Kibbles & Bytes Blog

  • Choose Your Logic

    Apple’s Logic software is a powerful and seemingly limitless application for both musicians and producers alike. If you are beginning to feel constrained by the limits of GarageBand, especially in terms of editing sounds and mixing to produce a professional quality recording, Logic is definitely worth looking into.

    The biggest question that you’ll be faced with is whether to go with “Logic Express”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/74234/ ($199.99) or the full-blown “Logic Studio”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/74231/ ($499.99).

    Musicians looking to dive further into recording will be more than happy with Logic Express. As a guitarist who loves extreme and bizarre sounds I was pleasantly surprised to see all of the built-in guitar amp and effects pedal models, which offer you seemingly endless combinations of effects, and also sound incredible. There are more than enough virtual instruments to keep you busy for months, and the fact you can edit almost every parameter of every instrument and effect plug-in gives even the most discriminating sonic architect something to tinker with.

    Mixing in Logic is much more straightforward and visually pleasing, with a virtual analog mixing board right in front of you. Logic offers full support to almost every MIDI controller or USB interface, so you can control faders and knobs in real time to your hearts content.

    All of these features are present in both the Express and Studio packages. However, Logic Studio adds on a ton of additional features.

    Here are a few of the highlights:

    * MainStage: Brings your studio sound to the stage. This is heaven for guitarists and synth players, as you can access all of the virtual instruments and effects within Logic and use just about any MIDI controller to manipulate every imaginable aspect of your sound (if so desired) in live performance.
    * Soundtrack Pro: Apple’s film scoring/mixing/soundtrack application. It is of note that Logic Express does offer some limited film scoring as well
    * Includes all of the Apple JamPacks, so you get hundreds and hundreds of additional instruments and sound loops.
    * Delay and Space Designer: create your own delay and reverb algorithms (the sound sculpturing possibilities here are mind-blowing).
    * Surround Sound mixing.
    * WaveBurner: A CD Mastering/Authoring tool.

    To sum up, most musicians looking to enhance their recording projects will find more than enough features to keep themselves busy churning out professional quality recordings with Logic Express. Those looking for advanced studio functionality, or looking for more virtual instruments and effects, and the flexibility of live and studio use will be right at home with Logic Studio.

    “See all Logic versions, including upgrades, here.”:http://www.smalldog.com/search/?find=apple+logic&refinecat=Apple|Software

  • Steve Jobs Takes D8

    Steve Jobs appeared on stage at the “*D8 Conference*”:http://allthingsd.com/d/ this past Tuesday in Los Angeles. Here, he addressed numerous topics pertaining both to current issues at Apple as well as the company’s future. Job’s offered his stance on several of the most recent big stories surrounding the company. Namely, he mentioned the __Foxconn__ suicides, the missing __4G iPhone__ prototype, Apple’s stance on __Flash__, and their current relationship with __Google__. All of Jobs’ responses seemed honest, and while he chose some of his words carefully, he appeared uncharacteristically open towards many of the issues.

    While speaking about __AT&T__, Jobs acknowledged critiques about the carrier’s current service while simultaneously restating Apple’s ongoing support of the company. Jobs made it clear that while it was not his area of expertise, he knew that wireless service typically got worse before it got better during periods of network change.

    Jobs also offered a well thought out response towards the “*iPhone 4G Gizmodo*”:http://gizmodo.com/5520164/this-is-apples-next-iphone fiasco. He issued an update to the current status of the police investigation surrounding the missing prototype, and also addressed concerns of Apple’s handling of the issue. He mentioned that many people had encouraged him to simply “Let it slide” and move on. To this Jobs countered: “I thought deeply about this, and I ended up concluding that the worst thing that could possibly happen as we get big, and get a little more influence in the world is if we change our core values, and start letting it slide. I can’t do that, I’d rather quit.”

