Category: Smart Devices

The Fire TV 4K, If Prime Is Right
Amazon Fire TV with ultra 4K let’s watch live TV and sports through your TV with subscriptions to Hulu, Netflix, PlayStation Vue, and Sling TV, or connect an HD antenna to your TV to get free broadcast networks like NBC and PBS. It Simply plugs into an HDTV streams in minutes.

The Good
- High quality vivid 4K Ultra HD up to 60 fps,
- Alexa enabled voice remote
- Free broadcast TV
- Fast performance with solid Wi-Fi streaming.
The Bad
- No support for Dolby Vision.
- Some big streaming services not available
- No phone casting
- Amazon Prime is effectively a must
The Conclusion

The new Amazon Fire TV is the an awesome Ultra HD box for Amazon Prime subscribers without the capabilities built in their 4K TV. For everyone else it’s pretty much just an average streamer. It’s quick and responsive, but the Amazon branding ensures you won’t get the full use without Prime.

Video Quality

The headline feature here is the ability to output video in Ultra HD 4K at 60fps, and in high dynamic range. The previous version could do 4K but only up to 30fps, because it had an HDMI 1.4 connection and that’s all it could do. The new version has HDMI 2.0.HDR support comes in HDR10 flavour. That’s the open standard everyone has adopted. There’s no Dolby Vision, a rival format using dynamic metadata to optimise the picture scene by scene. That’s something the Apple TV 4K has for justifying its higher price tag.Streaming 4K UHD/HDR video via 5GHz band WiFi works flawlessly, and with minimum initial buffering. The picture quality, with this TV’s OLED display, is astonishing.

The Interface

The interface is clear and easy to use, and thanks to the boosted hardware inside the Fire TV it feels smooth when in use as well. I do not like that I have no way to explicitly browse content that streams for free via my Prime membership. Add in that Amazon has intentionally chosen not to include flagging on the thumbnails that identifies which content is Prime and which is not. Fire TV has introduced a regression in this regard by requiring users to click on a thumbnail before they can find out if something is pay-per-view or free.

Alexa in the TV

So I haven’t figured out how to make Alexa clean my house like Cinderella…yet. But I’m working on it. In the meantime, I have figured out that she is much more than a glorified alarm clock or DJ. Although, you should know that alarms are “not currently supported on this device,” like they are on the Echo. This is a more basic version of Alexa. It doesn’t have her full functionality. You can, however, use the new Fire TV for shopping.owever, the best part is definitely Alexa and the voice activated remote. You can say things like, “Alexa, show me comedic movies.” It will take you to a list of comedies. You can access anything on the box, such as games and apps, but it is also a virtual search engine. You can ask, “What is the overnight weather forecast for San Diego, CA?”

Final Thought

Despite the cumbersome interface, the Fire TV with 4K is in my opinion the second best streaming device out in the market especially now that it has Alexa and a payment option.For $70 you get a virtually hands free streaming device (if you have an echo and smart hub), which none of its competitors have,combined with a Prime membership it’s a great entertainment solution.
February 10, 2018
Apple TV in 4K
Apple TV 4K is a high quality smart video system that connects your TV to life. It makes all your favorite TV shows and movies even more amazing. Videos play in stunning detail with picture quality that’s more true to life. Enjoy content from iTunes and apps like Netflix, Hulu, and ESPN — or use the Siri Remote to find just what you want.

The Great
- Best streaming video available to compatible 4K
- Greatest remote on the market
- Fantastic Siri voice capability
- Mirror mode from IOS devices
- TvOS is smooth, intuitive and interactive.
- Sleek interface looks great in 4K
- Can control your Homekit devices
The Not
- Expensive compared to competition
- No 4K YouTube
- No Dolby Atmos
- Non-4K owners no real advantage over the previous model
- Occasional lag while switching apps
The Conclusion

If you have the dough and live in the apple eco-system I highly suggest in picking one up.. It is so choice.

