Kibbles & Bytes Blog

  • KB | Kingston DataTraveler Rugged Shock & Water Resistant 16GB USB

    Kingston’s DataTraveler® R3.0 G2 Flash drive delivers USB 3.0 high-speed performance with 120MB/s read and 25MB/s write speeds to save time when transferring files. Its rugged, rubberized casing is shock- and water-resistant (up to 1 hour at a depth of 1 meter) to prevent damage, wherever you take it.
    *This week on special for only 15.99*

  • New Small Doggers Just In Time For The Holidays

    I am so excited to introduce myself “*Rachel Narkewicz*”:http://blog.smalldog.com/authors/rachelnarkewicz and “*Dean Liebau*”:http://blog.smalldog.com/authors/deanliebau to the beautiful readers of Kibbles and Bytes. Together we will make up the Small Dog Marketing department. We’ve got some BIG shoes to fill, and couldn’t be more trilled to hit the ground running and help out in whatever way possible to gear up for the holiday season. But first let me say happy halloween, I have decided to be a butterfly, cause its time to spread my wings, and Dean well lets just say he’s rocking the captain of graphic designer look.

    I was born and raised in Rutland Vermont, and my love for all four season has kept me in VT. As well as the 4 generations of Narkewicz’s that have grown up here. Talk about some serious Vermont roots, more like weeds that just won’t go away! Here at Small Dogs I will be using my skills in social media marketing, and you can find me posting on our “*Twitter*”:https://twitter.com/hellosmalldog page as well as “*Facebook*”:https://www.facebook.com/hellosmalldog and much more. I am so happy to be a part of a team that is passionate about the community they live and work in.

    When I am not brainstorming a million new ideas for Small Dog social media sites, in store design elements, or writing these wonderful newsletters, I can be found on the ski slopes during the winter months and on my bike during the summer. My favorite pass time is taking scenic pictures, as well as friends and family members portraits. It makes for unique presents throughout the year. Now, drum roll please as I get to introduce my trusty partner and crime… Dean

    After graduating with his BFA in Graphic Design from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in 2013, Dean Liebau relocated to the beautiful Green Mountains of Vermont in search of new experiences, and found colder winters. Before joining the Small Dog team, Dean worked as a freelance designer, designing everything from logos and business cards to snowboard graphics and cycling uniforms. Dean also spent two years working on a newspaper creating advertisements for local businesses.

    When he’s not designing, you can find him on the mountain snowboarding (maybe if your lucky you’ll find us together) or near his favorite stream fishing for trout, or really anything that will bite! Some of his favorite past times include spending long days on the beach at Presque Isle in Erie, PA and taking trips to Colorado to visit his cousin, and probably snowboard. He plans on bringing his passion for designing and enthusiastic attitude to Small Dog Electronics as the new Graphic Designer/Marketing Assistant.

  • Understanding The Apple SIM

    Cellular models of the new iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 3 models come with the Apple SIM card rather than a SIM card from a particular carrier. This is a great move by Apple to both reduce the number of specific models that we have to carry and to make it more convenient for customers to move from one carrier to another or activate service when they travel outside of the country.

    Verizon customers who are not on a GSM network like AT&T, T-Mobile or others will have to go to the Verizon or Apple store to get a Verizon SIM to replace the Apple card. It was also revealed this week that if you sign up for AT&T service for your iPad that AT&T will lock your SIM card to their network. This sort of defeats the purpose of the Apple SIM card, however, Apple will sell you a spare Apple SIM to replace that locked card should you want to change carriers.

    While the participating carriers are somewhat limited now, AT&T, Sprint or T-Mobile in the USA or Everything Everywhere in the UK, the convenience of choosing a carrier and plan right from your iPad is compelling. Since most of these carriers offer short-term data plans you can choose the length of time and plan according to where you are. I assume Apple will expand the number of international carriers and this will be big help for international travel.

    Even without the Apple SIM, if you are traveling internationally or into an area where service is better than your home carrier and plan to be there awhile, you should consider contacting that local carrier to get a SIM for your iPad that works with their network. It can save you a bunch in roaming charges!

    I would love to see this same convenience carried over to the iPhone, however, since most of the iPhone sales are still based upon a carrier subsidized contract basis that is unlikely for some time. I do believe that ultimately the carrier subsidized model may become less popular it does have a strong legacy.

    Removing the SIM from your iPad is a simple process. Your iPad came with a SIM eject tool which is basically a paperclip with an end that will fit into the release hole on the side of your iPad. The SIM is contained in a small tray.

  • _Dear Friends,_

    We have culminated our October Domestic Violence awareness campaigns with events in our Rutland, S. Burlington and Key West stores. All month long we have been giving a portion of our sales to women’s shelters in the communities where we operate. These events personify our commitment to our communities and enjoyed the enthusiastic support of our employees, customers and the women’s shelters with whom we partnered.