    A full list of videos featuring excerpts from Job’s talk can be found at “*All Things Digital.*”:http://d8.allthingsd.com/speakers/steve-jobs/

  • WWDC 2010 Predictions

    Another “WWDC”:http://developer.apple.com/wwdc/experience/ is almost upon us, and the excitement is building for the sold-out event. As is customary here at Small Dog Electronics, we’ve made some predictions about what may be announced during Steve Jobs’ keynote on Monday, June 7.

    Let it be said that we’re certainly __not__ rumor-mongers, so think of this more like our Apple wish list! (What can we say–we love gadgets and there’s something about these events that makes us giddy!)

    *Katie*

    * Mac mini server with i5
    * iPhone 4G
    * 27-inch LED Cinema Display

    *Kerry*

    * Steve will announce that he split up the Gore’s marriage

    *Ian*

    * A preview of 10.7, possibly with Multi-Touch support?
    * Macbook touch

    *Jim*

    * FireWire port return to the MacBook
    * 30-inch LED Cinema Display
    * Mini-DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter

    *Carl*

    * $99 Apple TV
    * Touch screen iMacs
    * Apple AI–now your Mac thinks for you, too!
    * New type of data connection in Macs–that lightsomethingorother thingy

    *Emily*

    * iPhone OS 4.0 release

    *Ben*

    * iPhone 4G with A4 processor, 5MP camera w/flash, 720p video, front-facing iChat camera in 32 and 64GB capacities, and in both White and Black
    * He’ll then say, “This is a really nice device. It’s our best iPhone yet. Definitely not something you’d want to leave lying around in a bar”
    * Mac mini and MacBook Air Updates with faster Processors, 4GBRAM and same or lower price points
    * Apple TV adds Netflix, Pandora, 500GB internal storage and scaled iPhone/iPad Apps for around $199
    * Per recent changes with AT&T’s smartphone data plans, Steve will announce that the first 20 minutes of the keynote will be free to watch, and viewers will have the option of staying to till the end for an extra $1/minute

    *Damian*

    * New Mac mini
    * New Apple TV
    * New software to rival Flash

    *Ed*

    * New iPhone with rotary dial
    * A chain of Apple-themed restaurants called Applewannabees
    * Apple-themed cologne called Eau d’ Stevey

    *Kali*

    * New iPhone and iPhone OS
    * iLife ’10 and a 1/2
    * Online dating service exclusively for Developers, called iHarmony or BetaLove

    *Don*

    * Free MobileMe for everyone with a Mac
    * 27-inch iPad – the maxi pad
    * Phone 4G with really cool video chat feature
    * iPhone operating system renamed Siamese*

    __*I’ll stand behind that one. -Editor__

    WWDC kicks off at 1 pm ET on Monday, and we’ll be keeping you up-to-date with all of the newest (and real) developments.

    Find us:
    “On our blog, Barkings!”:http://blog.smalldog.com
    “On Twitter”:http://www.twitter.com/hellosmalldog
    “On Facebook”:http://www.facebook.com/smalldogelectronics
    “On Smalldog.com”:http://www.smalldog.com

  • _Dear Friends,_

    I was up in Essex, Vermont this week to visit the boys at Classic Bike Experience and I pass the Mazza vegetable stand on the way. They had a sign out advertising fresh strawberries. Now, I pride myself on having early strawberries, but the first of June is unheard of in these parts. I had to stop and buy some and asked how they managed to get berries so early. He just said that it was due to a mild April and May (we had the same weather, but no berries yet!)

    The fresh berries were so flavorful and so remarkably different from the berries you get during the winter here in the north. The only thing they have in common is the color and shape. I know summer is here now that Vermont strawberries are available.

    Apple’s World Wide Developer’s Conference starts on Monday and with it, a keynote address from Steve Jobs. I’ll be checking it out from one of the blog-feeds to see what new toys are on the horizon. It was fascinating to watch the extended interview with Steve at the D8 conference. With over 90 minutes of interview and audience questions, there was a lot of insight to learn about how Steve views the market and the future of digital technology. Ben highlights some of the topics below.

