Our coverage of Intel from CES 2018 has been delayed because I was trying to run down an important question for the home theater PC (HTPC) use case of their new Hades Canyon NUC. In a departure from the previous generation Skull Canyon, high-end NUC, there will be two SKUs of Hades Canyon: NUC8i7HVK ($999) & NUC8i7HNK ($799). The only […]
Read moreIf your desire to be first to cool trumps your tolerance for instability, Kodi has just released v18 which sports Google Assistant on the Android TV platform. So if you have an NVIDIA Shield, or another Android TV device that works with Kodi go to the play store and download the beta for a play.
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SiliconDust recently upgraded their HDHomeRun (HDHR) CONNECT line of over-the-air (OTA) network tuners to include a $149 MSRP four-stream Quatro (HDHR5-4US) companion for the $99 MSRP two-stream Duo (HDHR5-2US) model. Both models feature 100Mb Ethernet, all new internals, and an attractive form factor. Updated silicon components should bring power savings, so if SiliconDust can also maintain the stability of the […]
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Plex added the DVR commercial skipping feature a couple months back for Plex Pass users, but it has just rolled out to the NVIDIA Shield via the Experience 6.3 update. This is great on so many levels: firstly commercials suck, and second it continues to demonstrated that NVIDIA remains committed to making the best media streamer device on the market […]
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I love the idea of voice controllers for home automation that are installed in the ceiling. Which is why something like the First Alert OneLink appeals so strongly. But, the per unit price is kind of high, especially if you have a lot of rooms to automate. Enter the $32 “Dock Socket”. With an option for Google Home Mini or […]
Read moreHaving witnessed the 10,000 nit 8K Sony display at CES last month, I can attest to its magnificence. And, just to be 100% clear, I don’t mean that in a hyperbolic way either. It really was most impressive. Bright, beautiful, incredibly real… but just a prototype… and even if it weren’t, likely well beyond affordability. Sigh… anyway, check out what […]
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If you’ve bought into NETGEAR’s Arlo camera system the $250 wire-free Arlo Security Light companion devices seem like a no-brainier. The kit comes with a few power options, including rechargeable batteries or via a solar panel. Post installation these IP65 “weather resistant” lights with customizable color, pattern, and beam width can tie into a wider Arlo ecosystem either as a […]
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Installing a Google Home Mini or Amazon Echo Dot is a popular way to add the home automation enabling functionality to your house in an unobtrusive way. As neat as that is, it isn’t quite as slick as incorporating the technology straight into a smoke detector. If you have powered detectors already installed, as most modern homes do, the First […]
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Beyond the doesn’t look like a Wi-Fi router visage, the most interesting thing about the ASUS Blue Cave 802.11AC AC2600 Wi-Fi router is that it’s the first Intel Home Wi-Fi Chipset (what a product name :)) based networking kit that I’ve run across. Given the 4×4 1733Mbps + 800Mbps specifications, it has to be using the WAV524. SoC considerations aside, […]
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I wasn’t familiar with abode’s iota security system, home automation controller (HAC), and camera system before meeting them at CES. Overall the system looks quite approachable, and is obviously more intended for users who prioritize ease of installation and user experience (UX) over flexibility. I don’t mean that as a negative, per se. Just something that would need to be […]
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