Kibbles & Bytes Blog

  • Celebrating 20 Years

    We’re celebrating 20 years! Woohoo! We will be offering YOU some pretty big deals, including 20% off all Beats by Dr. Dre headphones and speakers, $20 off Otterbox cases, a Mac mini bundle that is hard to resist, and much more both in-store and online!

    Stop in during the month of April and wish us a very Happy Birthday! Check out all the specials at: “*smalldog.com/20years*”:http://www.smalldog.com/20years

    “*Mac mini bundle*”:http://www.smalldog.com/wag900001805
    !http://blog.smalldog.com/images/4362.png!
    Been struggling to keep your phone charged? Always running out of cables because your friend “borrowed” it again, and maybe there just aren’t enough charging ports? Well Hammerhead’s Charging Bundle is just what you need. This bundle includes a 2-Port USB Auto Car Charger for the long road trip ahead, a 4-Port USB Wall Charger, when the whole family gets stuck in the same hotel room, as well as a USB-to-Lightning 1 Meter Braided Cable to set your cable apart from the rest so next time your friend “borrows” it you’ll be able to reclaim it again.

    “*Outdoor Tech Wireless Privates*”:http://www.smalldog.com/wag900001802
    !http://blog.smalldog.com/images/4361.jpg!
    If you have been looking for a mobile companion that is as mobile as you are (other than your iPhone) look no further. We just added the Seagate Wireless Mobile Storage 500GB to our inventory and couldn’t be more excited. This small but powerful device will allow you to bring along hundreds of movies and thousands of songs, photos, and files anywhere you go. You can wirelessly stream them to your tablet or smartphone without wires or web anytime, and with 6 hours of battery life you’ll never be left bored or without the ability to store the next precious moment captured on camera.

    “*View all specials for the month of April here.*”:http://www.smalldog.com/20years

  • 1995 Time Capsule

    During one of our meetings last week, Rachel and Dean informed me that the month of April was going to be spent celebrating 20 years of Small Dog Electronics. Rachel suggested I write something about it in Kibbles and Bytes. I asked if I could write about what little ol’ me was doing back in 1995, but she seemed to think it would be more relevant to write about something technology related. Fair enough. I was only 7 in 1995. Generally speaking, 7 year olds don’t do too many interesting things. In 1995, my biggest concerns were probably whether or not I’d be able to use the swings at recess.

    Okay, well if I wasn’t doing anything noteworthy in 1995, was anything else interesting happening? Actually, quite a bit happened that year. I’m really into cars and 1995 holds a special meaning in the car world. If you look back, you might notice that almost all manufacturers refreshed their offerings in 1996 and pushed through lots of model redesigns. This is because 1995 was the last year before the OBD II (On-Board Diagnostic) protocol was mandated in all new cars produced or sold in the U.S. Before OBD II, cars relied on primitive and widely varying computer control and diagnostics. Sometimes this was referred to as OBD I, but it wasn’t really standardized across the board, and many manufacturers had their own methods for reading the computer information. Nowadays with OBD II you can take any car to just about any garage and they can plug in a simple device to read the diagnostic information from the onboard computer system.

    Sammy Hagar was probably pretty happy in 1995. Bill Clinton signed the National Highway Designation Act which officially ended the federal 55 mph speed limit.

    One thing I definitely remember from 1995 was the release of Toy Story. At the time, it was the very first fully computer animated film. Aside from just being a really fun movie, I remember it was also so different. I’d never really seen anything animated like that before.

    Another technological achievement from that year was the DVD format was announced. Considering the complete present day collapse of the video store in favor of streaming media, I think this may mean I’ve lived through the birth and death of an entire media format.

    One thing from 1995 that even I didn’t know about was the official end of the NSFNET (National Science Foundation Network). This action basically changed the major backbone of the Internet from a government-funded and overseen education and research network to a completely privatized system.

