Kibbles & Bytes Blog

  • Why AppleCare for your Mac?

    I know I have talked about AppleCare before but a refresher is needed for all of our new readers. I am always very skeptical of the “extended warranties” that are sold by most stores and car dealers. Usually they are overpriced, full of exclusions and simply not worth the bucks. So, why is AppleCare different? I think if you consider AppleCare just as an extended warranty you are missing the boat!

    !>http://blog.smalldog.com/images/4242.png!
    Yes, AppleCare does take the 1-year Apple Warranty on new and factory-refurbished Macs and make it 3 years, but it also does a lot more! Most significant is the extended free technical support from Apple. Apple’s technical support has won numerous awards and covers not only your Mac but also the Mac OS, questions about iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote. If you bought an AirPort base station or Time Capsule, USB SuperDrive or Apple Display, it covers those items too, for 3 years of hardware and software support.

    Take it from me, I do not know of very many out-of-warranty repairs that cost less than the cost of AppleCare. So many times customers come in with issues that would have been covered by AppleCare but they had not purchased it so we have to give them the bad news.

    One other thing to keep in mind as you consider AppleCare: AppleCare provides global coverage so even if you are far afield in another country you are protected!

  • _Dear Friends,_

    When people think about Apple’s success they normally think about iPhone, iPad and Mac but there are a bunch of other success stories for Apple technology that are overshadowed by the huge numbers of iPhones that are sold. I read a story today about how one half of all the top hospitals in the USA are starting to use Apple’s HealthKit apps on a trial basis to monitor patient health. The ability to monitor things like blood pressure, weight, heart rate, or glucose levels remotely could help to control the rapidly rising cost of health care. Just imagine that you have this information and do not need to go to the medical provider or hospital but just push “send” and your health stats are sent for review. “*Learn more about this here.*”:http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/05/us-apple-hospitals-exclusive-idUSKBN0L90G920150205

    HomeKit is also becoming more and more accepted as a standard for home automation apps. While I love home automation, it is frustrating to have to open several apps to open the door, turn on the lights, adjust the thermostat, etc. With HomeKit that may become a thing of the past. Independently of HomeKit, Nest and Kevo lock have teamed up to integrate their products. Now when I leave the house and lock the door, I get a notification asking me if I wish to set the Nest thermostat to “away”.

    There were reports this week of “*strange Apple vehicles*”:http://www.macrumors.com/2015/02/04/mysterious-apple-car/ with several cameras prowling the streets with speculation of enhanced mapping or maybe even driverless cars. There was also a renewed report that Apple was negotiating with content providers to create a “*web-based TV service*”:http://www.cnet.com/news/apple-said-to-be-working-on-web-tv-service-like-dishs-sling-tv/?tag=nl.e798&s_cid=e798&ttag=e798&ftag=CAD4dc88c8 which I am sure will happen eventually. I think that the need for cable or satellite will diminish fairly quickly.

    There was also good news this week on the net neutrality front. The Chairman of the FCC laid out his proposal to treat both wired and wireless data services a public utilities. This would ensure that all internet service providers treat all traffic equally rather than creating “fast lanes” for those that pay more. Sure, there will be opposition from those that might profit from different classes of service, but in all respects, it is my opinion, that the internet is indeed a public utility and the concept of net neutrality is vital for a free and open net.

    Pssst…don’t tell anyone but I have a great deal for this week’s Kibbles & Bytes exclusive. The MacBook Pro 13-inch Retina is one of the most popular Macs available and we are fortunate to have a good supply of Apple Certified Refurbished MacBook Pros that feature a 2.4 GHz i5 Intel processor, 4 GB of RAM and a 128 GB SSD drive. These also feature the stunning Retina display that has over 4 million pixels and 2560 X 1600 resolution. This unit has a battery that will last up to 9 hours between charges and the latest 802.11ac WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0. With a backlit keyboard, Thunderbolt 2, and an HDMI port this is an ideal laptop. I am going to make the bundle simple: purchase this MacBook Pro 13-inch Retina with AppleCare for only $1149. That’s $100 off our normal prices and $300 off the price of a new one. AppleCare gives you Apple’s 3-year warranty protection as well as 3 years of free Apple technical support. This is a great value! “*Snag this deal here before it is gone!*”:http://www.smalldog.com/wag900001739

  • Black History Month – Ida B. Wells

    Ida B. Wells Barnett was a co-founder of the NAACP, an anti-lynch crusader and a Black female journalist. After earning degrees from Rust…

  • Specials

    Turtle Shell – Outdoor Rugged Wireless Boombox
    **Save $30.00**

    Hammerhead Jacket for iPhone 5/5s
    **Buy one, get one free**

    Hammerhead Bumper for iPhone 5/5s/5c
    **Buy one, get one free**

    *Presidents’ Week Deal!*

    If you haven’t heard already, we now have **Apple Factory Refurbished MacBook Pro and MacBook Air** in stock!

