Today marks the (unofficial) beginning of Philadelphia Beer Week 2013. Have you figured out your schedule yet? If not head over to phillybeerweek.org to see the official schedule or check out this great guide from Philadelphia Weekly for the 35 events you won’t want to miss. 

We created this list of awesome beer-related Apps to make sure you enjoy this Beer Week to the fullest:

Philly Beer Week 2013 

Philly Beer Week has a brand new app this year allowing you to find events by brewery, see a full schedule and create your own favorites.

Untappd 

Love Social Media? Love Beer? Finally Untappd is here!

Share beer reviews with your friends, find out who’s pouring your favorite brews, and check in each beer you try.

Intellidrink 

Have work in the morning and want to make sure you have a responsible level of fun? Keep track of your BAC throughout the night using Intellidrink’s easy to use interface. It measures your blood alcohol content based on your size, age, drinking frequency and stomach content, you can even set an alarm to go off when you’ve hit your limit for the night.

Uber 

When you’ve had enough fun make sure you get home safe and in style. Uber is your new on-demand private driver, just open the app tell them where you are and how many passengers you have and you’ll receive a text when your ride is expected to be there and when they actually arrive. Don’t worry about running to an ATM, Uber already has your info and will charge the card you have on file, allowing you to have fun all night without any aggravation.

*Pro-tip: Use promocode uber10bonus and get $10 off your first ride!

Have fun this week, we’ll see you there!

The nice weather is here to stay which means music festivals, picnics, and travel season is upon us.

Whether you’re going to the beach, Rittenhouse or your roof deck, we have the perfect products to keep your devices dry and charged.

Sunblock for your screen

Not only will an antiglare screen protector* defend your device, but it will also help you see your screen while you’re sitting in the sun enjoying a drink. The antiglare protector will stop the sun from reflecting off of your shiny iPhone or iPad screen and allow you to take the best blurry photo of Beyoncé playing at Made in America.

*Make sure you select “AG” or “antiglare” when purchasing online. 

Don’t drown your phone

Browsing the web while digging your feet into the sand is the best, until a single grain of sand gets into the plastic sandwich bag that you think is protecting your phone and scratches it. Don’t let this ruin your beach trip. Do yourself a favor and invest in a top notch case. Something that is not only sand proof, but also water proof, in case of rain or unwelcome icy-cold splashes. A great case will also protect your phone from mud at Bonnaroo. 

For the best options, refer to this article. 

Get funky

Braven bluetooth speakers can be paired with any mobile device to play music on the go. That hour long ride to Ocean City, or twelve hour drive to Lollapalooza, will be much more manageable, especially if your old, reliable junker only has an 8-track player. With battery life that lasts up to 20 hours on a single charge, not only can you play music directly from your device, but you can also charge it from the Braven speaker. Play it in the car and keep the party going when you arrive at your destination.

But not too funky

If people give you dirty looks for blasting your music, slip on a pair of headphones. Whether you’re looking for something sleek that won’t interfere with your tan, or some deep-bass, affordable cans, you can find anything you’re looking for in the Springboard Store.

Kick it old school

If you’re trying not to offend your neighbors, pick up a Tempo. This light weight, waterproof, collapsable speaker is perfect for super-transportability and a nice boost in sound. No electronics involved, just good old-fashioned physics. Use it in the tent when you’re settling down for the night. 

Juice up

The Scosche solar charger is outstanding for an event like Burning Man, but is also ideal for everyday use if you’re environmentally aware. Charge your phone, MP3 player or any other USB powered device in the car or anywhere you go. Attach it to your bag to charge as you’re shopping at a flea market or roaming through the Philly Science Carnival. 

If you hate the sun, or you’re stuck at a conference, you can use the Scosche battery pack.  This non-solar battery pack can charge an iPhone 4 twice, and then some. 

Both of these products are also awesome to have around in case you lose your electricity in a summer thunderstorm. 