The Picture Quality

In three words. Breathtaking, Amazing, Perfection. The 4K gives you a crisper picture using four times more pixels than standard HD and (HDR) delivers brighter, more realistic colors and greater detail. The colors are amazing and the crisp lines make it far better than regular HD. I use iTunes as my main source of purchasing video and Older movies I had purchased such as The Princess Bride, or the James Bond movies have started showing up as 4K content. Combined with the newly available tvOS settings to match content frame rate, and HDR settings, older movies are much improved especially when HDR is captured. The black levels and popping colors of older film movies, along with the loss of frame conversion judder can result in a nearly transformative viewing experience. On the downside, telling the TV to switch display mode does result in a frustrating couple seconds of black screen as playback begins.

The Remote

It’s small, intuitive, and so easily lost. The remote has rechargeable battery last forever, so much so that many don’t realize it’s rechargeable, they think it’s just gone bad after a year. The Apple TV 4K remote has also been subtly redesigned: there’s a white ridge around the menu button now, which makes the thing far easier to pick up correctly in the dark, and there’s a new three-axis gyroscope in it for better motion tracking. It’s still very sensitive and the touchpad is still frustrating. I manage to overshoot constantly.

The Final Thought

Apple has smashed the best streaming video quality available today, Dolby HDR, with the slickest, most intuitive, completely refined, and elegant feel. Add in Siri and Total iOS it’s destroys any streamer around. If you just bought an expensive 4K HDR TV, accept no substitutes. I mean the price of stepping up to an Apple TV seem like your only true option.

While is quality is so superb there are some caveats. Apple TV doesn’t support Atmos and it doesn’t support YouTube in 4K HDR and it doesn’t have Disney or Marvel movies in 4K HDR and it makes some 1080p content look funky.
February 10, 2018
Sony’s “Robo-Puppy” is Back!
Initial thoughts
- Highly advanced puppy AI
- Adorable movements, and physical cues
- Extreme price tag
LAS VEGAS- At the 2018 CES convention Sony unveiled Aibo, the world’s most adorable robot-puppy. The world has seen Aibo in the past, but Sony has re-imagined and reanimated the once stiff “robo-puppy”, and he’s melting hearts.

Let’s Meet Aibo

You remember seeing Aibo years ago at the old KB Toys store doing binary back-flips for attention but to no avail. Well in 2017 Aibo was brought back to life by Sony and he’s actually pretty great! At first glance, you see the initial robust face lift Aibo has, along with the new OLED eye displays he comes equipped with. Aibo’s movements are shockingly fluid and his his facial impressions are full of emotion. What gives Aibo his life-like movement is the 3-axis gyroscope and 3-axis accelerator system, along with three facial sensors to give him those darling facial cues. Aibo has a total of 4,000 parts and 22 moving actuators, which is what makes his movements so impressive. At the 2018 CES, Aibo was slow to respond to some of the voice commands, but usually processed within 10 seconds. Regardless, this pup can boogie around, and do so with a very high cute factor.

That’s right, He Needs Training!

Aibo’s new AI system is a whole other animal in itself (Pun intended). Aibo is able to sit, stay, shake, and even cutely responds to head scratches. Aibo is also programmed with learning AI capability so the more time you spend with him, the more he learns about his master. Aibo also will respond to training! Sony’s new hook for Aibo is that you will have to train it through voice commands and positive reinforcement, just like you do a real dog. Aibo has the ability to mimic a real puppy due to the series of sensors and cameras he has which help him to understand both his environment and your interactions.

This little pup is built with three touch sensors (one on the back, one on the top of the head and another under the chin), two cameras image recognition and area mapping, one Time of Flight sensor for proximity detection, a special sensor to detect your presence from behind, four microphones and a motion detector. Aibo even comes with a little pink plastic ball which he can fetch! Dawwww.

The Cost…Wowsers!

At a whopping $2,000.00 this is one expensive thoroughbred! On top of the initial $2,000.00 users pay a monthly $26.00 for the Aibo services. Those services include continual software updates and cloud storage to help Aibo retain, learn, and grow. To most, that cost is way too high for what is essentially a toy, but other’s might see it a small price to pay for what is a very advanced and innovated pet. Right now Aibo recognizes English and Japanese, but other language will be added in the near future. Like most new tech, the cost for Aibo will likely drop over time but for now, get out your wallets!

