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Save $10 on all iPhone 5/5C/5S cases over $19.99!
Please enter this coupon code when you check out: *casecase5327*
“*See all of our iPhone 5/5C/5S cases here.*”:http://www.smalldog.com/category/iPhone_Accessories/Cases
Long time Kibbles readers and other Small Dog aficionados know that our slogan is “Always By Your Side.” This is, of course, a metaphor that describes our commitment to customer service, not a threat that we are going to follow you around wherever you go.
However, now we can literally be “Always In Your Pocket” thanks to our Consulting app for iOS.
“*Consulting by Small Dog Electronics*”:https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/consulting-by-small-dog-electronics/id796998322?mt=8&at=11lb7k is a *free* app that gives you an easy way to request assistance on the go. If you are having trouble with your email, can’t figure out how to sync your devices, are experiencing the spinning beach ball of doom, or have any other problem or question help is just a couple of taps away.
When you open the app, you will be asked to describe what we can help you with. Tap “Next” and you will be taken to a page to provide your contact information. We have made this as easy as possible by allowing you to choose a contact card from your Contacts to auto-fill the form or fill in the information manually. Choose whether you would like an emailed copy of your request and tap “Submit.” You can then sit back and relax because a member of our customer service team will be in touch ASAP to schedule an in-store or on-site visit to assist you with your issues.
This app is compatible with any iDevice running iOS 6 or later. The current release is Version 1.0, so please let us know if you have any suggestions for improvements or additional features.
“*Download it here!*”:https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/consulting-by-small-dog-electronics/id796998322?mt=8&at=11lb7k
*iOS 8*
Apple has announced that iOS 8, the newest operating system for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, will be released on September 19th.
iOS 8 comes with big updates to apps you use every day, like Messages and Photos. A whole new way to share content with your family. And exciting new connections between apps and between devices. All that and more make iOS 8 the biggest iOS release ever.
Some of the great new features include: Quickly find and edit the photos you take. Add your voice right in a text message. Let your health and fitness apps communicate with each other, with your trainer, and even with your doctor. You’ll have new keyboard options and even more ways to share your content. And you’ll be able to use iCloud and Touch ID in ways you never have before.
“*See more about iOS 8 here.*”:http://www.apple.com/ios/
*Apple Watch*
The world of wearable technology is ever growing and Apple is getting into the mix with the incredible new Apple Watch!
It’s an incredibly accurate timepiece. A device that helps you stay on schedule, in touch, and headed in the right direction. And a health and fitness companion that never stops thinking of ways for you to be more active and fit. Apple Watch is all these things. Which makes it so much more than just a watch. But precisely what a watch should be!
We are very excited about this ground breaking new product that will be available in early 2015. We are not currently taking any orders and do not have pricing or availability as of this time. We promise to keep you informed via our newsletters, website and social media as we learn more.
“*See more about the Apple Watch here.*”:http://www.apple.com/watch/
*iPhone 6 and 6 Plus*
Apple has also announced the new iPhone 6 and for the first time is releasing a second iPhone in a larger size: the iPhone 6 Plus.
The iPhone 6 isn’t simply bigger — it’s better in every way. Larger, yet dramatically thinner. More powerful, but remarkably power efficient. With a smooth metal surface that seamlessly meets the new Retina HD display. It’s one continuous form where hardware and software function in perfect unison, creating a new generation of iPhone that’s better by any measure.
Small Dog Electronics will be carrying all of the accessories you need for your new iPhone. We will be sure to let you know about all of the great products we will be carrying to complement the newest members of the iPhone family.
“*See more about the iPhone 6 here.*”:http://www.apple.com/iphone/
_Dear Friends,_
Autumn is really in the air as the trees are beginning to change colors and the ridge lines have hints of orange and brown. Apples are replacing sweet corn at the farm stands and I hear geese honking their way south. It is one of my favorite times of the year even though it is the harbinger of a winter to come.
Tuesday, I managed to go home to watch Tim Cook’s keynote on the Apple TV. I will talk some about the event and the announcements and I am sure that Mike will give you more details below ??(editor’s note: I will!).?? The streaming video of the event had some glitches in the beginning, including frequent freeze-ups and an audible second audio stream in Chinese. I was keeping track of the event on some of the blog sites as well as reloading on my Mac and Apple TV. Fortunately, that cleared up about halfway through. Of course, that was enough for Samsung to quickly cough up a commercial poking fun at Apple for video stream failure.