    I am very pleased to report that the Vermont legislature passed VBSR’s key piece of legislation called the For-Benefit Corporation bill. A For-Benefit Corporation is a new corporate entity offering entrepreneurs and investors the option to build and invest in businesses that meet higher standards of corporate purpose, accountability and transparency. Fiduciary duty is redefined by requiring consideration of interests beyond shareholders, including the corporation’s employees and suppliers, the local and state economy and the environment.

    I testified in favor of this legislation and Small Dog Electronics plans to be one of the first companies in the nation to adopt this new corporate charter. Will Patten, VBSR’s Executive Director, and Andrea Cohen, VBSR’s Public Policy Coordinator, deserve a shout-out for their extraordinary work on this landmark legislation. You can learn more about it on “their website here.”:http://vbsr.org/index.php/pages/static/cat/s263/

  • Choose Your Logic: Express or Studio?

    Apple’s Logic software is a powerful and seemingly limitless application for both musicians and producers alike. If you are beginning to feel constrained…

  • Content Aware Fill in Photoshop CS5

    We recently installed Adobe’s newly released “*Creative Suite 5*”:http://cs5.org/ on a few of our machines. One of the first features I was eager to try out was the new “Content Aware Fill” in Photoshop.

    This new feature allows you to make a quick selection within an image, delete it, and automatically fill in a randomized background based on the surrounding elements within the image.

    After tinkering with the new tool for a bit, I found that it worked best with natural organic images, such as the landscape scene featured in the video below. While it does not always do a perfect job, you can reselect pieces of the image after filling, and refill them to make the image more realistic.

    While this tool is not useful 100% of the time, when the situation and image permits, it can save a ton of time!

  • Who Wore It Best?

    Save 10% on all Skullcandy headphones with coupon code skullsound! See all Skullcandy headphones by clicking here.

  • What Makes Hapy… Happy?

    What makes Hapy Mayer Small Dog Electronics’ CFO & COO happy? “Sporting my post-Memorial Day whites!” Ooooh yeaaaah!

  • Changes Abound in AT&T's Newly Announced Tethering and Data Plans

    As of this morning, AT&T has officially announced tethering for iPhone. While this feature is long overdue and will undoubtably make many iPhone customers happy, not all of the news is good. With the announcement of tethering, AT&T has also made some major changes to both the iPhone and iPad data plans. By far the most controversial move on AT&T’s part is the introduction of data limits on their previously “Unlimited” 3G data plans.

    Starting June 7th, AT&T will do away with their $30 unlimited plan for new iPhone users. In its place, two new plans with limited data caps will be introduced.

    *Data Plus: 200MB for $15/month. (Additional 200 MB for an extra $15)*

    This plan seems most ideal for “light” iPhone users, or those who have consistent Wi-Fi access throughout their day. Still, the plan seems a little stingy for anyone looking to stream any kind of media over the 3G network even if it is for a short period of time. Even regular web browsing/emailing over 3G can add up quickly when navigating to data rich pages or downloading attachments.

    *Data Pro: 2GB for $25/month. (Additional 1 GB for an extra $10)*

    While AT&T claims 98% of iPhone users use less than 2GB/month, the prospect of a limited data plan still seems a bit frightening. For anyone regularly streaming video to their device over 3G via apps like “Air Video”:http://www.inmethod.com/air-video/index.html;jsessionid=471FDB20A2C224C651F1FB031E413F4B, it is possible to hit 2GB of data in only a few days of regular use. Even over the course of a month, regularly using streaming radio apps like Pandora or Slacker can seriously add up.

    *Tethering: Extra $20/month for Data Pro Customers*

    Tethering is slated to be deployed with the release of iPhone OS 4.0 sometime this summer. As of now, the option is only available for Data Pro ($25/mo.) customers. The added $20/month to enable tethering raises the price of the comprehensive package to $45/month. That’s $15 more than the current Unlimited plan, but with the 2GB/mo. cap still in place.