    A random smattering of other interesting things that happened in 1995 includes things like:

    * Mississippi ratifies the Thirteenth Amendment thereby becoming the last state to approve the abolition of slavery.
    * Windows 95 is released.
    * The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City is bombed by Timothy McVeigh.
    * eBay is founded.
    * O.J. Simpson is found not guilty of the double murder of Nicole Simpson and Ronald Goldman.
    * NASA lost contact with Pioneer 11.

    Oh…and of course, Small Dog Electronics was formed in 1995!

  • The Importance Of Backing Up Your Information

    Whenever we here at Small Dog accept a device in for repair, one of the first questions we ask our customers is how their personal information is backed up. It is critical for us technicians to know this as there is alway the chance your data may be compromised in some way, which is possibly how your computer got to our Service Department in the first place.

    Data recovery can be costly, time consuming, and it is not a perfect science. There is always a chance your data can either be unrecoverable or ultimately lost forever. If a photo is worth a thousand words, there aren’t many words that can be said (in mixed company) when your memories are lost. Fortunately, there are a multitude of ways you can save your pictures of first steps, precious wedding songs, or important documents.

    *External Drives*

    An external drive gives you multiple ways and multiple options to back up your memories. A “Flash Drive” (sometimes known as a “Zip Drive” or “Thumb Drive”) is a portable and inexpensive way to store duplicates of your important files. Flash Drives come with a standard USB connection so you may transfer your files between multiple computers at multiple locations. A Flash Drive is as portable as you are.

    An external drive can be wired or wirelessly connected to your Mac. It can be an optical drive where you can burn data to a CD or DVD, a traditional hard drive with a spinning internal disc, or a newer solid state drive with no moving parts to safely store your data.

    “*Click here for many more alternatives to saving and backing up your important data.*”:http://www.smalldog.com/category/Storage_and_Backup

    *iTunes Match*

    If music makes the world go around, iTunes will keep your songs spinning like a record baby, right round baby…round round. It is built in to every Mac and is also available as a download for (gasp!) a PC! All your music is in one place, easy to organize and with iTunes Match you can even store songs you’ve imported from your own CDs, thus backing them up.

    “*Click here for more information on iTunes Match*”:https://www.apple.com/itunes/itunes-match/

    *iCloud*

    You will not need an umbrella for this feature! The iCloud safely and securely saves your most important things like documents, notes, and contacts. It helps you easily share photos, locations, and calendars. It will even help you find your device if you lose it. iCloud Drive lets you store presentations, PDFs, images, and other documents. You can also back up photos and videos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch automatically as long as your device is plugged in a connected to Wi-Fi. You can even restore your iOS device from the cloud or set up a new one. Did you lose your iPhone? Find My iPhone can help find a lost iPhone, iPad or Macbook Air. If you cannot get to it in time, Find My Phone can make it impossible for anyone to get ahold of your information.

    “*Click here for more information on iCloud.*”:https://www.apple.com/icloud/

    *Time Machine*

    No, it doesn’t come in blue nor do you need 1.21 gigawatts of power to use yet another way to back up and store your important documents. Time Machine is a program built in to every Mac backs up ALL your data including system files, apps, photos, and documents. Your data is backed up to an external drive or to a Time Capsule.

    “*Click here for more information on Time Machine.*”:http://support.apple.com/kb/PH18835

    *Time Capsule*

    This does not come in blue either. The Time Capsule is a Wi-Fi base station and a backup device all in one. The Time Capsule provides not only super fast Wi-Fi when connected to your modem, but it also backs up your Mac exactly like the Time Machine does without the need for another external hard drive. The Time Capsule has up to 3 Terabytes of storage available so you can back up multiple Macs. “*Shop here*”:http://www.smalldog.com/category/Apple/Time_Capsule

    “*Click here for more information on Time Capsule.*”:http://www.apple.com/airport-time-capsule/

    If a “stitch in time saves nine,” a timely back up will save you not only your important data and memories but also time, money, hassles and headaches.