The Upside
- Sony has made incredible advances in Aibo’s robotics and it’s very impressive
- The learning AI will keep Aibo relevant in your home.
- Because of Aibo’s AI structure, the capacity to fall in love with a robot is REAL…
The Down
- The high price tag obviously. Paying $2,000.00 plus $26.00 monthly is not very realistic for the average consumer.
- Aibo still has a lot of glaring robotic issues to address before major release.
- Not a lot of aesthetic options to make Aibo’s exterior to your liking. Just the plain “cold steel” look for now
The Solutions

If Sony can make Aibo a much more affordable ‘Robo-puppy” and really tap into the pesonalization of Aibo’s exterior, it could really be a home-run for Sony. Aibo’s movements, responses, and emotions seem genuine…yes that kinda of terrifying, but also incredible at the same time. Once the kinks are worked out, I feel Aibo could really offer someone emotional and physical companionship on a very real level.
February 10, 2018
Intel’s Vault SmartGlasses Are A Modern Tech Breakthrough

Intel’s Vault glasses, are fashionable every day smart-glasses that projects information onto your retina as you go about your day. Intel has made glasses that somebody can put on and gets value without any of the negative impact of technology on their head.

Smartglasses..Not This Again.

While smart glasses are pretty far from a new invention. In the past, smart-glasses all come with bulky and invasive equipment attached. Cameras, added appendages, and microphones all making it look like nerdy, unsightly, stylish head gear . Intel’s new Vault glasses however, change the game with a streamline design and fashionable functional look. The glasses look exactly like regular eyeglasses and are available in various prescription lenses. Does this mean no more unwanted stares, dorky uncomfortable glasses that are a constant conversation focus. Yes it does.

Not Spy Glasses?

Intel’s Vault glasses are a whole new concept, they are not “Spy glasses”. No Creep camera, no button to push, no gesture area to swipe, no glowing LCD screen, no weird arm floating in front of the lens, no speaker, and no microphone. They look just like eyeglasses. They function like your prescription eyeglasses but you see a stream of information on what looks like a screen. That is no screen though, it’s actually being projected onto your retina. All of the Vaunt’s electronics are confined to a small area right above the ear. They respond to commands given via head nods.

The glasses are weighing in at just 2 ounces, very light , but that doesn’t mean it’s light on possibilities . The Vaunt packs a Mike Tyson like tech power punch with a processor, accelerometer, Bluetooth, and a compass. They have a laser that projects a tiny image directly onto the corner of your retina. This image acts as a screen, showing you notifications from your phone, news updates, directions, or daily reminders.

Final Thoughts

Intel has succeeded its goal to make wearable tech glasses without having a smartphone on your face. All of the Vaunt’s electronics are confined to a small area right above the ear. They respond to commands given via head nods,Everything from the ground up is designed to make the technology disappear. This all sounds great until you realize it’s a laser in your eye ball. How safe can a freakin laser to our retina be? Well the trust people at the FDA say it’s 100 percent safe to stare into this kind of laser for extended periods of time. Apparently this is such a low powered laser it’s at very bottom end of a class one laser. Good enough for me, where is the release form, I’ll sign it I’ll sign it right now. Release date or pricing has not been released yet.

February 10, 2018
How Cool, Wireless Apple AirPods!
Now Apple give us the wireless AirPods. Simple Bluetooth enabled wireless earphones but the design of the AirPods is defined by the geometry of the ear. Which makes them more comfortable for more people than any other earbud-style headphones. The speakers inside have been engineered to maximize sound output and minimize sound loss.

The Great
- Wireless
- Truly terrific sound
- Compact caring case
- Easy to use and connect
- Auto shifts between mono and stereo
The Not
- $159 is little high
- One-size-fits-all design
- No in line remote
The Conclusion

I am absolutely shocked at how rich and punchy these sound. They are small, easy to use, instantly connected and viably wireless. They are the complete earphone solution. If I could get a little more battery life, Id be in Elysium.

The Fit

Unlike traditional, circular earbuds, the design of the new Apple EarPods is defined by the geometry of the ear. Which makes them more comfortable for more people than any other earbud-style headphone. They fit perfect, the most comfortable Ive used, that all I can ask. They are one sized fits all so fit may vary by person

The Sound

Im overly impressed with the sound. The speakers inside Apple Air Pods have been engineered to minimize sound loss and maximize sound output. So you get high-quality audio that’s just as impressive as what you’d hear from any of the more expensive headphones. Its very rich, booming sounds on the low and the highs have a nice balance and pop. My opinion, they are louder then the Bose, and crisper then Beats and the quality is second to none.

