Kibbles & Bytes Blog

  • RHoK | Burlington, VT | June 2-3

    Join us for Small Dog Electronics’s very first Burlington, VT Random Hacks of Kindness (RHoK) event. This event is part of RHoK Global, which hosts simultaneous hackathons all around the world on June 2nd-3rd. Meet like-minded programmers, create new and exciting apps, and win prizes and hack for humanity!

    RHoK’s mission is to make the world a better place through a global community of innovation developing practical open technology. In this two-day event you’ll have the opportunity to help find solutions to submitted “*problems*”:http://www.rhok.org/problems from all over the world. Work with local subject matter experts on problem submissions from within our community, or choose from hundreds of global problems. This is a phenomenal opportunity to find technological solutions to solve local and global issues.

    *Quick FAQs:*
    *When:* June 2nd-3rd
    *Where:* UVM – courtesy of UVM Summer University
    *Cost:* FREE! We’ll even feed you!

    Who’s invited? Whether you program a little or a lot you’re welcome to attend. This can be a great chance to stretch your skills and learn new ones. Community members who feel they can contribute, even if they don’t code, are also welcome.

    How does it work? On Saturday morning, after an introduction to some of the local problems, you’ll break up into groups, choose a problem and work together to find a solution. Solutions need to be kept open source and you have the option to continue working on them after the hackathon. Sunday afternoon you’ll have a chance to present your solution to the group and a few lucky groups will go home with some pretty sweet prizes.

    Sign me up!
    For more information and to register “*check out our RHoK event page.*”:http://www.rhok.org/event/burlington-vt-usa

    On Facebook? Sign up here:
    “*https://www.facebook.com/events/293857200701379/*”:https://www.facebook.com/events/293857200701379/

    Any Questions? Contact Rebecca Kraemer, Director of IT for Small Dog Electronics, at 802.496.7171 x643 or “*rhok@smalldog.com.*”:mailto:rhok@smalldog.com

  • Third-Party Software News

    This may be a random feature from time to time…we stumbled across a couple of software releases this week, plus an app that just may change how you use your Mac forever (and by “forever,” we mean “as long as it takes to use computers as we know it until something comes out that we haven’t even heard of yet”).

    *Coda Comes to iPad*
    If you code for the web, Coda is often hailed as a light, easy-to-use alternative to DreamWeaver. I’ve used it off and on for several years now, and I concur. Panic, the developer, has now released “*Coda 2*”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/coda-2/id499340368?mt=12%26uo%3D6%26partnerId%3D30 for Mac ($49.99) and “*Diet Coda*”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/diet-coda/id500906297?mt=8%26uo%3D6%26partnerId%3D30 for iPad ($9.99).

    Early reviews for Diet Coda seem to indicate that there are some features people would like to see, such as offline editing without a server, but Panic is a very responsive developer who no doubt is listening to what customers want. I’d give it a try if you’d like to take your code with you on your iPad!

    *CheatSheet Makes a Shortcut for Shortcuts*
    This app was brought to our attention by Ed, who you may remember as a longtime staple of Kibbles & Bytes. Once installed, “*CheatSheet*”:http://www.cheatsheetapp.com/CheatSheet/ displays the keyboard shortcuts on your Mac via a prolonged click of the Command key.

    I found shortcuts that I didn’t even know existed–for example, I now can toggle my bookmarks through my keyboard!

  • APP REVIEW: Angry Birds Space

    bq. __”Space…the Final Frontier. These are the voyages of the Angry Birds. Their continuing mission: to slingshot around strange new worlds, to destroy new pig civilizations, to boldly go where no app has gone before.”__

    The latest installment in the Angry Birds franchise takes the familiar gameplay from the first few games and adds a great new twist. The birds are now in space and have to deal with a variety of gravity wells. Completing levels now sometimes requires a method of navigating space known as a “gravity assist maneuver” or “gravitational slingshot.” This technique is used in real space exploration, first by “*Mariner 10*”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariner_10 and most notably by the two “*Voyager probes,*”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyager_program in order to achieve velocities and trajectories that would otherwise require incredible amounts of fuel.