Robin

Robin, a trainer with Springboard Media for over a year, is originally from New York City. She has been using and loving Apple products over 20 years. After earning her Communications Design degree from Pratt Institute, she was introduced to the Mac early in her graphic design career, and was hooked (she still has her 1st Gen iPod). 

Robin helps customers who are new to Apple products, as well as Apple veterans, to better understand the operating systems and applications, and how to use technology to enhance their lives. She also teaches Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. Robin loves to discover iOS apps, and has about 400 on her iPad and iPhone.

Jay

Jay has been a Mac user since the release of the original iMac. In the years since, he’s experimented with nearly every Apple product and iDevice to see the light of the day. As a trainer, Jay specializes in music, and he’s eager to teach the intricacies and secrets of programs like Garageband and Logic.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, Jay attended Boston University and spent four years defending the honor of his beloved Philly sports teams. He also writes about beer and music for CurrentGround.com, an online magazine.

Larry

Larry grew up in the Philadelphia area but has lived in Washington DC, Chicago and NYC.  He taught himself to use his first Mac and hasn’t looked back since.  Larry is an accessory specialist and runs his own successful web site and YouTube channel where he reviews mobile technology products.  Larry’s strengths lie in Apple’s iOS devices but he also trains on all the consumer level Apple software with specialities in iPhoto and iMovie.  Larry lives in Chester county with his wife and three daughters.

Apple’s MacBook Air and MacBook Pro with Retina received exciting upgrades and price drops this week!

Previously $1499, the high-end 13-inch Macbook Air is now only $1,399. It comes with a 256GB ultra-fast solid-state drive, a 1.8 GHz i5 processor and 4 GB of RAM. It’s the perfect machine for those in need of more speed and storage space, while still maintaining the slim profile and light weight that makes the Air so great. 

The 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina comes with an increased 2.6GHz processor, stunning Retina display and solid-state storage. Faster and more affordable than ever, the entry-level machine now costs $1,499 ($200 savings!) and the higher-end model is only $1,699 ($300 savings!).

Not to be left out, the 15-inch Macbook Pro with Retina has also received a speed increase. The lower-end model now has a 2.4GHz quad-core i7 processor for $2,199, and the higher-end $2,799 model comes with a 2.7GHz quad-core i7 processor and 16 GB of RAM (up from 8 GB). This computer is fast enough to handle any task and features of the world’s highest resolution notebook display. 

Stop by Springboard Media to check out previous-generation models at great new prices. The 13-inch Macbook Pro with Retina with the 2.5GHz processor, 8 GB of RAM, and 256 GB solid-state drive is selling for $1,599.95 (previously $1,999.95!). The 15-inch model comes in two configurations, with the 2.3GHz Quad Core processor, 8 GB of RAM and a 256 solid state drive down from $2,199.95 to $2,099.95, and the high-end model with a faster 2.6GHz Quad Core processor, 8 GB of RAM and a 512 GB solid state drive down from $2,799.95 to $2,499.95. Our computers are are new, in the box, eligible for AppleCare and available while supplies last!

Bring your old Mac for trade-in to receive an even better price. There’s never been a better time to buy a super thin, powerful new Mac!

Brand new service offerings for a brand new year.

In the market for a new-to-you computer? Springboard Media currently has an unbeatable bargain available. We are happy to announce all three of our Apple Specialist locations have refurbished 13” MacBooks from Mid 2010 in stock. 

The specs:

• 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo processor
• 2GB of Memory
• 250GB Hard Drive
• NVidia GeForce 320M Graphics
• Mountain Lion Upgrade Ready
• AppleCare Protection Plan until May 27, 2013

All these wonderful features for the incredibly low price of $799.95. Stop by one of our three locations while supplies last to check out this amazing deal for yourself. Our knowledgable sales consultants are more than happy to answer your questions. 

Every summer the city of Philadelphia anticipates the annual announcement of Philadelphia magazine’s Best of Philly.  Springboard Media is proud to announce we have won Philadelphia magazine’s Best of Philly 2012 - Best Techs. We are honored to receive this prestigious award and could not have accomplished such a great feat without our amazing customers. 

