Kibbles & Bytes Blog

  • _Dear Friends,_

    Welcome to the summer edition of Kibbles & Bytes…we have been setting records every single day for the past week with temperatures soaring into the 80s. I even got in my traditional first lobster run on Sunday when I headed over the Kancamagus Highway to the “*Lobster Trap*”:http://www.lobstertraprestaurant.com/ on my motorcycle.

    I think the whole state has a wicked case of spring fever as the crocus are blooming, trees budding and birds singing. Grace has already put up the screens even though we could still get a cold spell and I’m assuming at least one more major snowstorm. Nevertheless, the mildest winter that I can remember in Vermont is officially over as we enter spring.

    We have *all of the new iPad models in stock at all of our stores* and the response has been phenomenal. With over 24 models to choose from with Wi-Fi, AT&T and Verizon models and the iPad 2 still available at a discount price, we are ready to help you pick just the right iPad for your needs. With the new video capability on the new iPad, you may want to consider the models with increased storage as those video clips do take up quite a bit of space. Come on in to any of our stores to check out the new iPad–I think you will want one!

  • Malware Q&A

    Public knowledge can be a funny and inconsistent thing. Back when the idea of having a computer at home was a novel concept, no one knew or cared about data security and worms and such. Time passed, and companies all over started shipping affordable home PCs to the masses. Gateway 2000, Northgate, and Dell were household names, and thousands of people were being introduced to the wonderful world of Windows.

    Then the hackers came along, and started polluting this brave new world with viruses and keyloggers and all manner of malware to steal data and just make life miserable. No one knew how bad viruses were or understood the threat of having your email hacked or your hard drive erased; even as late as 2003, a lot of people did not bother to install and maintain a virus scanner because they just didn’t think they needed one. (I ran my own consulting business at that time; easily 95% of my business was cleaning up after a virus infection.)

    Fast forward to 2012. Mac computers are gaining market share like never before, sold as an alternative to Windows because of OS Xs stability and security. Somewhere in the past 10 years, it seems like public awareness about security threats has expanded and grown, but the actual understanding has not followed suit. The pendulum has swung from apathy (“meh, it won’t affect me”) to paranoia (“my computer won’t boot, it must be a virus!!”) The mass media is mostly to blame for this; rather than educate, they prefer to panic people needlessly. They managed to get the word out there, unfortunately the word they chose is “Doom! Doom! Doom!”

    Now it seems like any time a computer does something strange, the question is, “did I catch a virus from somewhere?” I occasionally get customers with dead iPods who swear they caught a virus because they plugged it into someone else’s computer.

    To hopefully clear up some misconceptions, I present a little question and answer, culled from common customer questions via our service desk, phone calls, and email.

    *Q.* Can Macs get viruses?
    *A.* No–sort of. The term “virus” has been misused in the media, and has become an all-encompassing generic term for anything that exists on your computer that doesn’t belong there. A virus is a malicious piece of code with the ability to spread itself without your interaction or awareness that it is even there. Viruses (technically, “virii”) have always been a big problem on PCs, dating back to boot sector viruses that spread themselves via floppy disk. Later, they were upgraded to work on Windows systems, spreading via floppy, USB key, or network connections. Typically, a virus takes advantage of an unpatched security hole (an “exploit”) and since most Windows users never bothered to run updates or keep an anti-virus program up to date, the chances were pretty good that a virus could spread unimpeded through an entire corporate network. This type of code cannot run on a Mac–OS X simply does not permit it. As with any OS, however, the weakest link is the person using it. If you go to an infected web page on a Windows system, chances are the system will be infected without you even knowing it. On a Mac, the code would be ignored.

    *Q.* No one writes viruses for the Mac because no one buys Macs.
    *A.* This is an old argument used primarily by Windows fanboys to put down Macs. “Your system is so pathetic that hackers won’t even write a virus for it!” Years ago, that may have been true, but it’s not the case now. Fact is, someone trying to steal credit cards or private data is going to shoot for the largest possible audience, which in almost all cases is Windows. Years ago, most people using Windows were unfamiliar with computers, and knew nothing at all about web page scams, so when a page popped up saying “you have a virus, download this program to clean it!” they believed it, did what they were told, and infected their system. People with Apple computers (at that time) tended to be more of the hobbyist, a bit more savvy, and knew to avoid stuff like that. However, now that Macs are making their way into homes as a first computer, malware writers are targeting those people as well. Last year, there was an epidemic caused by a program called MacDefender, which claimed to be an antivirus program. Since it could not automatically infect a Mac, it had to ask the user’s permission to install it. Such a thing was unheard of, and people were just not prepared for it.

    *Q.* Do I need an antivirus program for my Mac?
    *A.* Need? No. Macs cannot get viruses. However, now that we know hackers are writing malware for the Mac, it certainly would not hurt to have one anyway just in case. I recommend Sophos–it’s effective and free. If anything, it prevents you from passing on an e-mail virus to your friends still running Windows, and if you happen to stumble across an infected web site that tried to force a fake anti-virus program down your Mac’s throat, you’ll get a warning before you click the “Install” button.