    Because of this connection, NASA has embraced Angry Birds Space as an opportunity to educate people about space and gravity. According to NASA: “Not only does gravity play a vital role in the game but, in general, gravity is a force that governs motion throughout the universe.” In addition to “*sending iPads to the space station,*”:http://blog.smalldog.com/article/ipad-in-space/ presumably to play Angry Birds Space in space, NASA has also made a video of astronaut Don Pettit demonstrating the physics of projectiles in a microgravity environment using an Angry Bird toy and a makeshift slingshot. The video can be viewed “*here.*”:http://youtu.be/lxI1L1RiSJQ

    If learning isn’t your thing, that’s okay, because this game is also really fun to play. Your starting position and the number and type of gravity wells varies from level to level forcing you to constantly rethink your angle of attack and come up with some creative solutions to get pigs that seem impossible to hit at first glance. My favorite level (so far) is hidden and needed to be unlocked by getting what appeared to be a golden rock. When you hit the golden rock, you are warped to a game field that is an obvious homage to the classic arcade game Space Invaders.

    Download Angry Birds Space for iOS “*here.*”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/angry-birds-space/id499511971?mt=8%26uo%3D6%26partnerId%3D30

  • MAC TREAT #180: About This Mac Gets a Facelift

    The “About This Mac” feature on your Mac has always been a shortcut to the details and specs on your computer. It provides a quick reference if you need to know how much RAM is installed, your serial number, or processor speed at-a-glance.

    Before I get to the snazzy new look in Lion, though, I want to point out a tip that’s inherent in all versions of OS X: When you first select About This Mac from the Apple menu, a window pops up with some basic specs, including the version of the OS. Just by clicking those words, the data will rotate through, giving you access to your serial number right there.

    In that main window, there’s a button labeled More Info… that you can click to view your System Information. Here’s where Lion has made this much more user friendly! Visually, it’s a complete overhaul, with the old text lists making way for photos to help you understand what you’re looking at.

    It’s not just prettier, though. Browse through the website-like menu navigation (click for screenshots of “*Overview,*”:http://blog.smalldog.com/images/2940.png “*Displays,*”:http://blog.smalldog.com/images/2938.png “*Storage,*”:http://blog.smalldog.com/images/2937.png “*Memory,*”:http://blog.smalldog.com/images/2939.png “*Support*”:http://blog.smalldog.com/images/2936.png and “*Service.*”:http://blog.smalldog.com/images/2935.png) and you’ll find links to user manuals, upgrade instructions, warranty check information, the Help Center and more.

  • Weekly Apple News Recap | 05.25.12

    *Camera RAW Compatibility Update*
    Apple released Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 3.13, adding further RAW image compatibility support for six new cameras to iPhoto ’11 and Aperture 3.

    It’s located under *Apple > Software Update…* “*Read more here.*”:http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4757?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

    *iPad Sales Top 3 Million*
    Apple announced that they have sold over three million iPads (3rd gen) since the release on March 16. That’s a whole lotta Retina displays.

    “*Read more here.*”:http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2012/03/19New-iPad-Tops-Three-Million.html

  • _Dear Friends,_

    It looks like a beautiful Memorial Day weekend here in the Northeast. I’ll be heading over to Maine for my annual ride to lobster. The creemee stands are open and the Green Mountains are living up to their name as spring seems to be over and summer here.

    Both our S. Burlington store and our Manchester, NH store will be open on Memorial Day, and the rest of Small Dog will be taking the day off. I reluctantly agreed to keep the two retail stores open because all of the other stores in the shopping center/mall are also open; however, I also think that it is important that all of us at Small Dog Electronics take the time to honor those who have sacrificed for our country by serving in the military. Our young men and women do not choose where they serve, but their sacrifice is very, very real and their service undeniable.

    We do have a solemn duty to support our soldiers and their families who are left behind. We also have a duty to make sure that when we send our soldiers into danger, we do so judiciously and only under the most imperative conditions. We have a duty to question, to dissent, and ultimately to support the men and women who go to battle in our name. Memorial Day is a day where we remember and celebrate the lives of those who have given their all for us. I have nothing but respect and honor for these brave men and women.