Springboard Media was founded in 1996 by Everett Katzen, who was working out of the family den and selling used Macs by placing classified ads in the newspaper. In the last 16 years we have expanded to three retail stores, a Professional Services Division, a bold shopping initiative Springboardstore.com, and educational services department Springboard Honors. 

Behind every successful business there is a band of incredible clients, thank you for your patronage. 

Read More

Earlier this week Apple’s new OS X Mountain Lion hit 3M downloads in the first four days of launch. This is the most successful OS X release in Apple’s history. Last week, Michael discussed how to prepare your Mac for upgrading to Mountain Lion. After all this talk about upgrading your operating system we’re sure you are ready to take the plunge. We understand this can be an overwhelming process for some new Mac users. Have no fear, Springboard Media is offering a complimentary Mountain Lion assessment at all three locations with no appointment necessary.

This process entails the following: 

• Running the Apple Service Tool kit with includes the Mac Resource Inspector to flag any underlying hardware issues that might be brewing within your machine. 
• Verifying your machine is compatible with the new OS X. 
• Confirming the machine has the recommended GB of RAM to support Mountain Lion.
• Checking the computer’s hard drive space is adequate for the OS upgrade.
• Ensuring the version of Microsoft Office on your machine is compatible with Mountain Lion. Unsure if other software on your computer is compatible? We can help you find out using Roaring Apps.

If any of the above is flagged during the assessment we are more than happy to help. Our Apple Authorized service department is prepared to give your machine a boost towards Mountain Lion in no time! Still worried about conducting the upgrade on your own? We can even upgrade the operating system for you.

Don’t hesitate to participate in this great opportunity and the awesome new features available through Mountain Lion. Have questions regarding Mountain Lion or Springboard Media’s Mountain Lion readiness assessment? Call one of our Apple experts at any Springboard Media location, we are here to help. 

Our stores just received an incredible selection of new products. Check them out! 

Chill Pill Mobile Speakers ($19.95) A pocket-sized, self-contained capsule that transforms into two powered speakers. Speakers are enclosed in a rugged, matte-black case that protects the speakers, batteries and retractable cables. Speakers magnetically click together for easy transport. Also plugs into any device with a standard headphone jack.

Tempo (9.95) An affordable, portable, and light weight way to amplify the sound on your iPhone. No batteries or external power needed. Holds iPhone vertically and horizontally. Additional opening to connect charger. Washable and easy to clean. Works with the iPhone 4 and 4s.

Life Proof Case (79.95) Offering seven levels of protection so you are free to take your iPhone anywhere! Protects from water, dirt, snow & shock. Experience ultimate protection without the heftiness of most cases. 

Skech Fabric Flipper for the New iPad (44.95) Streamline design. Light weight, and inexpensive. Flip front and protective backshell case covered in a soft, easy to clean fabric. Features a magnetic wake/sleep flap, dual position stand, full access to ports & controls, and full body protection.

Adonit Jot Mini Stylus ($21.95)  Everything great about Jot, just smaller. You still get the precision that has revolutionized tablet accuracy, but now it fits nicely in your pockets.The thin and clear disc gives you the accuracy you want in a digital pen. This sylus is great for a person who uses PDF signing applications. 

Boost Hybrid Cases (79.95) Hybrid two-piece case/battery design, only attach the extra battery when you need it! Half-ounce ultra slim snap-on case. Two ounce 1900mAh detachable extended battery doubles battery life for iPhone 4 & 4S.

Moshi iVisor XT (29.95 for iPad) (19.95 for iPhone) Advanced screen protector specifically re-designed to protect your iPad’s gorgeous touch screen from scratches. Installation takes only seconds! Allows the vibrant colors of the new retina display iPad to come through flawlessly. Also is reusable so once its starts gathering dust you can take it off to clean, and put it back on.

Springboard Media always has an excellent selection of fun new products in stock! Stop by our three locations and consult with a sales expert to find the right items for you.