Intel’s third generation Core integrated processor graphics (IPG) chip, aka Ivy Bridge (IVB), got off to a slow start for us with a set of high-end CPUs not really intended for the home theater PC (HTPC). We still do not have one of the low power Core i3/i5 with HD4000 graphics on hand; now that they are available, H77 based […]
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In an HDMI A/V environment, Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) is the glue that ties components together into a cohesive unit–able to be controlled by a single remote without the hassle, or expense, of a normal universal as well as removing infrared’s (IR) line-of-site requirement for playback devices. Where there can be problems with the protocol, most often the root cause […]
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Have you ever wanted to play those games from your Android smartphone on your big screen? Pivos is relying on a significant amount of these types of users with the introduction of the Pivos XIOS DS. This is a tiny device which runs either a version of Android or Linux and is a crossbreed between being a media player […]
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Fractal Design made a great impression on us last year with the debut of the Define R3 ATX chassis and its smaller sibling, the Define Mini Micro-ATX chassis. It is hard not to love a high-quality, well-built, sleek and unobtrusive chassis and these are all qualities the Define series of chassis exhibited to us. Not content to rest on its […]
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In our recent review of Micasaverde’s Vera home automation (HA) controller several devices were mentioned, but not in enough detail to be useful to anyone thinking about building a Z-Wave network, or adding to an existing one. To address that a list of all the devices and a mini review is included below: Home Automation Controller: Micasaverde VeraLite: here for […]
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Home automation (HA) covers a wide spectrum of capabilities and devices, spanning the gap from placing a light timer on the fish tank to a complex system that manages many of the mundane aspects of lighting, HVAC and scheduled activities in the house or business. Historically these highly integrated systems, capable of things like automatically dimming the lights when watching […]
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Missing Remote is proud to have many writers that are avid television watchers. When we were looking around for a list of shows and their start dates we found just those–list after list, so we have done the hard work for you and compiled these lists into shareable Google calendar with internet view or you can download and use it. […]
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Powerline networking has a reputation for promising capable “hardwired” networking solutions, but historically often fell short when it came to delivery. Having tried a few iterations of the alternative-to-Ethernet over power wires in the past, in my personal experience this reputation has also proved well deserved. Of course with each new generation, the technology evolves and is therefore worth another […]
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As more intelligent devices begin to fill the home, the desire and need to be able to centrally control your home content is an ever present one. Skifta aims to bridge that gap as an Android-based DLNA controller as well as a player for any Android based phone or tablet. In addition to supporting local browsing and playback, Skifta also […]
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As part of a recent effort to consolidate all of our backbone networking kit into a structured wiring panel, it was necessary to add a switch to the mix. Never having played with a “Green Ethernet” device (D-Link DGS-1008G) it seemed like a good idea to pick one up and find out how green it was in comparison to two […]
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