Connecting Point will be closed Easter Sunday (March 27th)
We close just five days a year, and this is one of them. Happy Easter, everyone!
Deal of the Week | March 25, 2016: Applesauce Polish Scratch Removal Kit for $3.99 (reg. $29.99)
Has your smartphone or tablet lost its luster? We offer a solution that will remove scratches and blemishes and restore the shine to your device. Applesauce Polish Scratch Removal Kit uses a special two-part system. It can safely and easily restore your device’s original finish in just minutes.
Applesauce Polish Scratch Removal Kit includes:
- Microfinishing Polish For plastic front or back, display, and chrome. Used for removing light to medium scratches and blemishes.
- Microfinishing Glaze For plastic front, back and display. Used for removing very fine to fine scratches.
- Three 6″ x 8″ Microfiber Polishing Cloths
This safe, effective scratch removal and polishing system normally sells for $29.99, but as this week’s DOTW, we’re selling it for just $3.99.
This offer runs from Friday, March 25th through Thursday, March 31st, 2016, or while supplies last. Sorry, no rain checks.
Apple introduces 9.7-inch iPad Pro, iPhone SE, and four OS updates
At a special event in Cupertino this week, Apple unveiled the 9.7-inch iPad Pro and the 4-inch iPhone SE, while also rolling out free updates to all four of its operating systems. The new iPad and iPhone offer most of the functionality of the current iPad and iPhone models without being so large. On the software side, the updates to iOS 9.3 and tvOS 9.2 add significant features, whereas OS X 10.11.4 and watchOS 2.2 mostly fix bugs.
Many people have found last year’s 12.9-inch iPad Pro with its optional Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard useful as a productivity machine, but for others, it’s too ungainly to hold or too expensive. That was the impetus behind the just-announced 9.7-inch iPad Pro, which meets or exceeds many of the larger model’s specs.
For instance, the smaller model’s screen can display more colors and adjusts its white balance to match the ambient light in the room. Its cameras are notably better — the rear camera is 12 megapixels instead of 8 and has a True Tone flash, while the front camera is 5 megapixels instead of 1.2 and can use the screen as a flash. Plus, the new iPad Pro can record 4K video instead of just 1080p.
On the downside, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro’s A9X chip is somewhat slower, it has half the RAM, and its Lightning port transfers data at only USB 2 speeds. But if the size is right for you, prices start at $599 for 32 GB of storage and go up to $899 for 256 GB. It will be available in April in four colors: silver, gold, space gray, and rose gold. Cases and accessories designed to fit the iPad Air should work with the 9.7-inch iPad Pro.
Speaking of accessories, Apple has a new Smart Keyboard sized for the new iPad Pro, and the Apple Pencil works perfectly with it. There’s also a new Lightning to USB Camera Adapter that’s useful not just for syncing cameras but also for using USB peripherals like Ethernet adapters, audio interfaces, card readers, and microphones.
With the iPhone SE, Apple is trying to meet the needs of customers for whom the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are too large. The iPhone SE returns to the iPhone 5 form factor, with a 4-inch screen and aluminum case. Otherwise, its specs are nearly identical to those of the iPhone 6s, with comparable performance. It fails to match up to the current iPhone lineup only in the lack of the 3D Touch technology, the Taptic Engine that provides feedback you can feel, and slower wireless networking. It’s either $399 or $499, with 16 GB or 64 GB of storage, and comes in the usual four colors. Cases and stands for the iPhone 5 should work with the iPhone SE.
Apple took the opportunity to release free updates to all its software platforms too. iOS 9.3 was the most significant, providing Wi-Fi calling for Verizon Wireless customers, improving sharing of Live Photos, adding two-factor authentication for all iCloud accounts, and more. The marquee addition is Night Shift, which adjusts the color temperature of your screen at night, reducing the amount of blue light emitted to make it easier to fall asleep.
iOS apps that received welcome updates include Notes, which can now password-protect notes and import from Evernote, and iBooks, which can now sync PDFs to other devices via iCloud. The Podcasts app can show full-screen video again, Wallet works better with reward cards, Maps has enhanced public transit info, and News boasts a better For You section along with a Top Stories category.
For those with a fourth-generation Apple TV, tvOS 9.2 is a big deal, with better scrubbing through video with the Siri Remote, new Home screen folders, a redesigned app switcher to match iOS, Bluetooth keyboard support, text input via dictation, and initial support for both iCloud Photo Library and Live Photos.
OS X 10.11.4 El Capitan and watchOS 2.2 offer mostly bug and security fixes, although OS X’s Notes and iBooks apps received the same improvements as the iOS versions, and sharing of Live Photos works better as well.
All these operating system updates are free, but it’s worth waiting a few days to make sure early adopters don’t suffer any ill effects. As always, if you’re concerned about updating your hardware, come in and talk to us!
AVAILABILITY: iPad Pro 9.7-inch is available to ORDER NOW. (Shipments will begin next month.)
TUTORIAL: How to launch apps from your Mac’s keyboard with Spotlight
There are oodles of ways to launch apps in OS X. You can double-click an app in the Applications folder, click an app icon in the Dock, invoke Launchpad and click the desired app, or choose an app from the Apple menu’s Recent Items > Applications submenu. You can even add commonly used apps to the toolbar of Finder windows by Command-dragging them up there.