  • _Dear Friends,_

    Hey we are 20! This month we kick off the celebration of Small Dog Electronics’ 20 years in business. When I first started the company up at my home on Prickly Mountain I had no idea of the amazing adventure that Small Dog Electronics would become. I went to public auctions and bought Macs by maxing out my credit cards and took them home to sell on online services, such as AOL, and to my friends and neighbors. Some of you probably bought your first Mac up there in Warren. In the early days, every time I came back with a load of Macs I would fax out a list to folks with my current inventory. Soon, however, we decided that email was the better way to go and in October of 1996 we launched Kibbles & Bytes.

    We launched our website (originally www.smalldoggy.com) a few months later and eventually traded a broken PowerBook Duo and some other gear to gain the “*www.smalldog.com*”:http://www.smalldog.com URL. You might say that we were one of the first bloggers because I would come in early every morning and post my thoughts or a special value on the web site. This section eventually evolved and became “*Barkings*”:http://blog.smalldog.com, our blog.

    We got our start selling Apple refurbished and discontinued products, later became authorized to sell new Macs, expanded into offering Mac clones, and then launched our “clicks to bricks” strategy as customer demand led us to open retail stores. We are pleased to be, once again, offering a great selection of Apple Certified Refurbished products that are a direct line to our roots!

    !>http://blog.smalldog.com/images/4358.png!
    Many people have asked me where the name Small Dog Electronics came from. It was well before the company started that a former employee, Wendy Cohen, jokingly suggested that name as we were searching for a name for a different company. I immediately pooh-poohed the idea and forgot about it. That is until one summer day when I was sitting on the hill in my yard and watching my small dogs play and realized that it might not be a bad name. I really didn’t want to name my company Mac-this, Data-that and after all, Apple doesn’t really relate to the products they sell, so it seemed a natural. It was also a reminder to keep that small company feel, no matter how big we got. We knew that we wanted to measure our success by the triple bottom line of People, Planet, and Profit so Small Dog Electronics became our moniker.

    As I shipped out Macs from Prickly Mountain with the help of our UPS drivers who came rain, snow, mud, or shine, I wanted to give a gift with each Mac. I ran across “*Archie McPhee*”:http://mcphee.com/shop/ and bought some small plastic dogs and rubber brains. Each order got a couple plastic dogs and the bigger orders got a rubber brain. That was until I got a call from a customer that had put their rubber brain on their monitor and it melted all over it. So brains were out but to this day we send small dogs with every order!

    This week’s Kibbles & Bytes special is a home-and-away MacBook Air bundle. I use a MacBook Air as my main computer but at my office I have a full size ergonomic keyboard, mouse, and large display to convert it to a desktop Mac. This bundle is sort of in memory of the “*PowerBook Duo*”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PowerBook_Duo which was Apple’s first stab at the versatile laptop that could be used on your lap or at your desk with the Duodock. This bundle includes the Apple Certified Refurbished MacBook Air 13-inch 1.3GHz i5 processor with 4GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD storage. It comes with a 1-year Apple factory warranty. We are bundling it with and Apple Magic Mouse, Apple Bluetooth wireless keyboard and a 27-inch Samsung display. We are also including AppleCare which will extend your 1-year warranty to 3 years and also extend your 90 days of free technical support to 3 years. With this bundle you have the best of both worlds: a lightweight, yet powerful laptop and a desktop setup for those huge spreadsheets, too. This is normally $1599 but exclusively this week only for Kibbles & Bytes readers you can get this bundle for only $1449!

    “*Check it out here!*”:http://www.smalldog.com/wag900001814

  • SPECIALS

    We’re celebrating 20 years! Woohoo! We will be offering YOU some pretty big deals, including 20% off all Beats by Dr. Dre headphones and speakers, $20 off Otterbox cases, a Mac mini bundle that is hard to resist, and much more both “**in-store**”:http://www.smalldog.com/retail/visit-us-in-store-at-any-of-our-locations and “**online!**”:http://www.smalldog.com/20years

    Stop in during the month of April and wish us a very Happy Birthday!

