Kibbles & Bytes Blog

??This article was originally written by Ben B. and appeared in Kibbles & Bytes issue?? “*#684*”:http://blog.smalldog.com/kibbles/kb684/

Stevie Wonder’s “__Superstition__”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252Fus%252Falbum%252Fstevie-wonder-the-definitive%252Fid3440159%253Fuo%253D4%2526partnerId%253D30 was the first song to come up on shuffle during my commute this morning. I’m normally not a very superstitious person, but when Garrison Keillor reminded me that it was Friday the 13th on the Writer’s Almanac, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was more than a coincidence. Combined with the fact that Mia–a Black Lab–crossed my path as soon as I walked into the office, consider me spooked!

Since superstition is abound, and it’s the only Friday the 13th this year, I thought that it would be especially relevant to lay a few common Mac superstitions to rest. For longtime Mac users the following may seem basic, but keep in mind that many switchers unfortunately are led to believe these myths are true due to previous experience on PCs.

*Your Mac Isn’t Virus-Immune:*

OK, so this one is pretty basic: Macs simply do not get viruses. You’d be surprised how many people immediately construe software or hardware-related issues as a virus. The fact is that there has never been a reported virus on a Mac. There have been internally developed proof-of-concepts as well a security flaws and vulnerabilities in various releases of Apple software, but there has never been a full blown Mac virus in the same vein as those so prevalent on the PC.

*Dell Printer + Mac = 7 Years of Bad Luck:*

This myth is partially true. You will have bad luck if you attempt to get a Dell branded printer to work on a Mac, but likely not 7 years worth. The PC Manufacturer is the only one whose printers are incompatible with Macs. The good news is almost every other USB 2.0 and network-based printer on the market is. A very common misconception amongst switchers is that their existing printer will be incompatible with a new Mac. Not only should the printer be compatible, but many popular printers feature plug-and-play functionality with Mac OS 10.6 Snow Leopard!

*Macs Don’t Play Nice at the Office:*

The majority of businesspeople rely on Microsoft’s Office Suite to some extent in their daily workflow. Since many businesses principally use PCs, it can be a little daunting bringing your new Mac into the office. Many people forget to realize that Microsoft has a version of their popular Office software designed exclusively for Macs! This means that you can continue to use Word, Powerpoint, and Excel even if you jump to a new Mac. Existing documents in Microsoft’s formats are even cross compatible between platforms. Though the interface in the Mac programs is subtly different from their PC counterparts, there is practically no learning curve associated with the software if you have previous experience with it.

Right now the most current edition of Office is *2008*. However, if you purchase the suite between *now and November 30th*, you can qualify for a free upgrade to *Office 2011* when it becomes available. See “*here*”:http://images.smalldog.com/rebates/office2011.pdf for details.

So there you have it. Rest assured that your Mac is free from all of these common tech superstitions. As for yourself, be sure to avoid ladders, black animals, and mirrors for the rest of the day. Happy 13th!

Apple’s AirPlay is one of the best technologies out there for media lovers. AirPlay allows you to control/play your favorite media to devices like the Apple TV and AirPort Express with your iOS device. This means you can stream Pandora to your stereo while controlling it from your iPhone, or push your favorite YouTube video to the big-screen for everyone to view.

For many people, Apple TV is their go-to AirPlay device, delivering things like Hulu+ and Netflix to the your TV. But for those music lovers out there, nothing beats hooking up an AirPort Express to your favorite pair of speakers, new or old. That’s right — you don’t have to buy a fancy AirPlay speaker; you can still use any speakers/receivers that use either 1/8th inch auxiliary input, RCA, or optical/tos-link. Then, add the Express to create your own AirPlay speaker system.

I use a pair of Audioengine A5s with an AirPort Express to create my AirPlay speakers and the sound couldn’t be better. “*Audioengine*”:http://www.smalldog.com/search?search=audioengine has been praised for creating some of the best computer speakers out there; they look great, are extremely well-constructed and sound amazing!

With AirPlay, I can stream Spotify from my iPhone, or with OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, I can use them as wireless speakers for my computer. The best part is being able to control playback and volume from my device, so I don’t have to go old school and turn that knob.

To show you how great this setup is, we’re going to give you the AirPort Express for “*FREE*”:http://www.smalldog.com/wag900000957/receive-free-apple-refurb-airport-express-w-purchase-of-audioengine-a5-speakers-white-save-80, with the purchase of a pair of Audioengine A5+ White speakers. Check out the special below, and enjoy the tunes!

