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Check out our blog, “**Barkings!**”:http://blog.smalldog.com/ to keep up with the latest Mac news, tips and tricks.
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Screen protectors are great for keeping your device’s screen scratch-free and also cut down on the amount of fingerprints that accumulate on your screen. If you’ve ever tried applying one to your iPhone or iPad, you’ll probably agree that they can be very finicky products that are prone to air bubbles, and if you manage to get even a speck of dust under the protector, well… it just looks terrible.
Moshi’s Visor series of screen protectors, available for the iPhone, iPad (and even your Mac!) aim to provide an easier application process while still providing you with awesome protection from scratches and minor dings and an anti-glare coating to make viewing in bright or sunny environments a little easier on your eyes.
These go on in a snap and are designed to eliminate those unsightly air bubbles. Best of all, they are washable and reusable! The only small gripe of note that I’ve found is the Visors for the iPhone 4 are a bit thicker than most other screen protectors, so depending on what case you use with your iPhone, there could possibly be some fit issues. Our Hammerhead cases make a great pairing with the Visors to protect your entire iPhone or iPad!
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Even four months after its launch, the iPad 2 is still one of the hottest selling items on the planet. Okay, that may be a bit of a stretch, but not by much. Two of the most common questions that we’re asked after a customer gets one of the beauties in their hands are, “What do you recommend for a case? and “Can I use a keyboard with my iPad? Well my friends, do we have a deal for you!
The “Hammerhead Bluetooth Keyboard Case for iPad 2”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/78445/hammerhead-bluetooth-keyboard-case-for-ipad-2-black/at_bis answers both of these questions, and offers much more! It has a soft, scratch-resistant interior to protect the iPad. Both the keyboard and the iPad screen angle can be adjusted with the velcro that is built into the case. If you don’t want to use the keyboard inside the case you don’t have to! The keyboard can be removed from the case, and used up to a distance of 30 feet away.
Battery life won’t be an issue, because the keyboard can be used for up to 6 to 8 hours and can be recharged with the included USB cable. The case also includes a stylus with a soft brush tip for easier navigation, which you can also use with your iPhone or iPod touch along with the keyboard!
This is definitely one of the best cases available, so come on over and “check it out!”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/78445/hammerhead-bluetooth-keyboard-case-for-ipad-2-black/at_bis
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Well everyone, this will be my last edition writing Best in Showroom as I depart from Small Dog Electronics and begin my next adventure out west in Arizona. The scorching temperatures we’ve been having lately have been a nice little proto boot camp of what I can expect in the Grand Canyon state for 5 or 6 months out of the year (albeit with much less humidity and much more dust).
I’d like to personally thank each and every one of our customers who have made this one of the most exciting and fulfilling jobs I’ve ever held. Come on into the store if you need to beat the heat–our AC is working great here and we’ve got plenty of great Apple products to check out!
It sure has been a busy month on the product front! OS X Lion is officially here, as are some brand new MacBook Air models and Mac minis! Are you up to date with your operating system and ready to install Lion? Need a RAM upgrade for better performance? Give us a call or drop into the store and speak with one of our Sales Professionals. We understand all of the new technology can be a lot to wrap your head around–and we are here to help!
Thank you!
Gary Peters
I have the big electric motor mounted on my wheel and swing arm and I hope to get it uncrated and mounted to the motorcycle frame this weekend. Then the hard work starts, designing the battery pack, electronics, etc. This is an exciting project and I’ll keep you updated and add pictures as we go along.
Thank you for reading this issue of Kibbles & Bytes!
Your Kibbles & Bytes team,
_Don, Ben(bibi) & Kali
With Lion, all of the iOS features you know and love on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch are fully integrated. That’s why–to get the most out of your Mac–you would want to grab a “*Magic Trackpad*”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/76695/apple-magic-trackpad/at_kb and this cool device called a “*Magic Wand.*”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/77851/twelve-south-magic-wand/at_kb
The Magic Wand binds your keyboard and Trackpad together, making your scrolling and typing experience truly coordinated. The Apple Trackpad, of course, allows you to utilize all of those iOS features (such as pinching to zoom in and out) on your Mac.
This week, save $10 when you purchase both together! Just use code *kbmagic* after adding both items to your cart. You’ll love what you can do!
“*Magic Trackpad*”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/76695/apple-magic-trackpad/at_kb
“*Magic Wand*”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/77851/twelve-south-magic-wand/at_kb
Both for $89.99 with code *kbmagic*!
Looking for a case for your iPad 2 that’s a little different than the rest?
The “*DODOcase*”:http://www.smalldog.com/search/?find=dodocase+book+cover for iPad 2 is a handmade structured case with a vintage bookbound aesthetic. It converts to a stand for typing and viewing and keeps your iPad solidly protected.
As a Kibbles & Bytes subscriber, get free shipping on this awesome case, this week only. Use code *kbdodo* in the cart. Your choice of Black with Charcoal, Black with Red and Black with Green.
“*Click here to view details*”:http://www.smalldog.com/search/?find=dodocase+book+cover – $59.99 with free shipping (with code *kbdodo*)
As today marks my final contribution to Kibbles & Bytes, I wanted to take a moment to thank you–our readers–for your tremendous support over the past year. Writing for Kibbles & Bytes has been a wonderful opportunity, and easily ranks among my favorite aspects of working at Small Dog.
It’s been an absolute pleasure bringing you Mac Treats, Apple news and product reviews on a weekly basis, and I’ll miss having the opportunity to do so. Thank you for your support, questions and feedback throughout the past year, it’s been great being a part of the Kibbles community. Most of all, thank you so much for reading!