    Why buy a factory refurbished computer? “Apple Factory Refurbished”:http://www.smalldog.com/macs-refurbished/ computers come with the same great warranty as a new computer, and look brand new, but without the price tag of a brand new computer. These machines have been thoroughly tested by Apple technicians and are just as reliable as a new computer. We have 11″ Macbook Air starting at “**$869.99**”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/86527/macbook-air-11in-1-3ghz-i5-4gb-256gb-apple-refurbished-w-1-year-warranty and 13″ Macbook Pro with Retina display starting at “**$999.99.**”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/86528/macbook-pro-13in-retina-2-4ghz-i5-4gb-128gb-apple-refurbished-w-1-year-warranty These machines go fast, so grab some savings today!

    During Presidents’ Week, purchase a refurbished computer with AppleCare, and receive a **FREE** Canon MX472 printer with AirPrint!

    While supplies last.
    Promotion period runs from 2/15/2015-2/28/2015

  • Tech Talk 101 Series: "Yosemite: What's New?"

    Another installment in our Tech Talk 101 Series will be held at our South Burlington store. We strive to pick topics that customers have asked us about and that we feel can help you learn to make the most of your Mac! These events will be an hour long, with about 40-45 of presented content and 15-20 minutes for questions.

    Stay up to date and learn what’s new in OS X Yosemite:

    • Accessibility Options
    • AirDrop: Recieve files anytime.
    • HandOff: Pick up where you left off.
    • iCloud Drive: Store, Access, and Organize your files anywhere
    • Spotlight: New design, features, and apps.
    • And much more!

    Mark your calendar and reserve your seat here for Wednesday February 11th, from 7-8 PM, at our South Burlington location at 100 Dorset Street. PLEASE NOTE: RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED; PLEASE CLICK THE LINK ABOVE TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT.

    Please contact us with any questions!

  • New Pups

    WOW! What a busy time this has been for us! During the buzz of the holiday season we brought on some new hires in our retail stores and want to formally introduce them to our readers. We are thrilled to have more members on our team!

    **Meet Jonathan**
    __Rutland, VT store__

    Jonathan joined the Rutland team in mid December. He’s a local in the Rutland area and is likely a familiar face to many. Jon has spent the last several years working out-of-state and recently returned to the Rutland area. In his short time at Small Dog, Jon has really excelled and his true tech side has shined! In addition to working on the retail floor, Jon is also training to become an Apple Certified Mac Technician! We are very pleased to have him on our team.

    **Meet Moses**
    __S. Burlington, VT store__

    Recently we added a new member to our service department in South Burlington, though he is no stranger to the company. Moses Laporte began working as a sales associate for Small Dog in late 2008. After three years on the sales floor, he moved on to something new, but has recently rejoined our team as a full-time technician.

    In his free time, he is well known for his baking, specifically vegan bread and other exciting vegan creations. He’s a native Vermonter, collector of vintage and recent tech gear, and has a natural knack for problem solving. Whether he is out on the counter assisting customers, or installing Mac parts, Moses is an excellent tech, and a welcome return to the Small Dog family.

    Make sure to say hello to Moses and Jon!

  • Beats Studio 2.0 Review

    As someone who relies on either public transportation, or his own two legs to get back and forth, it goes without saying that my iPhone is essential when it comes to my daily commute. I’ve never really been a person who has been a huge fan of earbuds. I’ve always preferred headphones that go over my ears, instead of on top of them, or in them. I tried the first version of the **Beats Studios**, because of the Adaptive Noise Canceling feature, but I didn’t end up keeping them because they needed AAA batteries to function. Not only that, but the headphones themselves needed them to even turn on. Needless to say I did not keep them.