    “When we say, “war is over if you want it,” we mean that if everyone demanded peace instead of another TV set, we’d have peace.” -John Lennon

    Small Dog Electronics was inducted into the University of Vermont Deane C. Davis Business Hall of Fame Tuesday and we joined 21 other companies in that prestigious honor. I joked about our struggles in the minor leagues as I accepted this honor, but it was really an award for our 65 Small Dog employees and our thousands of loyal customers! The Foley Family of companies is this year’s winner of the Deane C. Davis Outstanding Business award and we congratulate Mark Foley and his team on this honor.

    The Foley Companies have been a mainstay of Central Vermont for over 135 years, and are headquartered in Rutland, VT, our state’s 2nd largest city. We will be holding our Vermont eWaste Recycling Event at Rutland High School on June 30th, and we are excited to bring our ewaste efforts to Rutland!

  • Hello All,

    We are proud to share with you a review that demonstrates how durable our new Hammerhead Capo Cases are. We felt so strongly about its ruggedness that we donated both a new iPad and an orange Capo Case to an unbiased reviewer at “*Wired.com*”:http://www.wired.com and had him actually roll over it with his truck!

    We didn’t really know what the results would be prior to the test and we are thrilled to announce that the iPad wasn’t damaged one bit and the Capo Case only ended up with a tire tread mark on the case’s external surface!

    “*Check out the video here.*”:https://www.hammerheadcase.com/product/13/capo-case

    Feel free to showcase this video to any of your customers that are looking for the ultimate in iPad protection. (Of course if your customers do see this video, they will want to buy a Capo case, don’t you think? Be prepared with sufficient inventory!)

    It’s not too late to grab inventory for Back to School shoppers. We have a great deal to offer you, from rugged and stylish Capo Cases to reversible Neoprene Sleeves (perfect complements to MacBook buyers) and Premium Leather Cases that fit __all__ iPad models.

    There have been some changes here at Hammerhead and I want to keep you up-to-date on our new products and try to offer you great deals at the same time! For more information on our products, any questions, or to place an order, contact me and I will make sure you get the help you need!

    Tony
    “*tony@hammerheadcase.com*”:mailto:tony@hammerheadcase.com

  • OS 10.7.4 Update Blocks Old Flash

    Apple released the latest update to Lion last week, version 10.7.4, which also updated Safari to 5.1.7. One of the features of this…

  • TT SPECIAL: Daduates and Graduates

    It’s that time of year again: the leaves are on the trees, the flowers are in bloom, the lawnmowers are humming in the distance (except for mine because it is a human-powered push mower) and we prepare to honor our Dads and grads.

    We have three tiers of specials perfect for the person in your life who has replicated or matriculated. These specials are also available with any computer we sell, so please give us a call if you want a different Mac bundle for those who are done with school and those who have contributed to the gene pool.

  • But it's Finals Week!

    I’ve lost track of the number of times I have heard that impassioned plea after informing a student that their data is gone due to a hard drive failure. Unfortunately, that isn’t enough of a reason to convince their hard drive to give up the goods. Most people don’t think about backing up their data until after their system has crashed. To quote Larry the Cable Guy, “that’s like checkin’ on your burgers after they’re burnt!”

    A hard drive’s lifespan is rated in hours of use, known as its Mean Time Between Failure. The average consumer-grade hard drive claims to have a MTBF of 500,000 hours, which works out to about 57 years. If only this was actually true–the average lifespan of a hard drive seems to be 5-6 years, and the older the drive gets, the higher the chance that it can suddenly fail.

    I can remember a time when hard drives would easily last 10 years or more under normal use. Now it seems like they last maybe half that. I see a lot of repairs with hard drives that failed less than 4 years after purchase. Meanwhile, I have a pile of hard drives at home that were in use for almost 15 years before they were retired because they were no longer large enough. They still work, but there’s not much use for a 300MB hard drive anymore.

    Twenty years ago, it wasn’t unusual to “*pay in excess of $9000*”:http://www.nytimes.com/1990/07/24/science/personal-computers-power-at-a-price.html for a desktop computer. Computers were a major investment. You could take comfort in knowing that you were getting your money’s worth because back then, the parts were built to last.