The Day to Day

The caring case makes this whole process easier. They charge in the case so they only time they are out the case they are in my ear. With Siri I have voice control abilities that function for most of my use. Batteries last me almost through the day, it would be nice to have just a little more life but its not an issue or a deal breaker. I really like how they do only connect to one thing at once even if you are sitting with your apple watch mac and phone and iPad there all at once and the Bluetooth connection doesn’t chop or change around. My only gripe is the volume control, you shouldn’t have to rely on Siri to do that.

Final Thought

I was very skeptical to buy the Air Pods. But they are absolutely fabulous headphones. Comparing them to the other headphones I have owned, Beats, Skull and Bose. They look beautiful, the sound is stellar, the use is easy and they are super comfortable for me , but everyone’s ears are different. If you find the wired headphones comfortable, then you are going to love them. Thank you, Apple, for another extraordinary product!
February 10, 2018
Upgrading to the Apple Watch 3
The Apple Watch 3 is the latest in the watch line from Apple. Its a watch that allows you to stay connected when you’re away from your phone, making calls and send texts with just your watch. It has the ability to stream millions of songs with Apple Music and track your activities, heart rate, and calories burned right from your wrist.

The Great
- Good smartwatch battery life
- LTE connectivity
- Water resistant
- Apple Music compatable
- Improved exercise tracking
- Snappier performance
- Apple Pay is convenient and really easy
The Not
- LTE connection drains battery significantly
- Wait time for Apple Music streaming is a bit excessive
- LTE roaming is not available
- Siri is a little spotty
The Conclusion

The Apple Watch is the best and only viable smartwatch on the market, everything else is unnecessary or a liability. The upgrades are useful and implemented well on the 3. LTE adds a much needed connection allowing the watch to function with out your iPhone. Being water resistant is another crucial upgrade. Overall the watch was a great addition to your apple eco-system and the enhancements play well.

I Upgraded

So I’ve used the series one for two and a half years now, and at no point have a thought I’ve need to replace it. Then due to an unfortunate band malfunction my beloved Apple Watch and I have parted ways. No fear I have $500 in my pocket so I can swing by any number of retailers and have a new one in just a few mins. Now to be clear I use my watch daily, I find it has improved my ability to stay connected with my calls, messages, appointments and emails while significantly reducing my iPhone screen time. Adding in the activity, heart rate monitoring and breathing reminders its an integral part of my day to day and I can say it improves my quality of life. Not many tech gadgets can claim this.

The Improvements

The Apple Watch is now in its third iteration, and while it may appear that not much has changed on the surface, there have been some developments under the hood. Its now water resistant. I live in a coastal town, I am swimming, boating, surfing on a daily bases 9 months out of the year. Being able to take my watch in the water is a need and I am not sure how I made it for two and a half year with out this ability. The series 2 has this but it is perfected in the 3, and its got a really cool red dot on the dial so everyone can see I am fancy, bonus.

LTE

The big draw for the Series 3 is the option of LTE connectivity. This means greater independence from your paired iPhone, and always-on connectivity wherever you get network coverage. This gives me the ability to stream music from my watch when I am not with my phone, another nice perk. Although I quickly discovered the LTE Series 3’s limitations when I left my iPhone at home. I started the day with a nice bike ride, during which I streamed my bike ride playlist that starts off with Queen’s “Bicycle” and continues with equally enjoyable tracks the entire 43 minutes of my ride. When I returned home to eat breakfast, I checked my watch battery. It had drained to 60 percent after running every battery-sucking feature simultaneously. I was able to squeeze through the by not relying on it too heavily on the watch.

Now I do have to say outside of using the LTE to stream music to my Bluetooth headset, the Apple Watch 3 battery life completely blows the series one out of the water, which means I can go almost 3 days without a charge, and even use the Apple Watch to track my sleep. Another bonus.

I did find out that LTE roaming is not a thing on the watch. This means that if you are not on your carriers cell tower you dont have connection. Not that big of a deal for I use Verizon, but for you Sprint and Tmobile users a much bigger deal, and I would have to assume the 3 third party carriers are out of luck completely.