    *Q.* Can a smart phone be infected with malware?
    *A.* Despite Google’s claims to the contrary, “*the Android platform has been targeted.*”:http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9223777/Massive_Android_malware_op_may_have_infected_5_million_users Whether this is due to an inherent flaw in the OS or a mistake in the customizations done by the vendor, it has happened. iOS is different from Android, and is much more secure; however, there have been some apps released that can grab personal information and upload it to a web site. This is not really considered to be malware–access to the address book is something every iOS app has. This is more a privacy issue than a security issue, but that’s a topic for another article.

  • Bottom Case Delamination

    Hello! My name is Lance, and this is my first Tech Tails article. You can usually find me behind the service department counter in South Burlington taking care of customers.

    I often get customers asking about an issue with their white unibody MacBooks. The issue is called bottom case delamination. It can occur with white MacBooks manufactured between October 2009 and April 2011. When the issue occurs, the rubber mat on the bottom of the computer separates from the housing. Below is a photo of what it can look like.

    Customers often think that it’s something that they did to the computer, however this is actually a common problem. It’s an issue that Apple recognizes and will take care of, and in most cases there is no cost for this repair (even if the system is no longer under warranty or AppleCare).

    The machine does have to meet eligibility requirements however, so stop into one of our stores and talk to the service department to get more information about this program.

    !(image)http://blog.smalldog.com/images/2832.jpg!

  • Safari 5.1.4

    Apple recently released a fairly important update to Safari for OS X Lion: version 5.1.4. This update brought a number of various updates to the application, covering aspects of performance as well as security.

    The biggest, and probably most noticeable update, is that of JavaScript within Safari. Apple claims that with this update JavaScript performance will improve up to 11%, compared to its performance in 5.1.3. Many websites are built using the JavaScript language, such as those with built-in animation and interactive menus. An improvement to Safari’s performance with it is going to be helpful for most, if not all, users.

    As far as fixes for security within Safari, version 5.1.4 fixes a small bug with Private Browsing. Normally, when using Private Browsing, none of your browsing history is recorded, making for a discreet session of internet usage. The bug was with webpages using a certain JavaScript language that were still being recorded in the user’s browsing history, effectively defeating the purpose.

    Another smaller, but still important issue that was addressed pertained to PDF files saved from a website. The bug was with hyperlinks in the PDFs that, when downloaded and saved to the user’s hard drive, would break and no longer bring you to the intended webpage. This was an issue I had noticed a few times while using Safari, and I’m very glad they fixed this.

    These bugs, as well as many other small ones, were addressed and resolved in this Safari update. You can read more about what exactly was addressed in the 5.1.4 update here: “*http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5142*”:http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5142

  • Spring is here! March 20th is the first day of Spring, and this looks to be a great week for it. High 70s all week, with the possibility of getting over 80 on Thursday.

    The streets are filled with the happy sounds of motorcycles! There are so many people out there who are applying makeup, shaving, talking on the phone, and cramming that morning danish and coffee, all while driving to work. It’s easy to forget that there are other people on the road, so please watch out for those of us on two wheels and no steel cage to protect us.

    This week, we bring you the latest update to Safari, some more Q&A from our customers, and an article from one of our newest technicians.

    Glenn
    “*glenn@smalldog.com*”:mailto:glenn@smalldog.com

  • Save over $60 on the MacBook (mid-2009, used) bundle with 4GB RAM total + a free Hammerhead neoprene sleeve (reversible to Black or Red). Plus, get free ground shipping—all for $739.99!

    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.

  • Weekly Apple News Recap | 3/9-3/16

    New iPad Obviously, the biggest thing happening this week is that the new iPad drops today. We’re in the midst of iPad madness…

  • We are working to get our Hammerhead Cases ready for this iPad launch and in a couple of weeks I’ll be heading to China to visit the manufacturers. We hope to have our new line in stock by the middle of April with some real nice new products. We will make sure Kibbles & Bytes readers hear about it first.

    Thanks you for reading this issue of Kibbles & Bytes!

    Your Kibbles & Bytes team,
    _Don, Kali & Dawn_

  • Great Lil' MacBook Bundle

    In case you were wondering what I was doing during my hiatus from Small Dog, one of the jobs that I had was Technical Coordinator at The Warren School in Warren, VT.

    Longtime customers might remember that I use to write the Eds Up! newsletter, so working at the school was a dream come true. I spent my days teaching kids about the ins and outs of computers by finding some really cool websites and projects for them to do.

    One of the computer labs that I maintained was a set of MacBooks and those little computers took a beating, so I was chuffed when I saw that Small Dog had a batch of these used MacBooks at a decent price. This is the ultimate kids machine!

    Here’s a bundle that every kid should have: a MacBook with some free stuff!

  • Vote for Small Dog on About.com!

    We’re in the running for Best Mac Peripheral Reseller on About.com, and we need your vote! “*Click through here*”:http://macs.about.com/b/2012/02/22/readers-choice-awards-2012-voting-best-mac-peripheral-reseller.htm and show your Small Dog loyalty. Voting ends 3/21.