    *Bundles*

    Mac mini
    **Save $100**

    Hammerhead Charging Bundle
    **Save $20**

    Powercurl Bundle Organize Cords
    **Save $5**

    *Featured Products*

    Outdoor Tech Headphones
    **Save $20**

    HP Laserwriter With AirPrint
    **Save $20**

    New Product: Seagate Wireless Mobile Storage 500GB
    **Save $20**

    Outdoor Tech Rugged Wireless Boombox
    **Save $20**

  • The Best of Both Worlds

    Whether you’re an indoor kid or an outdoor kid Outdoor Tech is where it’s at! These products are specifically built to be used in any number of outdoor activities. Are you into biking but don’t want a lot of headphone wires bogging you down? Well we’ve got just the thing for you…try a handy, element-proof, Turtle Shell with a Bike Mount attachment or even Outdoor Tech’s Buckshot with a built in handlebar mount included. Don’t worry, if you like the feel of having headphones or earbuds then we have an option for you, too. Just be careful if you are biking with headphones on. The Privates are on ear headphones specifically designed to be worn indoors or outdoors in almost any condition. Come rain, sleet, snow, or even the sunniest of days Outdoor Tech is definitely the choice for the hiker, biker, runner, or the most stationary of you! So stop on by your local Small Dog Electronics store and we will set you up with your indoor or outdoor listening needs. Because we love these products so much we have put them on sale all month long just for you, so come in and celebrate 20 years with us! Save $20 on Outdoor Tech Private (on-ear), Orcas (wireless earbuds), Tuis (over-ear) headphones, as well as the Turtle Shell and Big Turtle Shell Rugged Wireless Boomboxes.

  • Editing 101: iMovie Essentials for Making Great Videos on Your Computer

    Small Dog is pleased to be partnering with RETN to offer specific niche classes. Join them *Wednesday, April 22nd from 5 to 7pm for “Editing 101: iMovie Essentials for Making Great Videos on Your Computer”*. Held at the RETN offices in Burlington, this hands-on workshop is designed to help you turn your photos and videos into finished movies.

    RETN instructors Ross Ransom and Doug Dunbebin will guide you through the essential features of iMovie 10 for Mac, with ample time for practice and questions.

    *Workshop Fee: $25*

    Click on the link below for a full overview and to register. *_Registration is open NOW. Please note that there are limited tickets available and have been selling out very quickly._*

    Contact RETN with any questions at “learn@retn.org”:mailto:learn@retn.org or (802) 654-7980 ext 24. To learn more about RETN, visit “*retn.org*”:retn.org .

    “*Register for the event by clicking here now.*”:http://www.retn.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=87

  • Tech Talk 101 Series: Cyber Security

    Join us *Wednesday, April 22nd from 7 to 8pm for “Cyber Security”* the next installment in our *_free_* Tech Talk 101 Series. Held in our South Burlington, VT store, these easy-to-follow courses will cover a variety of topics and are designed to help you make the most of your Mac and other devices!

    Michael Duplessis (Macintosh Consultant, Apple Certified Support Professional, and Apple Certified Technical Coordinator) will present an overview during the hour-long session of how to protect your devices, your identity, and in general keep yourself safe online with ample time for questions at the end.

    Click on the link below for a full overview and to register. *_Registration will open Thursday 16th at 7pm. Please note that there are limited tickets available and have been selling out very quickly._*

    Contact us with any questions via the Eventbrite page.

    “*Register for the event by clicking here at 7pm on April 16th. Enter your first and last name as well as your email address!*”:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tech-talk-101-series-cyber-security-tickets-16481612948

  • Osprey Packs

    This year, we’ve started carrying a selection of Osprey’s tech-friendly backpacks and shoulder bags. The first thing that struck me about this brand, and excited our team to carry their product was the similarities between Osprey and Small Dog. Just like our company, Osprey was founded a couple of good people with a dedication to quality work. Founded in 1974, the Osprey brand has primarily focused on hiking packs, with materials designed for extreme conditions. Recently, they have developed the Portal Series, designed for modern organization, with the mobile Apple user in mind.