In Short

It’s an absolutely justifiable upgrade for me and all of us who already own a previous series Apple Watch. While you likely don’t need LTE, it can be helpful if you want the freedom to leave your iPhone at home or in a car while working out. The Apple Watch 3 is noticeably faster than the series one, which means I use apps and features that took too long to reliably use on the older model. Siri is now talking to you, which is nice when you want to quickly command the digital assistant and keep on doing what you want.
February 10, 2018
3 Smart-Home Appliances for 2018

What better way to streamline your house cleaning then by tracking all your appliances activity from your smart phone or computer. Well those appliances are here. From tracking usages, energy output, and efficiency these appliances will make your weekend cleanings a breeze…

1. The Samsung 4-door Family Hub Refrigerator

Samsung’s latest offering in the smart home department is a $5,800 touchscreen/camera equipped refrigerator. The focal point of Samsung’s refrigerator, called the Family Hub, is an over-sized 21.5-inch touchscreen. When activated, you can view photos, leave notes, and even watching television. This “Smart-Fridge” also offers a larger screen that runs apps. Including Insta-cart and Groceries by MasterCard, both of which let you order groceries right from the refrigerator. Pretty cool stuff.

2. The GE Geneva Dishwasher

GE new Geneva Smart Dishwasher comes with a new app that will alert you if any problems arise and when the current load is finished. The dishwasher will also monitor performance and send an alert if any leaks arise. With the GE Appliances Kitchen app, you can start and stop the dishwasher even away from home with the touch of a button. The Geneva Dishwasher also connects to Alexa and can be started and stopped by simple voice commands.

3. The Samsung Flex Duo Oven/Range

The Flex-Duo with Dual Door and removable Smart Divider features two independent temperature controls and convection systems. This high tech stove comes equipped with blue LED illuminated knobs visually lets you know if your cook-top is on and Wi-Fi connectivity to let you remotely monitor your cook-top and control your oven’s temperature, timer and more right from the Samsung App!

Final Thoughts

Who knows what the future holds for us and our appliances. For now, the progress is pretty impressive and seems to be treated with care to ensure we use this technology to the best of our ability. Anyone of these smart appliances are sure to make things a little easier around the house.

February 10, 2018
The New BMW X7 is Here.

When Can we See it?

Later in 2018, BMW is slated to put its once concept ,the X7, into production. This new addition to the BWM line promises to be the height of luxury and technology. According to BMW, “The Concept X7 iPerformance embraces spatial luxury. Generously dimensioned windows, combined with the panoramic glass roof extending from the windshield to the rear, generate an incomparable sense of airiness that brings new meaning to the phrase out on the road. The seats themselves, a mix of dark olive-bronze and Smoke White leather, serve as a nod to exclusivity, down to the finest details.”

From what we’ve seen so far, the interior looks absolutely incredible. Equipped with an oversized heads-up display screen, and 2 additional monitors in the back, this car is not short on tech. In addition, BWM has added a, ” Brilliant mix of light and dark to create an atmosphere of balance and tranquility. Dynamic ambient and contour lighting, with strands of laser light in the roof, plus polished aluminum elements throughout the interior provide brightness.” Bravo, BMW.

First of Its Kind

The X7 is surely to be the company’s largest vehicle ever produced. With this large stature, the X7 encompasses beauty, strength, elegance and grace. The X7 is pushing the boundaries of fashion with its 23-inch wheels and contour lines throughout. Under this large body will likely be a range of six, eight and possibly 12-cylinder engines ranging from a relatively frugal 3.0-liter turbo diesel to a 609hp 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 petrol (borrowed from the top-spec 7 Series) in rapid X60i models. Other options will include a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 and a hybrid X7 that combines a four-cylinder petrol engine with a powerful electric motor. Whichever option you choose it’s believed that the X7 will come with four-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox as standard.

For now we wait

We will likely see the X7 in the later months of 2018 or early 2019. If it’s pricing mirrors anything close to the X7’s sedan brother the 7 series, we can expect pricing to start around the $100,000 mark. It’s certainly a beautiful machine and my hat’s off to the guys and girls over a BMW.

