Technology – Page 2 – GeekEvangelist

TO STREAM, OR NOT TO STREAM

February 3, 2015 No Comments

With two-thirds of households (66.6 per cent) in Australia now having a fast broadband internet connection, the demand for access to online media (audio & video) is ever-increasing. Not only in the homes, but the demand for an internet connection for work, study, and play interestingly now (excluding mobile handsets) accounts for 47% of all internet connections.

Within the home environment, we no longer have to rely on traditional means (television & radio) to listen to music, watch movies and television shows. If you have missed your favourite television show, you can rely on the web to either purchase and download the latest episode of your favourite sitcom, or stream the episode from a hosted website (catch-up tv)

Service-providers are now offering accessible alternative solutions to provide access to streaming media such as the Telstra T-Box, Optus Fetch-TV and similar products such as the Apple TV & Google Play TV.

Optus MeTV with Fetch: For new or existing OPTUS subscribers, the set-top box features three high-definition digital TV tuners and a 1TB hard disk, allowing it to store up to 250 hours of SD content. Optus MeTV provides on-demand channel packs like Kids, Music, Entertainment, Documentaries and Lifestyle, including 30 pre-selected movies included each month. Newer movies can be rented and watched on an on-demand basis (in either SD or HD) for between AU$3.95 and AU$6.95 per title. Optus MeTV with Fetch is available to all Optus customers for AU$9.95 per month on a 24-month contract or Free is you are on the $109 Optus Fusion home phone and internet package. Users can also use their iPhone or iPad devices to control and program their home FetchTV box.

Telstra T-Box: Telstra have a launched a great product to market offering Telstra customers access to a wide range of features. The T-Box has an on board 1TB hard disk to record, pause & rewind live free-to-air digital channels. For eligible BigPond Broadband customers, you also get unmetered access to BigPond TV featuring classic movies, sport, news, music, shopping channels and a range of applications such as YouTube, Picasa and TuneIn Radio. In addition Telstra offer two subscription options to stream over 4,000 movies and TV shows ranging from $1.99 to $6.99 for new release titles. Alternatively you can subscribe to FOXTEL on T-Box for as little as $19.50 per month. to stream the standard FOXTEL channels such as including Nick (Kids), FOX8, Discovery and National Geographic Channels

Google Play TV: Google TV is a web-based streaming service with two-tiered pricing, with new releases available at $5.99 and $6.99 for SD and HD, and older titles available from $2.99. YouTube Movies also offers a number of free movies and documentaries. Google PlayTV is great for mobile devices such as laptops or tablet users that might want to connect their device to a television as movies can be streamed instantly or downloaded to be watched while offline, and a logged-in user can watch the same title across both Google Play and YouTube.

Apple TV / iTunes: If you own any Apple devices, an Apple TV is a simple and cost-effective addition to allow access to streaming content to your home TV. Although you cannot stream or watch free to air TV via an Apple TV can easily stream video, photos and music from your iPad or iPhone to your Apple TV. Individual episodes can be downloaded or streamed via iTunes direct from the Apple TV from iTunes or Rent a Movie from their extensive library from AU$5.99 or watch individual TV episodes from $2.99 or 3.49 for new release HD versions.

Technology

WHEN COOL THINGS GET RIDICULOUSLY COOLER

February 3, 2015 No Comments

Since 1962, artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Pete Townshend, Eric Clapton & AC/DC have been rocking out gig venues, mastering the famous Marshall tone.

This year Marshall celebrates 50 Years in the music scene, ‘Marshall Guitar Amplifiers’ have released a special limited edition Bar Fridge that will make you the envy of even the best guitarist and air guitarists alike.

Fitted off with the signature Marshall Stack styling, including volume knobs that even go to 11, the limited edition fridge will be a must have for your pool room, pad or music room.

The Marshall Fridge store will be available for shipping on October 1, 2012, and the Marshall Fridge can be yours for a special introductory price of $299.00 USD. Marshall Fridge

Technology

GADGET GIFT GUIDE FOR FATHERS DAY

February 3, 2015 No Comments

Father’s Day is a great time to reflect on the role that our Dads play in our lives, and enjoy spending the day together. GeekEvangelist, Russell Keys has found the perfect tech-friendly products that are sure to be a hit, for that Dad that has everything, regardless of whether he loves to Cycle, Watch TV, Listen to Music or work around the house.

