Kibbles & Bytes Blog

  • Potential Security Vulnerability In Flash

    If you’ve upgraded to Snow Leopard, please note this important message from Adobe:

    bq. The initial release of Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) includes an earlier version of Adobe Flash Player than what is available from Adobe.com. We recommend all users update to the latest, most secure version of Flash Player (10.0.32.18) — which supports Snow Leopard and is available for download from “http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer”:http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer.

    The earlier version of Flash Player included with Snow Leopard contains several security vulnerabilities. These are patched in the more “recent version of Flash Player”:http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer, released by Adobe on July 30th.

    Macworld Magazine notes that Flash Player is an attractive target for hackers, since millions upon millions of computers worldwide have it installed.

    All Mac users should make sure their version of Flash is current. This is most important for Snow Leopard users, since their version is almost certainly out of date and thus vulnerable. “Click here to download the latest Flash player.”:http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

  • MAC TREAT #99: The Joy of Specs

    After Snow Leopard was released last week, several people have written in to learn how to figure out if their Mac was ready for the upgrade. That’s because Snow Leopard will only run on Intel Macs with at least 1GB of RAM (though 2GB or higher is recommended) and a DVD drive.

    It’s very easy to determine your Mac’s specs. Once you determine these specs, I recommend writing them down for future reference. First, click on the Apple in the upper left corner of your Mac’s screen. Then click “About This Mac.” You will now have a screen that shows your Mac’s software version, processor speed, and (at least in Leopard), your Mac’s memory. If you click the text that shows your software Version (for example, version 10.4.5 or version 10.5.6), the text will transform to reveal your Mac’s serial number.

    If you click “more info,” you will get a more comprehensive overview of system specs. The important information here includes your Mac’s serial number, processor type and speed, amount of installed memory, hard drive size and type (ATA or Serial-ATA), optical drive type (which is under ATA), and type of graphics card. Write these down and save for future reference. It can make upgrading to new software or hardware a little easier, and you’ll thank yourself in the morning.

  • _Dear Friends,_

    It is hard to believe that it is September already. There are already a few maple trees changing color as we head into the last couple official weeks of summer. This coming Labor Day weekend is truly a weekend of change. The students are all back at school, school buses are present in the morning as I make my way on the back roads to work.

    I have one of the most pleasurable commutes; many times I do not see any cars until I get to Route 100. This time of year, I take the Waitsfield Common road through the covered bridge and past the neighboring Neil farm, which is now sporting a homemade sweet corn sign.

    We will be closed on September 7th so our employees can enjoy Labor Day. The website will be up and operating and orders taken over the long weekend will ship out on Tuesday.

    The first Labor Day in the US was born out of the violent Pullman strikes in 1882. President Grover Cleveland made reconciliation with labor his top legislative priority and rushed through the national holiday. Maybe we’ll have a Health Day soon if our current President is able to get true health care reform passed.

    Many of the drive-ins close on Labor Day for the season including my favorite over in Bristol–Onion Flats. They have the best fried whole belly clams in the state and it is a perfect short motorcycle ride over the mountain. Labor Day does celebrate the productivity of our workers that have made our country strong.

    Honest Abe said it best:
    __”If any man tells you he loves America, yet hates labor, he is a liar. If any man tells you he trusts America, yet fears labor, he is a fool.”__
    -Abraham Lincoln

    Do you back up your work? There are so many times that customers come in for repairs where their hard drives have had a catastrophic failure and weeks and/or years of irreplaceable data has been lost. Sometimes our friends over at DriveSavers can retrieve the data, but it comes at a very high price.

    You can avoid this easily if you have a Mac running Snow Leopard. Time Machine is one of the most innovative and important pieces of Apple’s operating system. With an external hard drive or a Time Capsule, you can rest assured that your data is safe and being constantly being updated. We have some great bargains right now on external LaCie hard drives and have Time Capsules from 500GB to the new 2TB units in stock for immediate delivery!

    With the rapid conversion of photos and music and video to digital format, it is more important than ever to make sure you have a reliable and automatic backup system in place.

  • 2009 Apples to iPods Event Kick Off!

    Beginning Tuesday, September 15, start looking for a special wooden apple at select Vermont pick-your-own orchards. In partnership with the VT Departments of…

  • Avoid Accidental Damage! Why Protection Is Important

    With many schools and colleges back in session, we are seeing the usual and predicable spike in accidental damage repairs in our service facilities. It’s very important to remember that a dropped computer, one with a broken screen, or one with any type of liquid damage–no matter how new–has no warranty coverage.

