the Executive Director of the Apple Specialist Marketing Coop as well as the owner of Cry Wolf, a first class Apple Specialist out in San Diego. Kevin and I have known each other a long time and we got to reminiscing about the old days. He reminded me that in one of my very first issues of Kibbles & Bytes that I talked about taking my Newton MessagePad on vacation. So, I thought it might be a good idea to give a little more history of Kibbles & Bytes. In the early days of Small Dog Electronics we would fax out a list of our inventory a couple times each week to a small list of customers. We would also be a part of Adam and Tonya Engst’s Tidbits newsletter that was called DealBits. Tidbits decided to drop DealBits and well, faxing was getting old so we launched our newsletter, which, if you “*look at our archives*”:http://www.smalldog.com/kibbles was just an email list of our price list. Actually, that price list is still “*a link on our home page.*”:http://www.smalldog.com/SmallDogPriceList.txt Soon, we started adding content and now, 20 years later and nearly 1000 (!!!) weekly issues later, Kibbles & Bytes is read by at least 25,000 subscribers.
The time has finally come for all those hard working college students in your life to take not only their last final exam, but also their last stroll through campus. With college graduation right around the corner, thousands of our beloved college residents will begin their life out in the “real world.” While some college grads will remain here in Vermont to contribute to our growing economy, others will take their success elsewhere. Either way, all of our Vermont grads will continue to better their life and the lives of those who surround them. At any given point we know that there are tools which will aid in one’s success. According to Grad to Great, empowering college grads with tools and information is a crucial step when it comes to pursuing a fulfilling career path. That is what we are here for. Small Dog wants to help your college grad succeed by providing you with the latest technology.
We understand the importance of reliable communication in todays business world, and there is no better or more simple way to communicate than using the iPad. The iPad delivers many of the same features as a MacBook, but in a compact, light, and convenient manner. We typically see hesitation when it comes to replacing their computer with an iPad, but with today’s list of compatible accessories such as bluetooth keyboards, styluses, drawing pads, small business applications, research applications, and even musical peripherals such as a keyboard, guitar, etc. one can use the iPad for just about anything. It is also important to note that the iPad is compatible with all cloud services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and even Microsoft’s SkyDrive. The iPad has been listed as one of the top ten items to purchase for college grads. Sure there is a lot of research and studies as to why everyone is recommending the iPad for college grads, but in plain and simple terms college grads no longer need the computing power of a personal computer. Graduates instead need something that can keep them connected with their family and friends while at the same time allow them to be productive and professional in a work environment.
Come into one of our stores and speak with a sales associate to see why an iPad is right for your college graduate. We can design a solution for someone in any particular field of research or business.
Here at Small Dog Electronics we are excited to present Apple’s newest addition to the family which just happened to launch the same month as our 20th Anniversary. The new **MacBook** is a marvel of engineering. It’s beautiful, and far more functional than a computer this size would seem to be.
The latest crazy-thin Apple computer is a super lightweight 12-inch laptop with an incredible high-res display. It is so tiny you could practically stuff it into a large purse…so thin that it required Apple to create an entirely new type of ultra-shallow keyboard and touchpad so you can actually use it for work..so minimalist that it only includes a single I/O port, a do it all USB-C port that’s clearly the future.
**Gorgeous!** There’s no other word. Even if you’re getting a little burnt out on wedge-shaped aluminum laptops, the new MacBook has a charm that’s impossible to deny. Part of that is due to just how small and light this computer really is; it makes the 13-inch MacBook Air look positively chunky by comparison. At just two pounds, I can easily lift it with a single hand. The keyboard is the same width, the screen just a little bit smaller, but the frame is dramatically reduced in every direction. It comes in 3 color choices-Gold, Silver and my favorite Space Gray.
And what a screen. It’s a 2304 x 1440 super-high res Retina display, as crisp, clear, and colorful as any laptop display I’ve ever seen. Perhaps even better. It looks like a giant iPad, to the point where I was almost disappointed when I poked at the panel and discovered it wasn’t touch sensitive. But like the iPad-and unlike most super high-res laptops-this machine’s light enough that I feel comfortable lifting it up to eye level to see fine details in HD movies and DSLR photographs. (Yeah, I’m a pixel peeper.)
But the screen isn’t the only reason that watching movies on the MacBook is a treat-this laptop has unheard of sound quality for a laptop anywhere near this size. I fired up Pandora, and my jaw dropped when I realized just how wide a soundstage this little laptop can produce.
It starts at only $1299 for the base version, and you get 8GB of RAM and 256GB of speedy solid state storage for the money.
**How do you know if the Macbook is the right computer for you?**
Well, I feel this computer will appeal to all users. Some just want the newest technology, some will use it everyday, some will use it for travel and work, and some will try to use it for high-end use and, as I have been impressed with its power, it might just do it.
