Kibbles & Bytes Blog

  • Lock Your iOS Device Down With Guided Access

    I have many friends and family members who have young children with either their own iPad or who use the families’ iPad on a regular basis. The most common frustration I hear is that the child inadvertently backs out of the approved app they are using and open another one.

    There is now a way to prevent this from happening. In iOS 6, Apple has added a feature called Guided Access that will allow you to lock the device into an application with the hardware buttons disabled.

    To enable Guided Access, open your *Settings* app and tap *General.* Now scroll down to nearly the bottom of the list and tap *Accessibility.* In this section, you’ll find all the options for assisted usage of your iDevice. Under *Learning,* tap on *Guided Access.* Slide the on/off slider to the right to turn the feature on. You should now have two new options to choose from: *Set Passcode* and *Enable Screen Sleep.* Tap *Set Passcode* and set the four-digit code that will be used to get out of Guided Access mode.

    If you want your device to sleep while in Guided Access mode, slide the *Enable Screen Sleep* slider to *On.* Back up one on your menu and go back to the main Accessibility menu. If you look all the way at the bottom under *Triple-click* you’ll see what Accessibility feature is activated when you triple-click on the home button. Make sure it’s Guided Access.

    Step number two: using Guided Access. Launch the app that you want to lock down and then triple click your home button. This will bring up the Guided Access menu. Here you will see the three options that you can enable or disable on the iPad. Once you have the settings set up the way you want, them tap *Save* in the upper right corner. If you didn’t set a passcode, you’ll be prompted to enter it.

    Your iOS device will now be locked into that app. To get out, triple-click the home button and enter your passcode, then tap *End* in the upper left of your screen.

  • Hello all,

    Fall is upon us for sure. When I leave the house — instead of wondering to myself if I will need outerwear or not — it is now simply a choice of which outerwear to bring and how much of it. It seems kind of crazy that Halloween will be here in a few weeks and then the year is pretty much over!

    In another sign of fall, I have finally succumbed to whatever bug I have been fighting for a couple of weeks and will be spending the next day or so in bed. This has delayed my promised article on ssh, but I’m hoping you will understand.

    Thanks for reading.

    Liam
    “*liam@smalldog.com*”:mailto:liam@smalldog.com

  • Monday Morning Baby Watch

    This past weekend was an eventful one — we counted all of our in-stock products for our end-of-fiscal-year inventory, many of us pumpkin…

  • Oktoberfest

    Proving yet again that there is an app for just about everything…check out the Oktoberfest app for iPhone. I’ve never been to Germany…

  • !http://blog.smalldog.com/images/3152.gif!:http://www.smalldog.com/wag900000120/at_dr

    *Save over 30% on the Hammerhead Mini DisplayPort to HDMI cable — hook up your Mac with Mini DisplayPort (see special for compatibility) to any HDMI-enabled flatscreen TV. $19.99*

    *That’s $10 off plus free shipping!*

    Because we want to give you the best deals AND stay in business, Deal Retriever deals are valid for one week only. Quantities are limited; offers good while supplies last. In-stock supply only.

  • HDR FX Pro

    My dog Ziggy is my favorite subject to photograph and one of the best tips I can give for pet photography is to…

  • New Apple Products + News

    There’s too much to put here, but be sure to check out our blog, Barkings! for full coverage of last month’s new product releases and the latest Apple news. Specifically, iPhone 5 and iPod releases, iOS 6 and the Maps flap, and more.

    “*Go to Barkings!*”:http://blog.smalldog.com

  • Classes in Manchester, NH

    Classes

    We are featuring some great classes this month in our Manchester NH retail store, to sign up for any of the classes below please visit “*our website*”:http://www.smalldog.com/classes or call **800.511.6227!**

    **iPad Basics**
    New to iPad and iOS? Never used a computer before? Our iPad Basics class is designed strictly for beginners.

    **Mac OS X Basics**
    New to Mac OS X? This class introduces users to the basic functions and setup to lay the foundation to become a proficient Mac user.

    **Introducing Mountain Lion!**
    Mountain Lion OS X 10.8 Overview discusses ten of the top, key features of Mountain Lion.

  • Why Flash Storage?

    In the past, most of us have been accustomed to the Hard Disk Drive (HDD). These days, it is possible to purchase an HDD that stores more than 200,000 times more data, fits in the palm of your hand, and costs around $100.

    So why is it important that there is this other kind of storage, this “SSD,” or “flash storage,” as it is also referred to? The hard disk drive writes and reads data magnetically using a thin “arm” to access or manipulate data on spinning “platters,” that resemble tiny stacked CDs. Solid state drives, on the other hand, read and write data with electricity: unlike hard disk drives, SSDs do not contain moving parts, this offers a level of physical durability that the HDD cannot.

    Another leg up SDDs have is their data access speed. Because there are no moving parts and because the drives exclusively rely on electricity to interact with data, an SSD can easily perform at least twice as fast as an HDD spinning at 7200 RPM. You’re probably thinking, “wow this is perfect, why do we even keep hard disks around?!” One draw back to SSD drives (aside from costing more than a traditional hard disk) is storage capacity.

    As consumers, our computer usage has only grown, and our file size along with it and for some users this drawback is significant. When thinking about the options and benefits between the traditional hard disk and a solid state disk it might mean choosing between efficiency, security, and capacity. However, many who have transitioned to SSD drives in their computers will tell you the benefits outweigh the sacrifices!

    If you want to know the nitty gritty of how SSDs work, check out this “**bibliography**”:http://computer.howstuffworks.com/solid-state-drive5.htm it’s a worthwhile read!

  • Product Specials | 10.2012

    SAVE $5 on RadTech WaveJamr Bluetooth Wireless Speaker Dock Adapter! Sale price **$34.99**

    Save $10 on iFrogz Boost 2.0 Wireless Speaker System for iPod/iPhone Sale Price **$29.99!**

  • iPhone 5 Cases Are Here!

    We have some great cases to choose from already — come check ’em out!

    *Sonix Inlay Bloom* – $34.99

    *Otterbox Defender Series* – $44.99 (highly requested!)

  • Product of the Month | 04.12

    *Apple Refurbished 17-inch MacBook Pros*
    Starting at **$1,349.99!**

    The rumors are true! Apple factory refurbished MacBook Pros are up to $900 off regular price, and are ideal as a desktop replacement with added mobility.

    There are limited quantities, so get them while you can. Select models in all three locations.

    “*See them here.*”:http://www.smalldog.com/category/Apple/MacBook_Pro/17in