    The newly established Data Plus plan will become available on the 7th, and the Data Pro plan will replace the formerly available $30/month unlimited data option. AT&T has confirmed that this new limited plan will replace the current $30 Unlimited iPad plan as well.

    If this isn’t quite music to your ears, don’t fret. AT&T claims that existing iPhone and iPad users with unlimited data plans will be “grandfathered” into the new program. This essentially means that existing iPhone and iPad users will be able to keep their current unlimited plans with the option of opting for a new plan at some point in the future if they choose.

    This controversial move has riled up some customers and has generated a very mixed response towards AT&T. While light data users will benefit from the option of the cheaper $15/month Data Plus plan, the majority of iPhone and especially iPad users who enjoy streaming media services such as Pandora and Netflix over 3G will likely feel a bit upset. While I have my own opinions regarding this issue, it would be great to hear other thoughts as well.

  • Tip of the Week: Hidden iPhoto Features

    I’ve recently spent a few hours cleaning up my iPhoto library. This included adding proper image titles, keywords, updating Places and Faces info, deleting duplicates (and redundant photos in general), as well as deleting albums, smart folders, and slideshows that have outlived their usefulness. Here are a few tricks I discovered that aren’t documented by Apple, and apparently little-known on the web.

    Did you know know you can compare an edited photo to the unedited original? This only works in iPhoto’s Edit mode. In Edit mode, simply hold down the Shift key and you’ll see the photo in all its pure, unedited glory.

    Also in Edit mode, it’s possible to quickly zoom in on a particular area of a photo. Simply hover your mouse pointer over the area of interest, and then press the *1* key to zoom to 100 percent in, or press the *2* key for a 200% view. Jump back to fit to view by pressing the *0* key.

    Want to hide certain photos in your iPhoto library, but don’t want to actually delete them? Simply right-click (or Control-click) on the secret photos and select “Hide Photo” at the bottom of the list. If you want to see your hidden photos, select *View > Hidden Files* in the iPhoto menu bar.

    I like Faces (though it’s not __always__ amazingly accurate) in iPhoto ’09. Did you know you can change a person’s Key Photo in Faces? This is the photo that shows on the Faces corkboard. To do this, open a photo of the person in Faces. Right-click on the image you want to be the key photo and choose “Make Key Photo.”

    You can also scroll your mouse over the Key Photo in Face’s corkboard view, and while the photos are flipping through, click the space bar on the photo of your choice. That will be the person’s new Key Photo.

    Here are some more tips about Faces, “from Macworld magazine.”:http://www.macworld.com/article/141746/2009/07/faces_tips.html

    I also enjoy Places, iPhoto ’09’s geotagging feature. It’s fun to see my photos on a map. iPhone photos are automatically geotagged, but my other cameras lack a built-in geotagging tool. It’s easy to manually add this information to a photo, but it’s a chore to do this for a big batch of photos.

    However, I discovered that it is possible to copy Places information from photo to photo. Simply select a photo that has been tagged with the correct information, right-click (or control-click) on it and choose “Copy” from the contextual menu. Now select your batch of untagged photos, right-click (or control click) on them, and choose “Paste Location.” Now they all share the same location information.

    When you delete a photo from your iPhoto library, it goes into iPhoto’s trash. This gives you a margin for error if you accidentally delete a photo. Over time, iPhoto’s trash can fill up with hundreds or even thousands of photos, stealing gigabytes of space from your hard drive. To see the contents of iPhoto’s trash, click on the trash can icon in the left panel of the iPhoto interface. In iPhoto 09, it’s under the “Recent” header. To empty the trash, click on *iPhoto > Empty iPhoto Trash* in iPhoto’s menu bar at the top of the screen.

  • AutoCAD Comes Back to OS X

    Autodesk’s AutoCAD drafting software may finally be coming back to OS X. Discontinued almost twenty years ago for Mac, this software is the…