This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Chamberlain. All opinions are 100% mine. My first attempt to make my home a 'smart home' was the Nest smoke alarm and thermostat. With a "proprietary" HVAC system, I was only able to install the smoke detectors. They connect to my WiFi and provide status updates to my phone of any problems with smoke, fire, or carbon … [Read more...]
Book Review – Blockchain Revolution: How the Technology Behind Bitcoin Is Changing Money, Business, and the World
I picked up Blockchain Revolution by Don Tapscott and Alex Tapscott because I was interested in learning more about the applications of blockchain technology. I know plenty about Bitcoin from first-hand experience with it and previous readings, so I was interested to see where the the technology behind it was heading. The first half of the book satisfied some of that curiosity … [Read more...]
Product review: iClever Himbox car Bluetooth adapter
In addition to picking up some tech podcasts for my commute, I also wanted to adapt my car to use Bluetooth for hands-free communication and using the car's speakers for playback. My car is old enough that it does not natively have Bluetooth but it does have a 3.5mm AUX port where I can plug devices in. The common 3.5 mm connection from the headphone jack is very common but it … [Read more...]
GoPro releases Omni hardware and software for 360-degree video
To capture 360 degree footage, GoPro has released the Omni. It holds 6 HERO4 Black camera and syncs them to capture your video with the same settings. It then includes the software to stitch the video together so that it can be enjoyed in your VR headset with the freedom to look around and see everything. The spherical array is made of aluminum and holds the six cameras … [Read more...]
Setting up Comcast Xfinity X1 TV service
Comcast's Xfinity X1 TV service is the cable company's latest entertainment offering. TV and Internet packages vary with your area from how many channels are offered and what speeds of Internet. I picked up their X1 Starter Double Play service for Internet and TV. The Internet package I chose was the 75Mbps tier and I use my own modem and router to reduce costs. Testing the … [Read more...]