    Technology didn’t progress as quickly in the early ’90s, so there was no reason for people to buy a new computer every few years. Now things change so quickly that it’s become “upgrade or die.” When you pay as much for a computer as you do for a used car, it’s an easy decision when it breaks–it’s much cheaper to repair it than replace it. Today’s computers are comparatively cheap, so depending on what component fails, it can be a tougher choice. The tendency to replace a computer is much higher than it once was, so there’s not a lot of incentive for manufacturers to spend the extra money to build components that last forever.

    So, knowing that your computer has a hard drive that you KNOW is going to fail within 5-10 years, do I even need to say the magic word?

    Occasionally, you can tell that your hard drive is starting to fail. In many cases though, you don’t have any warning. You turn on your computer and it won’t boot. Your laptop gets dropped while it’s on, causing immediate and irreparable damage to the hard drive. Whatever the cause, this is often the only time people consider their data. They bring their system to us, asking us to try to save their data, and in a lot of cases we have to be the bearers of bad news. Everything that was on that system, whether it’s term papers or baby pictures, is gone. Threatening it, crying about it, saying things like “but I have a term paper due next week!” simply don’t help.

    I’ve said it many times in part articles, and I will continue to say it: back up your data. If you don’t have an external backup of some form, make one. Since OS X 10.5 Leopard, Apple has included a built-in free backup program called Time Machine, yet many people don’t use it or even know what it is. I hear things like “a hard drive costs too much” or “I don’t have time.” Now try to figure out how much time and/or money you’re going to lose if your hard drive ever crashes and eats your files. It’s more expensive NOT to make a backup.

    Some day, it could be you at our service counter, begging us to restore your files, only to hear that we can’t. “*Get a backup drive*”:http://www.smalldog.com/category/Storage_and_Backup/External_Hard_Drives/751GB_and_Up/ and use it. You’ll thank yourself later.

  • OS 10.7.4 Update Blocks Old Flash

    Apple released the latest update to Lion last week, version 10.7.4, which also updated Safari to 5.1.7. One of the features of this new Safari is to block older versions of Adobe Flash Player. This is causing some problems; the typical support call is “it could get to a web page yesterday, then I got a Software Update, now it doesn’t work anymore.”

    By itself, Safari can’t read certain web page content without the help of plugins. Out of the box, Safari supports QuickTime and viewing PDF files online. If you want to watch videos from YouTube, you need the “*Flash Player plugin from Adobe.*”:http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/ Most of the time when Flash is needed, you will get a note on the web page; click on that note and you’re taken to Adobe’s web page to download the Flash Player.

    The reason for this is because Apple considers older versions of Flash Player to be vulnerable to various malware attacks, so they have added code to Safari to block these versions from running to better protect you. If Safari sees an outdated version, it will act as if no Flash Player is installed at all, so you will get a prompt to install it the next time it’s needed.

    Another example of a plugin is Silverlight, which is required to watch Netflix on your Mac. Java is also an plugin, but is not included with Lion due to recent security issues. Most of the time when you try to view a page that requires a plugin you don’t have, a link is provided to install it.

    Note that plugins are not the same as extensions. I have seen some review sites use the terms synonymously, but in fact they are not the same thing. Plugins are required to view web page content, while extensions add to the functionality of Safari itself. “*1Password*”:https://agilebits.com/onepassword has a browser extension to fill in logins and passwords for you; another example is “*AdBlock,*”:http://safariadblock.com/ which prevents advertisements from showing on web pages.

    When prompted for a plugin, first ensure that you’re familiar with the site. If you are viewing a Yahoo news page and a plugin request comes up, it’s most likely safe to install it. If you’re searching for something on Google, and a random page pops up a “missing plugin” error, there is always the chance that it’s not safe to install. Better to back out of that page and look elsewhere than to risk infection by malware. You can always search on Google for that plugin–if it’s harmful, there will be reports of it.

    Once the plugin is downloaded, click the “Show downloads” arrow on the Safari toolbar, then double-click the Adobe Flash installer. It will open up a disk image containing a red Flash icon. Double click on this icon and follow the prompts to install it. Once it’s complete, go back to the web page and it should now work properly.