That glitch does not tarnish the very significant announcements at this special event with the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, Pay and of course the Watch. Apple seems to be ready to switch out the “i” for “” which is a smart move even if it takes three keys to make that Apple logo (Shift-Option-K). I am impressed with all three of the new announcements from Apple and I think that they do answer the question of whether Apple can innovate after Steve Jobs.
I never wear a watch. I pride myself on being able to guess the time within a reasonable margin of error or simply look at any of the myriad of electronics devices that surround my life. But the Watch is something very different and I am just going to have to check it out. It is clearly a companion piece to the iPhone but adds some interesting features, specifically its emphasis on health tracking, Pay and quick communications with friends. I am sure that ultimately HomeKit features will also be incorporated so that you can open your door, turn out your lights, and adjust your thermostat just by wearing the watch.
With the watch not being released until early 2015, there is time for Apple to fine-tune the features. While there have not been any official indications, rumors say that the battery life is about a day long so it will need to be charged each night and I know Apple would like that to be better and some question as to just how water resistant the watch will be. I really think that the biometric sensors and integration to iPhone, HealthKit and HomeKit will make this new product category a huge success.
I think that the most significant announcement, however, may be Pay, the new electronic payment system. Apple has already lined up some big players to support the system, like Macy’s, McDonald’s, Target, and many more. Also, with their alliance with American Express, VISA and MasterCard, I think there will be widespread acceptance and this may be a big threat to other electronic payment systems such as Paypal. Even our behind-the-scenes electronic credit card processor, Cybersource, has indicated that they will be supporting Pay. We have some development work to do within our database but we are committed to taking this form of payment in our stores and website as soon as possible. While Apple will undoubtedly make some money via transaction fees, it is more likely that they will sell quite a few more iPhone 6 and Watch as a result of this new secure way to pay.
Ah, the iPhone 6! While I was sort of rueing the notion of a larger iPhone (I like the size of my iPhone 5s just fine) I think that the slimness of the new iPhone 6 and the new features make it a very compelling buy. Yes, I’ll be getting one. The iPhone 6 Plus adds some more landscape, digital image stabilization and a bigger battery and while the battery and better camera action is interesting, I think the iPhone 6 will serve my needs best. But, there are an awful lot of folks that want that really big iPhone and now the 6 Plus is there to fit the bill. I love the new feature that allows you to make voice calls over WiFi using your own phone number and how it will seamlessly transition to VoLTE. I wonder if this will also allow you to receive calls over WiFi which would mean we could eliminate the microcells that we have at home and here at the office.
The combination of the Apple A8 and M8 processors provide 64-bit power that is simply unmatched in any other phone. In addition to the M8 motion chip it also incorporates a barometer which senses air pressure to determine elevation. So, as you move, you can keep track of the elevation you have gained. It can even measure stairs climbed or hills conquered. The accelerometer and gyroscope combine to make the iPhone 6 a powerful exercise and health tool.
Another milestone quietly came with the announcements on Tuesday when Apple discontinued the iPod Classic. The last click-wheel spinning hard drive iPod is gone with its 160 GB capacity. I still have one that I primarily use in my shop but they are gone now. Interestingly, Apple also bumped the storage up on the iPhones to a maximum of 128 GB which is plenty for most music libraries.
I am riding to Maine this week to put a small dent in the lobster population and hang out by the ocean for a couple days. It looks like good motorcycling weather. Speaking of motorcycles, the KillaJoule electric motorcycle “*set the land speed record for electric motorcycles at over 241 mph.*”:http://gm-volt.com/2014/09/02/several-records-set-for-electric-sidecar-building-eva-hakansson/ It also was the fastest time ever for a motorcycle with a sidecar (regardless of fuel). It was also the fastest time ever for a woman rider. Eva Håkannson’s homemade electric motorcyle is one fast machine! My eHippo electric bike got up to 70 mph once.
Have an awesome weekend and thank you for reading this issue of Kibbles & Bytes!