    My favorite model in this series is the “Cyber” panel-style daypack. The Cyber boasts a 26 liter capacity, yet somehow maintains a sleek and slim profile. Unlike a lot of Osprey packs, the compartments include document sleeves with organizer pockets and zippered back compartment that fits a laptop up to 15 inches. Due to the Polyester construction, the pack weighs 1 lb. 15oz. My favorite thing about this series is their consideration for accessory transportation. They have included a bottom compartment, with a dedicated pouch designed for your MagSafe Adapter, External Hard Drive, and any other cables you may need. With a 15″ MacBook Pro, and iPad Air 2, the pack is just about at full capacity. I would recumbent this bag for anyone who needs to commute with multiple Apple products, but if all you are commuting with is a single iPad, the Cyber offers you a neat and stylish package to get from point A to B, with extra space for much more.

    If you are looking for a new bag for spring, stop by the South Burlington store to check out the Osprey selection. All month long these packs will be 50% off while supplies last. We also carry the Beta Port Courier pack, which offers a unique, see-through compartment to store your iPad. This allows you to access your iPad’s touch screen without taking it out of the bag. It may seem like an unnecessary feature, but I would suggest trying it out in the store and see how you like it. All three of the main designs we carry come in the Canyon Orange color, in addition to Black Pepper, Grey Herringbone, and a “Tenacious Teal” you’ve gotta see! Come see us at Small Dog if you have any Osprey questions!

  • AudioEngine

    Prior to starting with Small Dog, I was in the market for a new pair of speakers. My main criterion was audio quality without emptying the wallet, and the AudioEngine brand kept showing up. Extremely well reviewed and with a great price point they were on my short list. Once I got to hear them in the store, my decision was made. I went with the A5+ and could not be happier. Crisp and clear at all volumes and with a great low end, they have no problem shaking the living room when cranked up. I’ve also tied in a subwoofer for a solid 2.1 home theater. Add in a USB port for charging and aux/RCA ports for connections and they can’t be beat! Looking for a smaller desktop pair? The A2 does the job and can handle all but the largest spaces. Want wireless? The B2 Bluetooth speaker gives you portability and access from all your devices! With great products and even better customer service, you can not go wrong with anything in the AudioEngine lineup.

  • Kevo Smart Lock

    This week our Key West team went over to Don’s house to check out the home automation he has going on, which is very impressive. I felt like I was in Back to the Future between his Sonos equipment, remote cameras, his Nest thermostat controller and his new Kevo entry system.

    If you have ever arrived at home juggling an armload of groceries you know how difficult it can be to get into the house without having to drop everything to unlock the door. With Kwikset’s Kevo lock, available here at Small Dog Electronics, you can gain entry to your home or office without the need for a key. Using Bluetooth wireless technology, the Kevo lock reads an eKey code stored on your iOS device and lets you unlock the door with a touch of your finger. It also creates a log of door openings and closings. The lock is fairly easy to install and does exactly what it is supposed to do. If you are ready to lose your traditional keys, it is worth checking out.

    **Design and Installation
**

    The Kevo Bluetooth lock comes with a single cylinder deadbolt locking assembly, an interior housing, two traditional keys, a keychain fob (pre-enrolled for the lock), two eKeys, four AA batteries, and all the mounting hardware you’ll need to install the lock. You also get installation instructions, a user guide, and a drilling/boring template if your door is not already prepared for a deadbolt.