    Small Dog has a ton of products to protect your Mac or iPod from impact and liquid damage. Keep in mind, though, that you still should avoid dropping your laptop or drinking anything near it. Here are my favorite protective products for Apple laptops.

    “Speck cases”:http://www.smalldog.com/search/?find=speck are hard shells that are form-fitted for a precise and tight fit to your laptop. Available in many colors and textures, they are the best-selling and best-performing protection against impact damage.

    The second part of protecting your laptop is a well-padded laptop bag like “those from Timbuk2.”:http://www.smalldog.com/search/?find=Timbuk2 These messenger-style laptop bags have lots of storage, look good, and provide great protection. If you prefer a sleeve-style laptop case, know that they provide less protection, but are still better than carrying around a naked computer. My favorite is the new “Hammerhead line,”:http://www.smalldog.com/search/?find=hammerhead named for CEO Don Mayer’s bulldog.

    Jeremiah Johnson, assistant manager of the South Burlington store, likes the Incipio Feather line of cases, and has a review a little later in this issue of Best in Showroom.

    The third element of a good protection plan is a keyboard cover. “KB Covers”:http://www.smalldog.com/search/?find=kb+cover makes a line of form-fitting super-thin plastic covers that’ll save your bacon if you spill a small amount of liquid on your keyboard. It only takes a drop of water to make it through your keyboard and onto complex (and very expensive) circuitry below. If you must drink near your laptop, you owe it to yourself to get a keyboard cover.

    If, despite your best efforts to protect your machine (or if you didn’t protect it), your computer is dropped or spilled in, it is best to discontinue use immediately to prevent more damage. A dropped computer should have its hard drive preemptively replaced in most cases, and a computer that’s been spilled in should have a thorough inspection by a good technician. Our Technical Service team can often revive a damaged computer for hundreds, or even over $1,000 less than the same repair at an Apple store.

  • Massively In Depth Snow Leopard Review

    Check out the typically deeply in-depth (say that three times fast) Ars Technica review of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard by clicking…

  • September Specials

    *Mac to School 2009*
    Student or not, you can take advantage of these specials (with the exception of select Adobe Academic titles).

    “View ALL Mac to School 2009 Specials here!”:http://www.smalldog.com/mactoschool

    *Skullcandy*

    $5 off Smokin’ Buds, Asym, Full Metal Jackets and Lowriders
    $10 off Agent, G.I Hesh, and Skullcrushers

    *
$19.99 – $69.99*
    “Check out the Skullcandy lineup here.”:http://www.smalldog.com/search/?find=skullcandy

    *Microsoft Office 2008*

    Save $20.00!


    *$129.99*
    “Click here to order online.”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/70713

    *Chill Pill Mobile Speakers*

    Available in Red, Silver or Black


    *$39.99*

    *Lenntek Sonix Earphones*

    SX-800 Red Earphones

    *$19.99*
    “Click here to order online.”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/73830

    *Save 10% on Apple Final Cut Express HD 4.0*

    *$179.99*

    “Click here to order online.”:http://www.smalldog.com/wag19390/

  • Mac to School Essentials Bundle

    *There’s still time…*

    We’ve created a Mac to School Essentials Bundle for MacBook + MacBook Pro 13in that will put everything you need together in one package AND save you money (over $50, to be exact)!

    Bundle includes: iWork ’09, 3-Year AppleCare Protection Plan, Surge Protector, Ethernet Patch Cable, 2GB Flash Drive, and Hammerhead MacBook Sleeve.

    “View it here”:http://www.smalldog.com/wag19258_atbis; come on in to buy!

  • September Class Schedule

    Each class is taught by an Apple Product Professional and features take-home materials.

    *Absolute Mac Basics:*
    09/20/09 5:15pm to 6:45pm
    09/27/09 5:15pm to 6:45pm

    *Mac Basics Level 2:*
    09/13/09 5:15pm to 6:45pm

    For a detailed description of our classes, “find out more here.”:http://www.smalldog.com/classes

  • Product of The Month: September 2009

    *Closeout Aluminum MacBook!*

    MacBook 2.0GHz 2GB/160/SD/AP/BT
    Save up to $350 on this original unibody aluminum MacBook with closeout pricing!
    *Only $1049.99!*