As my children have gotten older and become more “connected device” savvy, I have been on the hunt for something which makes it easier to manage the amount of time they spend online as well as what they can see and do while surfing. The Circle with Disney Parental Controls & Internet Filtering network management device, despite its odd name, […]
Read more
The other day I received a email from Monoprice lauding the arrival of its new $19 “Smart LED bulb… Works with Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant…“. Which is cheap for a single Wi-Fi enabled “smart” bulb, but it reminded me how wrong these sorts of home automation devices are. OK, that may be a little hyperbolic, but just a touch… […]
Read more
ABC’s new show Deception looked impressive from its trailer, with a seemingly high production value and a decent–if not overdone–premise. Add a pinch of The Mentalist, infuse it with Castle, bake in some magic, and you have a decent idea of what this new show is about. The question is whether the combination will work to draw in audiences every […]
Read more
Adding keyless entry to your home is a great way to enable access without requiring anyone to carry around a physical key. Whether that is a dog walker, your kids, or when you step out for a run. Having the option to provide a PIN code also makes it much easier to manage distribution and removes the risk of a […]
Read more
I didn’t think to wire in the humidifiers when I initially replaced the thermostats in our house for a pair of Ecobee 3. After the weather got cold, and dry, here in Chicago I quickly realized the error of my ways. Not that the existing install wasn’t working, it just wasn’t working as well as it could be, or connected […]
Read more
In a previous post we looked at how to install a Let’s Encrypt certificate with a Unifi Video installation. As it turned out, shortly after publishing our guide Ubiquiti made it possible to do this in a [sort of] official way with Unifi Video 3.8.1+, simplifying the process somewhat. Of course there was still some effort required, figuring out how […]
Read more
Hi NVIDIA, Big fan of the Shield Android TV here. The Shield is great because provides a wonderful intersection of steaming and local content without the hassle of many other devices. There was a time I didn’t think anything could replace a home theater PC (HTPC) in my A/V stack, but the Shield has… It does almost everything I need […]
Read more
SVS unveiled the SB-4000, PB-4000, and PC-4000 4000 series subwoofers back in November. These reference quality subs replace their popular 13-Ultra series, with a level of change which is quite dramatic from the previous generation. Alterations were made to the cabinet and 13.5” driver, but the electronics received the most benefit with the introduction of a 50MHz Analog Devices Audio […]
Read more
Everything has a lifespan, including the products we use. I don’t have a problem with companies understanding this, and specifically designing their goods to fall within a specific number of years or uses. They have incentives to maximize profit, so in markets where they can’t rely on technical innovation to drive sales, planning obsolescence is a viable tactic. The main […]
Read more
With a quick glance, it is obvious that the $200 RHA T20i look the part of a premium in-ear headphone. Whether it’s the injection molded stainless steel driver housings, or the fit and finish of the other key touch points, we see fastidious attention to detail. Innovative design does not stop with the appearance either, including high-quality materials and RHA’s […]
Read more