Stream Wireless Audio Outdoors with Apple iTunes
With Summer on the horizon, and no big holidays planned for the summer break, I thought that it was time that I started planning some ideas to ramp up the pool / deck area for the festive season. Our deck is a great spot for entertaining, and an inviting space to have a drink and BBQ with friends a hot summers day. What is missing though for these idyllic occasions?, but some Music. Traditionally I have gone to great lengths to drag out the good old stereo and piles of CD’s, connect up speakers, not to mention the piles of wires lying around, just to set the scene. How-To: How do I utilise the technology that I have invested in, inside the house, outside. Thanks to Apple iTunes and Airplay, I already have wireless access to an extensive media library, however how do you bring all these good things that reside inside the house, outdoors on a budget?
Equipment Required:
Speakers – Flush Mountable Speakers
Speaker wire – In Wall Speaker Cable
Amplifier – Amphony Mini Amp 200
Wireless Access – Apple Airport Express
Speakers: Speakers are a very personal thing, however for this project, I purchased some Flush Mounted Indoor/Outdoor ceiling speakers. I have an eve that I wanted to mount the speakers under, as well as some new lighting that we want to put in down the track. By mounting the speakers under the eve, this gave me a direct access to the wall cavity to run the wires down into a cupboard where I am able to locate the Amp and Airport Express, connected via internal power.
Amplifier:
To keep the budget down, and keeping in mind storage space, I selected the Amphony Micro Fidelity Mini Amp. This amplifier has had great reviews as this is the size of a deck of cards, but pumps out a whopping 40 watts RMS per channel. Another reason for selecting this amplifier was the simple interface which allows you to set and forget. The Amplifier has an external power pack, volume dial, stereo / mono speaker inputs and an RCA (L & R) audio input.
Wireless:
Once I have the speakers connected to the Amplifier, I simply ran a ‘Mini Jack’ to ‘RCA’ cable into the Apple Airport Express, and configured the Airport so that it would talk with my existing network. The Apple Airport Express would have to be by far one of the most adaptable wireless products made to date. The Airport Express is a Wi-Fi access point / repeater that has an ethernet port, mini jack audio input and USB, so options are endless what you can achieve around your home. Once configured the Apple Airport Express will simply bridge the wireless network with your home network, and select the AirPlay option within iTunes to select the outdoor speaker configuration.
AirPlay:
AirPlay takes the music from the iTunes library on your computer and sends it wirelessly to any stereo or speakers in your home. All you have to do is plug an AirPort Express into an electrical outlet near those speakers, then connect them with an audio cable. In iTunes, you can choose which speakers you want your music to play on — in your den, living room, or bedroom. If you have more than one AirPort Express connected to speakers, you can play the same music on all your speakers at the same time to create a whole-house musical experience. Apple.
Now that all speakers and amplifier are connected to the Airport Express, all I have to do now, is to select the external speaker option within iTunes or if you have an iPhone or iPod touch, you can use it to control your iTunes library from any room in your home. Thanks to the Apple Remote Application, you can browse music, control volume, and configure your playlists right from within the App.
Outdoor Photos Courtesy of Livingstone Audio
Read MoreApple Adds Multitasking Gestures for Original iPad
In a previous blog post I mentioned, Apple have included in the IOS 5.0.1 update to include Multitasking Gestures for Original iPad (1G). Using four or five fingers on your iPad screen, Multitasking Gestures allow you to swipe up to reveal the multitasking bar, pinch to return to the Home screen, and swipe left or right to switch between apps.
How-To Enable Multitasking Gestures:
To Enable this Option on your iPad;
1. Access the ‘Settings’ menu,
2. Tap on ‘General’,
3. Locate the ”Multitasking Gestures” option, and select On..
Note: Blogger “Cocoa Box Notes” has advised that there are known issues with Multitasking if you are using the Penultimate or other Handwriting Apps.
If required, once enabled, you can disable Multitasking Gestures at any time, by accessing the ‘Settings’ on your iPad. In the ‘General’ settings area, look for ‘Multitasking Gestures’, and disable the feature.
Using four or five fingers on your iPad screen, Multitasking Gestures allow you to swipe up to reveal the multitasking bar, pinch to return to the Home screen, and swipe left or right to switch between apps.
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Belkin Conserve Insight.
In an era where we are all trying to save a buck, and save the planet at the same time, a good place to start is in your own backyard, or for most of us, inSide our very own home.
With the increase of gadgets and technology usage in the house, I’m sure that we have all seen an increase in spend across our energy bills.
Conserving power can save you money, however how do you keep track of the amount of energy that your gadgets & technology around your house are drawing, and how this converts to dollars spent rather than saved.