In iOS 4, and presumably in iOS 5, there is an easy way to completely close any apps that are running on your iOS device. Many customers complain about their device’s battery life, and running too many apps in the background can be a major culprit of shorter lifespans.
Quitting excess apps is a great way to preserve battery life, but you don’t need to always quit every app. For instance, I leave Messages, Mail, iPod and Words With Friends running pretty much all the time. I tend to close apps like Camera, Facebook and CNN when I’m done, as I only use them every couple of days.
To force quit an app, double-tap the home button (the physical button beneath your device’s screen), and the apps that you have used most recently will show up in a tray beneath the dock. Next, press and hold any app in the tray, and a red minus button will pop up next to it. Simply tap the minus sign to quit the app. If you’ve never closed out of an app, then every app you’ve ever opened will show up. It can be a tedious process to quit every app on your device, but it will save battery life. Perhaps iOS 5 will introduce a “quit all” button.
Remember, this process does not delete apps, it just quits them so they’re not running in the background and draining battery life. Next time you open an app, it will once again be added to the recently used apps in the multi-tasking tray. If you’d like to maximize your device’s battery life, consider quitting non-essential apps when you’re done with them.
Earlier this week Apple released iOS 4.3.5, an incremental update focusing primarily on a security issue with certificate validation. Arriving just over a week after iOS 4.3.4, this update marks the second security oriented iOS release in only 10 days.
According to the support document accompanying the software’s release, the update prevents attackers with privileged network positions from capturing or modifying data in sessions protected by SSL/TLS. A full summary and description of changes can be found “*here.*”:http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4824
While iOS 4.3.5 does not contain any additional new features, its prompt release does demonstrate that Apple is taking iOS security increasingly more seriously. As the company plans to “cut the cord” with iOS 5 this fall, post-PC devices such as iPad will inevitably replace aging computers for some users–simultaneously making themselves more viable and susceptible for attack.
The relatively quick release of iOS 4.3.4 a week and a half ago and the very quick debut of 4.3.5 today clearly indicate Apple is paying attention to its community and making attempts to squash bugs soon after they’re identified.
iOS 4.3.5 is compatible with the following list of devices, and is available via “*direct download*”:http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1431 or through iTunes.
* iPhone 4 (GSM model)
* iPhone 3GS
* iPad 2
* iPad
* iPod touch (4th generation)
* iPod touch (3rd generation)
iOS 4.2.10 is compatible with the CDMA (Verizon) model of iPhone 4 and is available via “*direct download,*”:http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1432 or by connecting a CMDA iPhone 4 to iTunes.
Last week, Apple announced Mac OS X Lion has already amassed over one million downloads. The freshly debuted operating system reached this impressive sales figure in just 24 hours, making it fastest selling OS release in Apple’s history. The first major OS X release available exclusively through the Mac App Store, Lion’s easy install and relatively low $29.99 price point likely aided in its tremendous early adoption rates.
Lion has been in the wild for over a week now and, although Apple has yet to disclose additional sales numbers, it is highly probable downloads have surpassed the two million mark. With over 250 new features and refinements to nearly every aspect of previous versions of OS X, it’s easy to see why Lion is a runaway hit. Speaking on the operating system’s excellent reception, Apple senior VP of Worldwide Product Marketing Phil Schiller offered the following:
bq. “Lion is off to a great start, user reviews and industry reaction have been fantastic. Lion is a huge step forward, it’s not only packed with innovative features but it’s incredibly easy for users to update their Macs to the best OS we’ve ever made.”
Putting Lion’s success in better perspective, MacRumors “*cites*”:http://www.macrumors.com/2005/06/06/wwdc-keynote-summary/ it took Apple more than a month to sell two million copies of Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger when it originally launched in 2005. It’s remarkable to think that Apple may have already exceeded this number in just 48 hours.
Mac OS X 10.7 Lion is now available on the Mac App Store, and retails for $29.99. To ensure your Mac is compatible and ready to upgrade, click “*here.*”:http://blog.smalldog.com/article/get-ready-for-lion/
To purchase Lion, click “*here.*”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Fos-x-lion%2Fid444303913%3Fmt%3D12%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30 (opens the Mac App Store)
*System Requirements:*
* Intel-based Mac with a Core 2 Duo, i3, 15, i7 or Xeon processor
* Mac OS X 10.6.8 Snow Leopard
* 2GB of RAM
* 7GB available hard drive space
* Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply
* Some features require a compatible Internet service provider; fees may apply
I, like Don, have been using Lion since its release and loving it. (Though just for the record, I put it on my personal machine. We’re still BFFs, IT!) I’ve found features that I was specifically waiting for (e.g. Resume, tricked-out Finder) and ones that I hadn’t expected (e.g. Actions in-line in Mail such as Delete, Forward, etc.).
Another such feature that I didn’t expect was the new “Natural” scrolling in Lion. Because Lion incorporates many of the features prevalent in iOS, the way one scrolls is -backwards- different. Scroll down, and your mouse goes up. Scroll up, and your mouse goes down. I understand that motion on my iPhone; not so much on my iMac.
Thankfully, the fix is easy if this is bothersome to you as well! Just go to *System Preferences > Trackpad* and uncheck “Scroll direction: natural.”
*UPDATE* Since this was featured in Kibbles & Bytes, I received a few responses which pointed out that if one does not have a Trackpad (either no laptop or no Apple Trackpad), the Trackpad preferences will not be visible. To that I say, you’re right! If you don’t have a Trackpad attached, you’ll find the same option in the Mouse preferences.