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
Spring is in the air (we hope) and as thoughts turn to May flowers, let us help you with a little “spring cleaning” of your Mac…
**Make sure you give it a good night’s rest.**
The “brain” in your computer (whether it be an iPhone, iPad, or Mac) gets tired just like you do. You wouldn’t leave your car running all night? The same applies to other electronic devices in your household.
**Keep your Operating System up to date.**
Software updates are critical for the smooth and steady performance of your computer. Do NOT ignore them, despite what your Facebook friends tell you. A software update bug is far easier to fix than a computer running old and out dated software. On the other hand, OS UPGRADES can cause compatibility issues or cause an older computer to perform poorly, so please give us a call if you are not sure if you should upgrade to Yosemite (the current Mac OS).
**Location, location, location.**
Use and store your computer in a clean, well lit, well ventilated room. Do not use it, your iPhone or your iPad in the bathroom. Keep food and drinks as far away as possible. A liquid spill immediately voids any warranty. Don’t use White-Out on your screen either…;) We love our pets, yet pet hair can get into the cooling fans and really muck up the works so to speak. (woof, meow, moo???) Smoke of any kind whether it be from a cigarette, candle, incense burner, cigar, or “other” (wink, wink) can get into every crack and crevice in your device. Even the surface you rest your device on can potentially be troublesome. Stone, marble and the like conduct heat better than you would think.
**Empty the trash and delete the cache.**
Empty your browser. Over time these files build and do nothing but take up space. Get rid of ‘em! In Safari: **Safari > Reset Safari.**
Click on **Finder** and select **Applications.** Scroll through the list and if you have not used it in some time, it may be time to do some spring cleaning of your programs. Click, hold and drag to the trash can.
Open iPhoto and empty the trash there as well. At this point, empty the trash can then restart your computer.
After your computer restarts, take a peek at your Login Items. Go to your **System Preferences**, select **Users and Groups** Click on the **Login Items** tab and uncheck programs that you do not need immediately upon start up. Remember they can always be started at a later time.
Woof, woof! (Happy Spring!)
May is a big month! It’s spring, Mother’s Day is just a few days away and many college seniors will be throwing their caps in just a few short weeks! We want to make sure that you get the perfect gift for both the mom and the grad on your list this year. Stop by any of our Small Dog locations in Vermont or Key West and grab some great deals!
From now until May 18th, buy any new or refurbished Mac and get a *FREE 30 minute in store lesson.* No matter your skill level, from beginner to advanced, we can help you to learn everything from Mac basics to more advanced lessons on Keychain management, syncing multiple devices, or just about anything else you are looking for assistance with.
Not sure if your Mom or grad needs a new computer? Then the iPad is a perfect gift! From now until May 30th, by any new iPad and get a **free case, screen protector, and stylus.** We will make sure you leave the store with everything that special someone on your list needs to keep their new iPad looking like new.
Welcome Spring! (Is it safe to finally say that in Vermont?) In the Mad River Valley that means moving from skis to bikes and from shovels to rakes. At Small Dog it means “Bundle Season” as we have put together a few great offerings to take care of your upcoming High School or College graduate and to surprise Mom with something new. We’re putting a unique twist on our Mac bundle this time by offering a free **30 minute in-store consult** with the purchase of any new or refurbished computer. New to Apple or just need a refresher? This is a great way to hit the ground running with your new machine. Seasoned user? Find out what you don’t know about your favorite applications. There is always something new to learn, so let the experts at Small Dog help you out! Interested in a new iPad? Keep reading to find out the deal we’ve put together on the world’s most popular tablet!
Don’t forget to stop by Small Dog Electronics for great gifts for the grad on your list!
**Stephen Andrews**
“stephen@smalldog.com”:mailto:stephen@smalldog.com
We are excited to announce the next edition of our world famous Tech Talk 101 series. Michael Scott Duplessis (Apple Certified Support Professional, Technical Coordinator, and “Tetris afficionado)”:http://blog.smalldog.com/article/app-review-tetris-blitz/ is hosting once again this month and will be talking about **Email, Calendars, and Contacts: How They Sync and Best Practices.**
Topics will include:
* Setting up email on your device
* IMAP, POP, SMTP, CalDAV, CardDAV: What DO all these acronyms mean?
* Effectively managing and syncing your contacts
* Creating and sharing calendars
* Plus much more!
This **FREE** event will take place on Wednesday May 27th at 7pm. This event is limited to just 30 attendees and has been filling up quickly. You can sign up starting Thursday May 21st at 7 PM by clicking “*this link.*”:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/email-calendars-and-contacts-how-they-sync-and-best-practices-tickets-16900648294