Your Kibbles & Bytes Team,
_Don & Mike_
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I was one of the lucky million who was able to download the Public Beta of Apple’s new OS earlier this month. I have only installed it a few days ago and I must say, so far so good. While I have not explored all of the new features of the OS, I must say I have been very drawn to the changes they made to Spotlight.
Spotlight has always been a favorite of mine, but now it’s only getting better. When you hit the Command+Space key a nice window pops up right in the middle of your display. Start typing in anything you want, and within seconds, a list with a full preview to the right of it will begin to appear. In the older version of Spotlight, to activate the preview function you would need to hold your cursor over the line for a few seconds then a very small preview would pop out of the menu. Now its automatic and the preview is nearly full size.
For example, when looking up a contact, it displays all the information, just the same as if I had opened up the app and searched for it in there without all the hassle, and it’s fully interactive. This means that right from Spotlight you are able to find your contact, click on their email address, and Mail will open a new message addressed to that person. For those of us who use keyboard shortcuts all the time, this is a real time saver.
If you are using a PC there is some nasty ransomware and malware stuff out there. There are some that can actually hijack and encrypt your files and then ask for $350 or $500 to unlock them. Fortunately, you are on a Mac ??(editor’s note: you are on a Mac, right?)?? and that is not going to happen. But there is an annoying piece of software out there that claims to do something similar.
This software takes advantage of a JavaScript exploit in Safari. Basically, it is a JavaScript popup that presents you with a message that your files and browser are locked unless you pay up. *DON’T PAY!* There is a much simpler way to deal with this annoyance.
You need to first Force Quit Safari by going to the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of your screen, choose Force Quit, select Safari and hit Return. Then you want to relaunch Safari BUT this time hold down the Shift key as you launch Safari. This will load Safari without loading previous content. We also recommend resetting Safari by going into the Safari menu, selecting Reset Safari, leave all boxes checked and click Reset.
Unless you are a celebrity it is likely no one will bother trying to get your “special” photos from your iCloud account but just how safe are your photos that ARE stored in the cloud? With all of the news this week about the posting of nude photos of some celebrities the debate is on. So, here are some suggestions for best practices:
Most importantly, keep in mind that if you are using iCloud and Photo Stream, whatever photos you take will be on all your devices and in the cloud so think about that as you take that selfie!
_Dear Friends,_
I saw a gaggle of Canada geese in the field by the warehouse as I drove in this morning. It is a bit early for their annual trek south but they are gathering. The big apple tree outside my window here at the office has some apples on it and some have fallen to the parking lot so apple picking season is rapidly approaching. Apple picking season is also coming to the tech world as Apple has confirmed their special event on Tuesday September 9th where we are likely to see some of the great new products, especially the iPhone.
I am getting literally dozens of offers each day from suppliers overseas for cases for these unannounced products. I even got an offer to supply replacement parts for these new iPhones. Once the announcements are made we will be making some cases under our “*Hammerhead brand.*”:https://www.hammerheadcase.com It is clear that the new iPhone will be bigger physically and better certainly. While many people want a bigger iPhone, I don’t think I am one of them. I like the current size and actually might even like something smaller but that might be were Apple is going with wearables. Nevertheless, we will all be watching the Apple event on Tuesday.
One of the most persistent rumors is that Apple has made agreements with American Express, Visa, and MasterCard to launch a mobile payment system. While this may require some new hardware in retailers, my guess is that will come quickly, too. I have gotten very used to using my iPhone at Starbucks and I think the day where I will not need my wallet anymore is coming faster than I thought.
I downloaded a really handy app for my iPhone when I noticed it was on sale at the App Store: “*PDF Scanner*”:https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pdf-scanner-easily-scan-books/id784454179?mt=8&at=11lb7k is a neat app that uses the iPhone’s camera as a scanner and converts the photo to a PDF document. It can scan multiple pages, save them, and share via “*Dropbox,*”:https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dropbox/id327630330?mt=8&at=11lb7k email, print, or store in folders you create. Maybe, just maybe, I will be able to get rid of the flatbed scanner on my desk.