    I am pleased to introduce two new members of the Small Dog team. Rachel Narkewicz and Dean Liebau have joined us as our new marketing team and have been undergoing training at Small Dog headquarters for the past several days and will introduce themselves here in Kibbles this week. We are very happy to have Rachel and Dean on our team!

    “*Apple Pay*”:http://www.apple.com/apple-pay/ was launched with iOS8.1 this week and all of the initial reports are that it is working great. I don’t have my iPhone 6 yet so I cannot give you any first hand information but all the reports are that it works flawlessly. Tim Cook said he wanted it to be a better experience than credit cards and I think Apple got it right. Interestingly, CurrentC, the competitor which is favored by a few companies such as CVS announced that it was hacked this week and lost some email addresses. In other Apple Pay news, Tim Cook and Jack Ma the CEO of Alibaba said they would begin to talk about teaming up for Apple Pay.

    We have received stock of the new iPad Air 2 and this week’s special is an iPad special. Buy any iPad and get a free Hammerhead neoprene case!

    “*See this great deal here!*”:http://www.smalldog.com/wag900001599

  • Benjamin Bessett

    Family: I grew up and continue to reside in Worcester, VT. I am the youngest of 3. My sister is in California farming, and…

  • Dean Liebau

    Favorite Dog Breeds: big dogs Hobbies/Interests: design, art, snowboarding, hiking, camping, fishing, the great outdoors Favorite Books: Alive by Piers Paul Read, Into…

  • Rachel Narkewicz

    Family: Brian & Sarah Narkewicz, along with my two awesome brothers David and Jesse and beautiful sister-in-law Allison. Hobbies/Interests: Biking, hiking, skiings, traveling,…

  • October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Small Dog wants to help. For the month of October when you purchase participating brands at Small Dog Electronics in Key West a donation will go toward the Domestic Abuse Shelter of the Florida Keys.

    “*Find out more about this great organization here.*”:http://www.domesticabuseshelter.org

    We will be holding an event at our store on *Thursday October 30th at 5:30pm* to help raise awareness and raise funds for victims of domestic violence in our community. We will be selling raffle tickets all day on the 30th and 100% of proceeds will go towards the Domestic Abuse Shelter of the Florida Keys. Tickets are one for $5 or five for $20. The grand prize is a brand new iPad mini!

    We are also accepting donations for the shelter, and they have requested the following items:

    * Cell phones with chargers
    * Bedside lamps
    * Shampoo/conditioner
    * Toothbrushes
    * Feminine hygiene products
    * Bras and underwear
    * Children’s diapers (sizes 4,5, and 6)
    * Backpacks and school supplies
    * Any and all other donations are welcome!

    Please stop by the store or call *(305) 330-4885* with any questions.

    *Small Dog Electronics Key West*
    *1001 Truman Avenue*
    *Key West, FL 33040*

  • October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Small Dog wants to help. For the month of October when you purchase participating brands at Small Dog Electronics in South Burlington, a donation will go toward Women Helping Battered Women.

    “*Find out more about this great organization here.*”:http://www.whbw.org

    Come to Small Dog in South Burlington on Wednesday, October 29th from 7 to 8pm to help support this important cause. We will be discussing how pets can play an important role in the healing process for victims of domestic violence. This is a dog friendly event, so bring your furry friend with you! Light refreshments will be served for humans and canines too.

    Please stop by the store or call *802-862-1316* with any questions

    *Small Dog Electronics South Burlington*
    *100 Dorset Street*
    *South Burlington, VT 05403*

  • October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Small Dog wants to help. For the month of October when you purchase participating brands at Small Dog Electronics in South Burlington, a donation will go toward Women Helping Battered Women.

    “*Find out more about this great organization here.*”:http://www.whbw.org

    Come to Small Dog in South Burlington on *Wednesday, October 29th from 7 to 8pm* to help support this important cause. We will be discussing how pets can play an important role in the healing process for victims of domestic violence. This is a dog friendly event, so bring your furry friend with you! Light refreshments will be served for humans and canines too.

    Please stop by the store or call *802-862-1316* with any questions.

    *Small Dog Electronics South Burlington*
    *100 Dorset Street*
    *South Burlington, VT 05403*

  • Working from my home office down here in the Keys is quite different from being in the office at Small Dog HQ, but it does allow me to concentrate on some of the important work we have to do as we get ready for the holidays. We have a steady stream of visitors coming over the next few weeks and I did install a Belkin WeMo camera at my house on Prickly so I can watch the snow pile up this winter.

    Thank you so much for reading this issue of Kibbles & Bytes!

    Your Kibbles & Bytes team,

    _Don & Mike_