But what if you don’t want to take your hands off the keyboard? Is there any way to open an app without touching the mouse or trackpad? Indeed there is, courtesy of Spotlight.
You’re probably familiar with Spotlight as a search tool, both for finding files and folders on your Mac, and for ferreting out information on the Internet (in OS X 10.11 El Capitan, Spotlight can even find weather forecasts, sports scores, and stock prices). But what you may not realize is that among the files that Spotlight can find are all the apps on your Mac, and you can launch them with just a few keys. Follow these steps:
- Press Command-Space to display the Spotlight window.
- Begin typing an app’s name, such as “ac” for Activity Monitor. For apps whose names have multiple words, you can type the first letter of each, as in “ic” for Image Capture. And if an app name is a single InterCapped word, it’s fine to enter just the capitalized letters, as in “ft” for FaceTime. Spotlight searches, and while it should be nearly instantaneous, if it doesn’t show the app you want at first, give it a few seconds.
- If the app you want to launch is highlighted as the top hit, press Return to launch it. If it’s not the top hit, you can either continue typing to narrow the search or arrow down to it in the list, and then press Return.
That’s all there is to it! As you might guess, you can use the same technique to open documents or even System Preferences panes.
Cleverly, Spotlight is adaptive so if the first time you type “ac” it suggests Adobe Content Viewer, once you select Activity Monitor instead, it will know that “ac” should open Activity Monitor in the future.
On the downside, Spotlight isn’t always as fast as you might like, and while it guesses relatively well, you may find that its conception of what an app is called doesn’t always match with what you want to type.
So give Spotlight a try, and if you find that you like launching apps from the keyboard but want the best possible experience, try one of the four excellent keyboard launcher utilities on the Mac: Alfred, Butler, LaunchBar, or QuickSilver. Alfred and QuickSilver are both free, whereas Butler costs $20 and LaunchBar—the most powerful and popular of the pack, is $29.
SERVICE BULLETIN: iSight Camera Replacement Program for iPhone 6 Plus
Apple has determined that, in a small percentage of iPhone 6 Plus devices, the iSight camera has a component that may fail causing your photos to look blurry. The affected units fall into a limited serial number range, and were sold primarily between September 2014 and January 2015.
If your iPhone 6 Plus is producing blurry photos and falls into the eligible serial number range, Connecting Point SERVICE will replace your device’s iSight camera, free of charge.
The iSight camera is located on the back of your iPhone 6 Plus:
To determine if your iPhone 6 Plus is eligible for this free service, please enter its serial number at this link on Apple’s site. If your device does indeed qualify, please contact Connecting Point SERVICE immediately, and we’ll be happy to take care of everything for you.
This program is available for qualifying Apple iPhone 6 Plus devices for up to three years from date of purchase.
SERVICE BULLETIN: MacBook Pro Repair Extension for Video Issues
Apple has determined that a small percentage of MacBook Pro systems may exhibit distorted video, no video, or unexpected system restarts. These MacBook Pro systems were sold between February 2011 and December 2013.
As an Apple Premium Service Provider, Connecting Point is authorized to repair these affected MacBook Pro systems, free of charge. The affected products include select 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro models manufactured in 2011, and select 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display models manufactured from mid-2012 through early 2013.
To determine if your MacBook Pro qualifies for this free service, please see this link on Apple’s site. If your system does indeed qualify, please contact Connecting Point SERVICE immediately, and we’ll be happy to take care of everything for you.
This program is currently slated to be run through December 31st, 2016.
Deal of the Week | March 18, 2016: Belkin WeMo SWITCH 2-Pack for $29.99 (reg. $99.99)
It’s the home remote that uses your smartphone to control devices.
Connect your power outlets to your Wi-Fi home network and control your devices from anywhere you have an Internet connection. Works with iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, and Android.
This starter pack gives you two remote outlets, a great way to get started on building a complete home automation network. Belkin makes dozens of additional accessories and controllers, so you can build out on this for years to come.
And we’ll make it as affordable as possible. These two-packs normally sell for $99.99, but as this week’s DOTW, we’re obliterating that price and selling it for just $29.99!
This offer runs from Friday, March 18th through Thursday, March 24th, 2016, or while supplies last. Sorry, no rain checks.
Deal of the Week | March 11, 2016: Targus Medium Carrying Case $1.99 (reg. $9.99)
Here’s where we make a case for this week’s DOTW…
(Sorry.)
This tough little bag provides a convenient way to transport cameras, smartphones, snacks, or anything else you want to keep handy. It’s well-padded, constructed of sturdy nylon canvas, has both a belt loop and padded shoulder strap, and closes securely with a Velcro snap.
- Black and navy blue color scheme
- Dimensions: 4″ x 2.8″ x 7.8″
- Limited lifetime warranty
Our everyday price for this carrying case is $9.99, but this week, while they last, we’re selling them for $1.99.
This offer runs from Friday, March 11th to Thursday, March 17th, 2016, or while supplies last. Sorry, no rain checks.