    However, once the **Studio 2.0** came out, I decided to give them another try. There were a number of changes that were made to the Studio 2.0 that really sealed the deal for me. First was the style: they are really sleek and very light. The cups of the headphones are very comfortable too, perfect for when you need to wear the headphones for an extended period of time. The first version of the studios were not very pleasant to look at, and to me, they felt a little weighty. But that’s changed completely with the 2.0. Secondly, there is a rechargeable battery built into the headphones, so wave goodbye to having to replace the batteries every 10 hours or so. The battery inside the Studio 2.0 headphones lasts about 20 hours, and with a battery gauge on the side, you’ll always know when you are due for a recharge. It is easy to be intimidated by the Beats brand, given the name, and all the hype that surrounds it. However, we have demo kiosks at all of our Small Dog retail locations, so come on in and check them out. I think you’ll be impressed by what you hear!

  • Osprey has landed at Small Dog

    **Osprey Packs** are a legendary name in the outdoor gear world. I have one that took good care of me on a 50 mile backpacking trip through the Canadian Rockies, and another that kept me company in the side-country of Jackson Hole. Much to my wife’s chagrin (I’m a gear addict) I’ve now added the **Nano Port** from Osprey’s travel series to the mix. I’m an iMac user and no longer have a laptop for work, so my iPad is my Apple gear for the road. Not too bulky, and with all the right pockets to take care of the phone, keys, and sunglasses among other things, this will keep me traveling light. The coolest feature, though, has to be the **Port Window**. It’s a padded pouch in the front flap with a clear, touch-sensitive window on the opposite side that allows you to use your iPad without removing it from the bag. Add to that Osprey’s “All Mighty Guarantee” and this purchase was an easy one to make. Check out the other Osprey styles and colors at SmallDog.com.

  • Love ROCKS!

    Looking for a gift that will last longer than flowers or chocolate? Small Dog Electronics can help spread the love with a **free twenty five dollar iTunes gift card** when you purchase any iPod Nano or iPod Touch with a pair of Beats by Dr. Dre Headphones! Remember there’s more than one way to say I love you.

  • Hi from Rutland!

    Hello to all you devoted customers of Small Dog Electronics from our Rutland Store! I don’t know about you guys but it has been BRUTAL out there for me with the cold temperatures. Now that we have reached the end of this notoriously cold month of January, it’s hopefully time to think forward to a time of warmth and comfort! As much as we love seeing people dance around on the ice out of our window here, it will certainly be nice to actually be able to drive safely again.

    Here at Small Dog Electronics, we are certainly looking to the future and next up on our list is, you guessed it, Valentines Day! That is right folks, it’s that time of year again. Time to get your thinking caps on to come up with some excellent gift ideas for the significant other in your life! What better way to say “will you be my Valentine?” than to say it with a new iPad or iPod bought from your friends over at Small Dog Electronics. We are here to be by your side every step of the way this February and every other month of the year!

    Thank you for reading and I hope to see many of you soon on your next visit to Rutland!

    Jamie Willis
    “jamie@smalldog.com”:mailto:jamie@smalldog.com

  • Super Bowl Sunday! I’ll watch the game, if only to see the commercials (“*like this one,*”:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAsjRRMMg_Q awe) and to see if the Patriots find any new ways to ‘bend’ the rules. It should be a good game and I have a few “*Heady Toppers*”:http://alchemistbeer.com left for the event.

    Thank you for reading this issue of Kibbles & Bytes!

    Your Kibbles & Bytes Team,

    _Don, Rachel, Dean & Mike_

  • SPECIAL | Jam Anywhere

    Turn your iPhone, iPod touch, iPad into the ultimate mobile guitar and bass sound studio with the AmpliTube iRig. Simply plug the iRig interface into your mobile device, plug your instrument into the appropriate input jack, plug in your headphones, amp or powered speakers, download “*AmpliTube FREE*”:https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/amplitube-free/id373309342?mt=8&at=11lb7k version for iPhone or for iPad, and start rocking!

    The iRig KEYS is a portable USB MIDI controller with plug-and-play functionality that works with iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and Mac and Windows computers. It features 37 velocity-sensitive mini keys and a 3-octave range plus one note. Its small footprint takes up minimal desktop space and it can easily fit into a backpack or carry-on bag.