LifeFactory – 650ml Flip Cap Glass Bottles

your cupboards are anything like ours, we have a dedicated shelf just for water bottles. The problem, is finding a good water bottle that will last, can be cleaned in the dishwasher, and looks great alongside all your Dad’s funky desktop gadgets. The LifeFactory Flip Top bottle is the Mercedes of drink bottles. Made from BPA, Phthalate, PVC and Polycarbonate free chemicals, the Flip Cap bottle offers easy on-the-go drinking from the narrow mouth spout with the convenience of wide mouth access.Our 650ml reusable glass bottle offers a large capacity to quench a big thirst. – $29.95

Dyson DC35 MultiFloor Digital Slim™ Cordless Vacuum

Dyson vacuums are renowned for their superior cleaning products, and the Dyson DC35 is probably the most powerful and practical portable vacuum cleaner on the market. The detachable long-reach wand and motorised cleaner head makes the product perfect for cleaning pretty much anywhere. With a Lithium-ion battery that provides 15 minutes of high constant suction, the Dyson DC35 is ideal for the floors, stairs, furniture or inside the car. $469.00

iGrill digital thermometer & iOS app

The iGrill is yet another device that panders those that like to find a way to incorporate tech into each any every part of our lives, including the kitchen. The dual probe thermometer can be used standalone, or with the app to measure cooking temperature and time without compromising the quality of your cooking. Download the iGrill app to your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch and keep track of the progress of your bbq meats via a secure, long-range Bluetooth® connection. $109

Apple TV

The new Apple TV with 1080p HD gives you access to the best content, blockbuster movies, TV shows, sports music, photos, and more. Simply connect the little black box via HDMI to your widescreen TV, and enjoy streaming content from iTunes on your PC, MAC or via your iOS devices to your TV using AirPlay. At $112 the Apple TV is great fun not just for Dad, but can be enjoyed by the whole family.

Plantronics BackBeat® GO wireless earbuds

Great for any portable device, the Plantronics Backbeat Go Wireless earbuds are small, light, wireless, and punch an amazing sound. Let your Dad listen to his Music in peace with Inline controls that let you pause music to take a call, change volume or skip tracks. The Backbeat Go wireless earbuds connect via Bluetooth technology, and makes connectivity to your portable device hassle free. There are three sizes of cushioned ear tips and two stabilizers for a secure, comfortable fit. $99

Technology, Uncategorized

Stream Wireless Audio Outdoors with Apple iTunes

November 19, 2011 No Comments

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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 theAmphony 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

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Technology

Windows Home Server (WHS) – Data Vault

May 25, 2010 No Comments

In addition to the new PC for home, I have been researching a home server, backup solution.

After listening to the Home Server Show Podcast for many months, and much research, I have decided on the HP StorageWorks x510 DataVault. With 3 TB of onboard storage, the server will replace several external hard disk drives that I have around the house, and consolidate around 2TB of data that currently resides on 2-3 computers / laptops.

The following information was taken from the “www.wegotserved.com” website, and has assisted not only myself, but many friends with selecting the HP StorageWorks server for home use.

What is the HP StorageWorks server?
As I though, the X510 is basically the same specs as HP MediaSmart Server EX495 (US ONLY) The X510 is being marketed to SME’s as a “business level WHS”. Same features though.. Backup / Share / Stream.

What can this server do?

Automatic Backup and Easy Restore – Automatically backs up up to 10 PCs in your office each evening, with the ability to open up and navigate through each day’s backup and restore a single file, an entire folder or quickly reinstall the entire computer complete with all files, user data and drivers intact, thanks to its image based backup technology.
Folder Duplication – added protection of the data on your shared folders (in case of drive failure), by duplicating that data to a separate physical drive (if installed).
External Backup – further protection of your shared folders by copying all data to an external USB drive for off-site storage.
Health Warnings – Monitors all computers connected to the home server (courtesy of a small dashboard application called the Windows Home Server Console you install on each computer in the office) and detects issues with anti-virus, firewall and backup status, using a simple “traffic light” (Red, Amber Green) warning system. It can also alert users to issues with the home server itself.
File Sharing – Shared folders on the home server act as central repositories for documents, music, videos and photos. Any authorized computer and user on the network can then access those folders to add more files, copy and delete files as well and stream media files to an appropriate networked playback device. It’s also quite easy to grant or prevent specific users from accessing certain folders for additional security.
Printer Sharing – Connect a printer to the home server and any home computer can print to it.

Remote Access – A free URL (as well as commercial offerings) is provided to allow users to connect to the server remotely from any location with Internet access. Users can then access folders on the server itself, or control any authorized computer directly using a Remote Desktop Connection.
Media Streaming – Stream music, videos and photos to a wide variety of playback devices on your network, including digital media receivers, Media Center Extenders, networked TVs, digital photo frames, networked Hi-Fis etc.
Add-Ins – A thriving and growing library of third-party applications providing additional features for your home server including power management, enhanced media streaming, hard disk management and more.

source: www.wegotserved.com

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