February 6, 2018
Sonos Spreaker. Listen Up…
The Good
- Unparalleled sound quality. Simply the best in home audio
- Sonos App is user friendly and easy to navigate
- Sharp design, fits in any decor
- Portable and works off Wifi.
The Not so Good
- Portable but has to be plugged into an outlet
- limited capability, can only essentially play music
- Music has to be played through Sonos App. Cannot use Youtube or other mediums.
- Somewhat high price tag
The Conclusion

The sound quality is amazing and the Sonos connects to the home WiFi hassle free. Using the Sonos App, your music selection platforms are plentiful. But they’re not total. I still find myself wanting to use Youtube sometimes through the app, and where just not There yet. But the ability to fill my entire home with beautiful, synchronized music, where I can walk from room to room without music interruption makes it all worth it. I could pay a professional $5,000-$10,000 for an audio system and I’m still not sure it would provide better sound quality than the Sonos.

Oh Sweet Sonos

Lauched in 2013, Sonos hit the audio ground running. Not long after I found myself wanting to add more sound in our home and was looking for a portable unit, such a Bose mini Soundlink. I was then informed of the Sonos by a cousin and the rest is history. Right from the get go, sound of this little unit is incredible.The impressive is the clarity of the mids and highs in unparalleled. I find I’m hearing things in songs that I haven’t noticed in years. The hardware setup was very easy as well.

The Sonos App included clear illustrations showing which buttons to press on which devices to complete the pairing, and what the illuminated light sequences on those devices meant. Within a few minutes, everything was connected and working. I added my Spotify and Pandora accounts quickly, and within a few minutes I was streaming music to the Play 1. Sonos is also easily paired to Alexa, and the two work great together. For $199.00, I have got every penny out of the Sonos. Granted I wish it were as portable as my Bose Mini, but in this case, the sounds quality is a cost of portability.

Final Thoughts

Sonos has some buggy software issues along with a lack of mobility, but the pure sound that emits from the little speaker is simply the best. If you want your home to be filled with bright tones and audio warmth that there is no need to shop any further. The Sonos is the speaker for you. Start with one for your kitchen and you’ll quickly have a Sonos in every room. Sonos has competition such as the Apple Home Pod hot on it’s heels, but as long as they keep making that sweet sound, I’m in for life!
February 3, 2018
What a Powerful Little TV Projector!
The Good
- Set up could not be any simpler. Unboxing to watching TV done in under 5 minutes.
- The 1080HD Picture quality is amazing
- Small size, mobile, and reasonable price
The Bad
- Works best in a dark area or room
- Watching off the projector in daylight or bright areas in moot
- Volume is muffled at max setting and the menu screen is lacking
The Conclusion

This is a small, but powerful projector that provides great picture quality. Being very portable, you can throw in a bag and take to a meeting or a friend’s house to watch a movie. Comes equipped with all the needed connections such as HDMI or an output for a computer monitor. With a price tag of $128.99, the GAOAG Mini LED projector is a great buy for any night time outdoor or indoor needs.

Small but Powerful

With 1,800 Lumens and 1080P picture, this little projector packs a powerful punch! Along with great picture quality, this sleek and mobile projector, weighing just about 2 pounds, can be quickly packed up and brought anywhere hassle free. The GAOAG projector also comes with the capability to pair up to you iPhone or smart device for easier watching convenience. GAOAG has some competition such as the RAGU Z720 projector that offers 3,000 Lumens, weighs 7 pounds, and costs and extra $80.00. The GAOAG is a great source to watch movies or TV in dark spaces, it is not meant for PowerPoint or Office presentations. Another issue that has arose with the GAOAG Mini LED is projector is lack of basic image processing. When using VGA input, you can scale and shift the screen around, but not when using HDMI. With HDMI, the only option you have is scaling the image.

Final Thoughts

Projectors were all the rage a few years ago, but tapered off due to it’s technical limitation and mortal enemy, The Sun. With new ideas and advancements from companies such as GAOAG, maybe the projector can find it’s way back into our homes and hearts? GAOAG is certainly on the right path and has made a very affordable, portable, and high quality LED Projector. I’m anxious to see what the next stage of advancements hold.
February 1, 2018