    Thanks!

  • From the Archives: iPad Launch!

    __”The iPad Considered” was written by Ed Shepard and was originally featured in “*Kibbles & Bytes issue #656*”:http://blog.smalldog.com/kibbles/kb656/ when the original iPad launched in 2010.__

    Last week, after months of speculation, Apple Inc. unveiled its iPad table computer to decidedly mixed reactions. Some hailed iPad as a brilliant, industry-redefining device, certain to save print media while simultaneously selling tens of millions of copies, like iPod and iPhone.

    Others snickered at the name, immediately dismissing iPad as either a dumbed-down computer or an awkwardly overgrown iPhone. That is, a product without need or niche. At this point, negative opinions about iPad seem to be Louder and more prevalent than positive ones. Some of that negativity is backlash to the frenzy leading up to iPad’s launch. Apple isn’t helping when it calls iPad “magical” and “revolutionary.” But what is it?

    Superficially, iPad does indeed resemble a large iPhone or iPod touch. It has a 9.6-inch multi-touch screen, is a 1/2-inch thick, and is made of aluminum and glass. Like the iPhone, the iPad has just four physical buttons. It can run most of the 140,000 apps in the iTunes App Store, just like an iPhone or iPod touch.

    While it can run those apps (more on that below), out of the box it’s primarily designed for reading books, newspapers, and other content, surfing the web, playing games, and enjoying media such as YouTube videos, HD movies, music, photos, and TV shows. You can also use iPad to send email, touch up photos, edit documents and spreadsheets, and view PDFs. You hold iPad in your hands like a clipboard or book.

    If you know how to use an iPhone or iPod touch you’ll know how to use the iPad. Like the iPhone, the iPad has a software keyboard. Early reports say this keyboard is fine for composing short emails, updating Facebook, and basic text editing, but probably isn’t ideal for complex word processing. Apple is offering two external keyboards to help with that.

    All versions of the iPad have built-in Wi-Fi, while three versions also have 3G wireless capabilities. AT&T offers iPad users two different 30-day, no contract 3G data plans for people out of reach of a Wifi signal.

    It should be possible to make VOIP and Skype calls from iPad, as it now is with 3G and 3GS iPhones.

    Notable features lacking on the iPad include a camera or webcam, SD card port (though Apple is offering an adapter for SD cards), support for Flash, and true system multitasking. It’s surprising that iPad lacks a camera. It’s a likely addition to the next generation iPad. Multitasking is also likely a feature in the next version of the iPhone operating system (which drives the iPad.) If iPad supported multitasking now, it would likely have far fewer skeptics.

    For many people, the lack of Flash will be iPad’s major shortcoming. For now, this means no Hulu.com. Web standards are moving from Flash video to an open standard (led by companies such as YouTube), but this won’t happen for a couple of years. In the meantime, perhaps Apple and Adobe will settle their differences and bring Flash to iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch. I wouldn’t hold my breath on that.

    iPad is not designed to do everything you’d do on a traditional computer; instead, as Steve Jobs has said, “It has to be far better at doing some key things.” It will be an exceptional, full color ereader; not just for books, but also newspapers and magazines. As of this writing, the base iPad costs just $10 more than the Kindle DX, but has far more features. Indeed, if Apple simply said it was launching and ebook reader with the iPad’s features, I believe public acclaim would be very high, and we’d be seeing far fewer negative reactions to it.

    iPad will also be a great gaming and media consuming device. A certain type of mobile professional will appreciate the simplicity of the iPad design, along with its considerable wireless abilities. The iPad makes an excellent digital planner, with calendar, contact, and Microsoft Exchange support built in. Certainly many doctors, lawyers, and teachers have been hoping for a simple, streamlined device (simpler than a notebook) for accessing digital documents.

    But the real killer feature of iPad is its ability to run nearly any of the 140,000 apps in the iTunes App store. Many of these apps will be much more useful on iPad’s 9.6-inch screen than the iPhone’s 3-inch screen. The apps let you make the iPad want you want it to be. I know a videographer who uses his iPhone as a teleprompter, digital clapboard, script reader, and storyboard tool. Imagine the utility of doing all that on iPad’s larger screen? The iPad was announced months before shipping to give developers a head start in developing new, iPad-specific apps. Those iPad-specific apps will define the iPad’s real potential.

    So, is the iPad truly a revolutionary device, or just a toy for Mac fans? Based on its potential utility, it’s not a toy. But based on its specs, it’s not a revolution like the iPhone was. Instead, it’s a step toward a new kind of appliance-like computing. You just turn it on and use it. You keep it out on your coffee table or desk for instant access. You download inexpensive, specialized apps as you need them. And you do it on a device that’s easier to read then a cell phone, but more casual than a notebook computer.

    As a step in an evolutionary process, iPad will certainly give rise to interesting competing products in the future, just as iPhone paved the way for great new smartphones from Google and other companies. Who knows, you might read about those devices on an iPad someday.