This week’s Kibbles & Bytes special is the Audioengine A2 Speaker system with the DS1 Stand for $199.99! This is a great speaker system for your office or dorm and has a 3-year warranty. I use Audioengine in my shop and love the big sound. That is $80 off the regular price!
“*See this fantastic and exclusive deal here!*”:http://www.smalldog.com/wag900001571/at_kb
My article from the “July 29th edition of Tech Tails”:http://blog.smalldog.com/techtails/tt909/ received some interested responses from you the readers. Apparently I’m not the only one concerned about all my information floating out there for everyone to read. Last article I touched on TOR, the onion router and its use in keeping identities anonymous while browsing the internet. One thing I didn’t mention at the time is that its service is primarily supported by volunteers and anyone can volunteer to be a ‘node’, a point at which other service users will either bounce off of within the TOR network or a point where the user traffic will leave the TOR network and reenter the “clear net”, or normal internet. A researcher looking into online anonymity volunteered to be a node in order to see if it could be cracked and what he found out was quite interesting. Though his node was an exit point into the normal internet, he couldn’t determine who the traffic belonged to, but he could read the traffic. TOR data is encrypted while it bounces around inside the TOR network in order to try and protect it from node to node, however that data needs to be unencrypted or in the correct encryption for the destination server to read. Someone managing the exit node is capable of reading the unencrypted data packets, gleaning private information that was intended to not be read by the user using the service. Though the source of the data was hidden from the researcher, what was contained within the data was not.
This is the Achilles heel of the TOR network: one bad apple can spoil the entire recipe. However, there are many good apples trying to make a great dish. Many volunteers that manage network nodes are doing it correctly and maintaining the network so that average users can take advantage of TOR’s designed purpose. TOR is constantly the target of agencies and corporations. If it can be cracked there are organizations out there that want to know that it can be done and how to do it.
TOR isn’t just a tool to hide your identity when browsing the normal internet. It is also the host of many websites that are not indexed by major search engines, i.e. Google or Bing. These sites are privately maintained and in many cases contain illegal content. A few years ago during the rampage of Anonymous, the nefarious hacker group, many sites hosting illegal content on the TOR network were attacked and taken down for periods of time. TOR isn’t the only “Deep Web” network that hosts non-indexed websites and in fact, the statistic is that around 90% of the internet is actually contained in these “Deep Web” networks. These networks aren’t all that easy to get to and can open you up for attack if you are not careful.
I myself haven’t done more than learn how to connect to these networks, and just the three most known networks at that. I’m still researching how to protect myself and how to know if I am in fact coming under attack. Knowing is half the battle, and knowing when someone is trying to connect to your machine is crucial in protecting yourself. Once they are in, usually there is nothing they can’t do to harm everything on it. A lot of this still makes me nervous whenever I attempt to connect because my specialization is primarily hardware and I don’t have all the proper knowledge to protect myself. I hear either on the news or read online about hackers getting all this information and account passwords to all the most commonly used services and I wonder how it’s done. What do I need to know to better protect myself? How are malicious cyber-geniuses able to get into my system and through what vulnerabilities? While on this quest of knowledge seeking I have learned quite a bit about the different types of attacks, but not how they are executed. If the interest is there I will continue this line of research. Or if there is enough interest in another area that people want to know about, please let me know.
I was one of the lucky million who was able to download the Public Beta of Apple’s new OS earlier this month. I have only installed it a few days ago and I must say, so far so good. While I have not explored all of the new features of the OS, I must say I have been very drawn to the changes they made to Spotlight.
Spotlight has always been a favorite of mine, but now it’s only getting better. When you hit the Command+Space key a nice window pops up right in the middle of your display. Start typing in anything you want, and within seconds, a list with a full preview to the right of it will begin to appear. In the older version of Spotlight, to activate the preview function you would need to hold your cursor over the line for a few seconds then a very small preview would pop out of the menu. Now its automatic and the preview is nearly full size.
For example, when looking up a contact, it displays all the information, just the same as if I had opened up the app and searched for it in there without all the hassle, and it’s fully interactive. This means that right from Spotlight you are able to find your contact, click on their email address, and Mail will open a new message addressed to that person. For those of us who use keyboard shortcuts all the time, this is a real time saver.