Belkin have released a great line-up of consumer based products to help you Conserve energy within your home, and take control of your energy usage within your home.
Conserve Insight™ Energy Use Monitor
To find out how much electricity your television, laptop or washing machine is using, “Belkin’s Conserve Insight Energy Use Monitor” helps you keep track of your energy use by showing how much electricity your devices really cost-in watts, dollars, and carbon dioxide.
The Conserve Insight sits between your power socket, and your electronic device, and tracks the amount of electricity that is being consumed, and calculates this by providing an estimated total cost, including carbon dioxide (CO₂) produced.
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- Make better energy decisions: See how much different devices cost to use on a yearly or monthly basis
- Know your environmental impact: Shows power-plant CO2emissions produced to use your device on a yearly or monthly basis
- Easy to read: 6 ft. cord allows you to read display at eye level or place on a table
- Customizable: Use the preloaded average electricity rate or enter your own rate off your electric bill;
- Set the CO2emissions rate for your specific region
- Tracking feature: Tracks your actual device usage over time and projects the cost of operation
OlloClip for iPhone 4s and iPhone 4
After being blown away by the amazing Photo ad Video examples I have seen around the net taken on the iPhone 4S, I was searching around Google today for Camera accessories that have been created for the iPhone devices, and cam across the OlloClip for iPhone4.
At US $69.95, The OlloClip is a multilens clip on device that attaches itself to the corner of the iPhone 4S that enables you to shoot macro, fisheye and wide-angle photos and videos on an iPhone 4 or 4S. Although it does not allow you to use the clips with a case or iPhone bumper, the unit is very steady, and locks in to place without any hastle. The OllocClip ships with a Microfibre carry bag, that also doubles as a lens cleaner. 
The Wide-Angle lens is great for when you need that extra field of view, approximately double that of the normal IPhone.
The Macro lens applies roughly a 10X multiplier and allows you to focus the iPhone within 12-15mm of the subject. The Macro lens is cleverly concealed within the olloclip and can be accessed by unscrewing the Wide-Angle lens that is normally attached to it.
The Fisheye lens captures approximately a 180 Degree field-of-view and produces some striking images. The OlloClip can be purchased from the company website, and is available in Black or Red.
[VIDEO] – OlloClip introduction video: iPhone 4 Quick-Change Lens System
Image Source: OlloClip
Read MoreSamsung Galaxy II S – Pop-Up-Shop
Samsung are offering a Samsung GALAXY S II everyday for $2.00 to the first 10 customers who attend the pop up shop. This is a joing venture between Samsung and Vodaphone
Simply Visit the Samsung and Vodafone Pop Up Shop to try out the new Samsung Music Hub and get your hands on the Samsung GALAXY S II, which has sold over 10M units worldwide.
Samsung kindly have a barista onsite for those that have lined up all night to get their hands on a bargain, serving free coffee between 10.30am to 2.30pm.
Head down to the Pop-Up Store at 379-381 George Street, Sydney
Opening hours:
Monday 10th October: 8.00 am – 8.00pm
Tuesday 11th October: 8.00 am – 8.00pm
Wednesday 12th October: 8.00 am – 8.00pm
Thursday 13th October: 8.00 am – 9.00pm
Friday 14th October: 8.00 am – 8.00pm
Check out the Samusung Website for Terms and Conditions.
via Gizmodo
Read MoreTurn your iPad into a Universal Remote with Logitech Harmony® Link
Not only are we now inundated with remote controls in the house, due to the vast array of televisions, set-top boxes, DVD players etc, we now are wanting to be watching our favorite television shows whilst tweeting, texting & updating our facebook status discussing the latest shows and movies.
How many devices and remotes can we really sustain in a world that is craving simplicity, sustainable technology & convergence across multiple platforms (including the home entertainment areas). Logitech has been a leading player in this arena with their Logitech Harmony® series remote controls and is bridging the gap between IR and WiFi devices with their latest release Logitech Harmony® Link.
The Logitech Harmony® Link is a small pod shaped WiFi enabled infrared device, that alongside the mobile device app, allows you to control up to eight home entertainment devices. Inside the box included with the Link device, is a AC adaptor, USB cable for configuring and programming the Link device, and mini IR blaster to ensure connectivity to devices behind cabinet doors or in entertainment cupboards.
Download the Logitech Harmony® Link App on your iPad, iPhone, iPod touch or Android device and together with the new Harmony link device, you can configure (in app) all of your devices being televisions, set-top boxes, DVD players, AppleTV and Playstation etc and set up an activity like “Watch a TV” or “Listen to Music” and Harmony Link automatically switches all of your home entertainment devices to the correct settings with one touch.
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