    At first glance the Kevo looks like an ordinary deadbolt lock. In fact, you won’t notice anything different about it until you get up close and actually touch it, at which point a ring around the cylinder displays a spinning blue light. That means the lock is looking for an iOS device with an authorized encrypted electronic key (eKey) or an enrolled keychain fob. If it finds one, the light will turn green, flash twice, and the lock will open. If not, it goes dark. When locking the door from the outside with a fob or smartphone, the blue spinning light will change to amber, flash once, and the lock will engage. The light ring uses different colors and flashing codes to let you know things like when the batteries need changing, if the smart device or fob is out of range, an unauthorized device is trying to gain access, or the lock is jammed.

    If you know how to install a door lock, the Kevo installation process is fairly simple and should only take ten minutes or so. Even if you have no prior experience the installation guide is very straightforward and easy to follow. Don said replacing his single cylinder deadbolt lock was a snap. Once the old lock was removed he installed the Kevo cylinder and deadbolt mechanism using the existing mounting holes in my door. He then attached the Bluetooth and power/data cable from the cylinder to the internal housing and secured the housing and the cylinder to the door using the supplied bolts. Don manually engaged the deadbolt to see if it extended and retracted smoothly, made a quick adjustment to the bolt housing, and was ready to program the lock.

    Once the free app is downloaded from the Apple App Store, it walks you through the setup and registration process. First, you have to enable Bluetooth, location services, and notifications on your iOS device. Once you create an account using your email address and three security questions, you are ready to enroll your device as the Owner, which gives you full rights. The included fob is already paired to the lock. At this point you have to remove the battery cover from the lock’s interior housing, press and release the program button, and hold your device against the back panel. After ten seconds or so the lock beeps and the app asks you to name the lock. You can then calibrate the iOS device to enable the lock’s inside/outside security feature, which uses a sensor to prevent unauthorized entry while your fob or smart device is inside your home. Once calibration is complete (it took Don less than a minute), the Kevo lock is ready to go.
    The Kevo comes in three finishes: Polished Brass, Venetian Bronze, and Satin Nickel. Additional keychain fobs cost $25 each, and extra eKeys are $1.99 each. Kwikset covers the Kevo with a lifetime finish and mechanical warranty, and a one year electronic warranty.

  • Dear Friends,

    I never imagined back in 1995 when I started Small Dog Electronics in my garage on Prickly Mountain that 20 years later we would have four retail stores and well, a 20-year old business! Back then it was a one-man show and buying and selling Macs was a bit more than a hobby but I still bump into some of you that bought your first Mac from me in my living room. Hapy used to come over on Sundays and help me with the books and soon I twisted his arm into joining me at Small Dog Electronics. When Grace tossed us out of the house we ripped up my strawberry patch and built an office space next to the house. We soon outgrew that and eventually moved our headquarters to Waitsfield. I still remember those stalwart UPS drivers carrying huge loads of Macs up my icy or muddy driveway, though.

    We never really wanted to do retail, however, customers came to visit us regardless and one day as I was processing payroll with a family on the couch in my office and others wandering around the warehouse, it was clear we needed to do something to serve our live customers, so our first retail store was opened in Waitsfield. So many people were driving from Chittenden county to Waitsfield and the sort of perfect storm of opportunity led us to open the South Burlington store which quickly became our flagship.

    Our experiment with another large store over in New Hampshire was not a success and we reluctantly closed that location but opened smaller stores in Rutland and acquired another Apple Specialist in Key West, Florida. Now with four retail stores and 20 years of history, we are ready to celebrate our anniversary this month and all year long.

    The most common question that I am asked is: “Where did the name Small Dog Electronics come from?” It was at another company when we were searching for a name and my friend and employee Wendy Cohen suggested Small Dog Electronics. Of course, I pooh-poohed that idea. Fast forward a few years and I am again thinking of a name and watching my small dogs play. I didn’t want to name the company “Mac-this” or “Data-that” so I decided Small Dog Electronics was perfect, and I still think it is!

    Please join us in celebrating our 20th anniversary by coming into one of our retail stores, talking to our team and perhaps taking advantage of some of the 20th Anniversary specials we are running all month!