Questions about AirPlay? “*Email me!*”:mailto:will@smalldog.com

Today was a much anticipated day: as someone quoted on Twitter, “it’s like Christmas for iPhone users.” And it kind of is! For the most part, Mac rumor sites had it right: the “*iPhone 5c*”:http://www.apple.com/iphone-5c/ and “*iPhone 5s*”:http://www.apple.com/iphone-5s/ were both announced. There are always leaked photos of the shells and guts of the phones before they are officially announced, but I think it all really comes together when we actually get to see the real thing in its true form, up on the screen.

Apple, in my opinion, nailed it with the colors: bright and vibrant. They also created a case for the 5c that comes in the same colors as the phone but with a grid of holes punched out in the back so you’re able to see the color of the phone underneath. This allows you to mix and match the phone with the case to create a fun color combination.

The 5c will be available in 16GB and 32GB and will start at $99, with the price of $199 for the 32GB. So does the “c” stand for — ‘cheap’ or ‘color’? In a(n unofficial) word: both!

The second of the two phones announced was the iPhone 5s. As rumored, the phone is now available in gold along with the same white and black options. But, the coolest feature of the new iPhone 5s has to be the Touch ID. The home button of the iPhone 5s now doubles as 500ppi fingerprint sensor: that’s it folks, we are officially in the future!

The Touch ID will allow iPhone owners to simply touch their home button to unlock their device (instead of swiping to unlock). Touch ID will also allow you to authenticate your iTunes purchases. Some might be a little weary of Apple having access to ones fingerprint but Apple has ensured the public that they will be encrypted and will not be available to third parties.

Another great features of the 5s is the new processor, A7, and according to Apple, is more than twice as fast as its predecessor. The camera was also updated going from 8-megapixel to a 1.5x larger active sensor area with a five-element Apple-designed lens with f/2.2 aperture. The cool thing about this is what when you take a photo, the camera actually takes multiple photos and picks the sharpest one for you to view. Wicked smart!

The prices and capacities are the same as the 5’s were: 16GB: $199, 32GB: $299 and 64GB: $399. The iPhone 5 is no longer available, but you can get a 4S for free when you sign a new cellular contract.

All-in-all, the anticipated products were, in fact, announced. I have a feeling the color phones are going to be a huge success due to the fact that people love color as well as a more affordable option for an iPhone. The 5s should also do very well due to the new technology it carries. Apple nerds rejoice!

_Dear Friends,_

Grace made an apple pie from the apples from our trees in the yard the other night. We can grow just about anything pretty well, but getting apples has always been a challenge for us. Usually they are misshapen or fall from the tree early or are the victim of a late spring frost. This year, we have quite a few and if my arctic kiwi plant doesn’t climb all over them, we might get a few pies this year.

The weather has definitely been fall-like with some cool weather followed by stormy, hot and humid weather. You can see the tinges of the trees beginning to change with an occasional bright red maple. Flocks of Canada geese are flying in formation southward, so fall is really here.

So if it is fall, it must be Apple announcement season and we had the introduction of two new iPhones this week. The iPhone 5C with its colorful plastic body is basically the iPhone 5 in a new colorful plastic case. It is the $99 entry-level iPhone now with the iPhone 4S being retained as the “free” iPhone when you sign up for a 2-year contract. The other big announcement was the iPhone 5S with some big advances in technology — the processors and the new Touch ID, which is the biometric fingerprint sensor.

Fingerprint sensors are nothing new, but fingerprint sensors that actually work in an everyday environment are new. I bought a biometric lock for my house some years ago and thought I was really cool until I discovered (much to Grace’s glee) that it only worked occasionally and resulted in us being locked out of our house a couple of the very few times we lock our house. The fingerprint sensor on the iPhone is reportedly the first that really works reliably.

Touch ID will work to unlock your iPhone 5S but also to authenticate your Apple ID for the iTunes or App stores, making it a foray into electronic payments, too. I’ll give a first hand (finger) report as soon as we have the iPhone 5S to test. The processor is the new A7, which by itself, is a breakthrough in speed and the first 64-bit processor in a smartphone. But there is a co-processor as well — the M7 that will take the load off of the A7 by handling all the “motion” activities such as gyroscope, accelerometer, compass and other sensor and uses a lot less power while doing it. With the M7 feeding information to the iPhone 5, there are a number of specialized fitness apps that can be envisioned.

I have been playing with iOS 7 for awhile as part of the Apple Developers program, and it is a big advancement over the competition and iOS 6. I think you are going to really like the new iPhones — colorful form factors, greater speed, battery-saving features and the convenience of iOS 7!