HomeTech.fm

This week on HomeTech: We chat with Orro CEO and founder, Colin Billings about how he is using AI to make smart devices smarter. Orro is a unique smart dimmer that has built-in sensors and touchscreen interface that all fits within a decora-sized wall plate. It's also packed with third party integrations and the ability to learn how your lights should be set based on your habits. Some quick follow up about the Apple lossless audio launch, IKEA/Sonos picture frames are coming, and Control4 adds OVRC into every controller.

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Show Notes

• HomeTech Headlines
  • Apple says HomePod and HomePod Mini will support lossless audio after future update
  • Ikea’s Sonos-powered picture frame speaker is on its website right now
  • Sevenhugs Smart Remote — Control your TV, lights, music & smart home
  • Episode 115 - The SevenHugs Smart Remote w/ CEO Simon Tchedikian
  • The Best Universal Remote Control
  • SnapAV's Control4 Software Offers Updated Support for OvrC Pro
• Interview: Colin Billings - CEO and Founder of Orro
• Pick fo the Week
  • Eufy’s new battery-powered security cameras have local storage and don’t require a hub

This week on HomeTech: Jason drops in to to say "hi" and chat about all the new offerings from OneVision, Amazon buys MGM, and Roku has its eyes on the smart home... All this and of course, the pick of the week.

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Show Notes

• HomeTech Headlines
  • Amazon buys MGM for $8.45 billion
  • Roku wants to expand into smart home devices
  • OneVision Introduces New Business Services for Custom Integrators - Residential Systems
  • OneVision
• Pick of the Week
  • Audio Visual Lager

This week on HomeTech: Two weeks of HomeTech Headlines! SnapAV is going public, the streaming wars intensify, Zigbee wants to Matter, and more... All this and of course, the pick of the week.

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Show Notes

• HomeTech Headlines
  • SnapAV To Go Public - CEPRO
  • SnapAV Submits Statement for Public Offering - Residential Systems
  • SnapAV Explains Why It Bought Access Networks - CEPRO
  • WiFi vulnerability may leave millions of devices open to 'frag attacks' | Engadget
  • A bug let Eufy security camera owners access strangers' feeds | Engadget
  • Here’s Anker’s apology after 712 Eufy customers had camera feeds exposed to strangers
  • Zigbee Alliance Rebrands as Connectivity Standards Alliance - CEPRO
  • Starlink review: broadband dreams fall to Earth
  • Savant Unveils Ring X Line Integration - Residential Systems
  • OneVision Introduces New Business Services for Custom Integrators - Residential Systems
  • AT&T's WarnerMedia is merging with Discovery | Engadget
  • AT&T and Discovery may combine content to take on Disney+ and Netflix | Engadget
  • Amazon is in talks to buy MGM for $9 billion
  • Spotify enters the virtual concert business, starts selling $15 tickets to events
  • HBO Max launching ad-supported tier for $9.99 a month in June
  • Apple announces lossless Apple Music is coming in June at no added cost
  • Apple HomePod and HomePod mini can’t play lossless Apple Music, either
  • AirPods, AirPods Max and AirPods Pro Don't Support Apple Music Lossless Audio
• Pick of the Week
  • Introducing Kaybl: The New Service That Bundles Your Favorite Content for One Flat Monthly Fee!

This week on HomeTech: New products are actually being announced, SnapAV buys more things, Onkyo is now owned by someone else as well, ISE cancels fun in 2021, and more... All this and of course, the pick of the week.

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Show Notes

• HomeTech Headlines
  • SnapAV Acquires Access Networks
  • VOXX, Sharp to Acquire Onkyo Home Entertainment Brands - CEPRO
  • Vivint to Pay FTC $20M 'White Paging' Settlement Fee - CEPRO
  • Roku pulls YouTube TV from its store as Google feud deepens | Engadget
  • ISE 2021 Cancels Events in Amsterdam and Munich Due to COVID-19 Restrictions - CEPRO
  • Clare Controls Launches ClareVision Cameras and NVRs - Residential Systems
  • Loxone Debuts New Intercom - Residential Systems
• Pick of the Week
  • All this will be yours one day...

This week on HomeTech: More streaming news including a spat between Roku and Google, ADT sues Ring, Spotify is raising prices, and Denon & Marantz throw in the towel on fixing faulty receivers... All this and of course, the pick of the week.

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Show Notes

• Wemo Smart Home Automation Stage Scene Controller | Belkin
• HomeTech Headlines
  • ADT sues Ring over ‘virtually indistinguishable’ blue octagon design
  • Denon & Marantz offer adapter kit to address HDMI 2.1 receiver issues
  • Google Responds to Roku’s Warning About Dropping YouTube TV | Cord Cutters News
  • Roku says it may lose YouTube TV app after Google made anti-competitive demands
  • HBO Max is getting live hockey, thanks to a new NHL deal
  • Spotify is raising prices for lots of its plans
  • Netflix finally rolls out its shuffle play feature | Engadget
  • Sony promises streaming quality nearly as good as 4K Blu-ray on Bravia Core movie service
  • How to calibrate a projector with AppleTV
• Pick of the Week
  • Here’s how the Internet Archive digitizes 78rpm records

This week on HomeTech: Apple's big event lands us with a new AppleTV and remote, Roku and Disney up their streaming game, is Amazon forcing Ecobee to fork over user data, and Nortek sells off Broan and Nutone... All this and of course, the pick of the week.

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Show Notes

• HomeTech Headlines
  • Nortek Sells Broan, NuTone for $3.6 Billion - CEPRO
  • Amazon tried to coerce Ecobee into collecting private user data, the WSJ reports
  • Roku’s Quibi content has a new, original name
  • Disney inks a huge Sony deal to bring Spider-Man and other films to Disney Plus and Hulu
  • Here’s everything Apple announced at its ‘Spring Loaded’ event – TechCrunch
  • The new Apple TV 4K arrives with HDMI 2.1, Thread wireless tech | Engadget
  • Project CHIP embraces a timeline and the blockchain - Stacey on IoT | Internet of Things news and analysis
• Pick of the Week
  • Watch the first footage of a helicopter on Mars

This week on HomeTech: It's officially over for Harmony, or is it? Samsung switches to OLED, Sony goes to Netflix, and Roku launches 3 new products and a whole new OS packed with new features... All this and of course, the pick of the week.

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Show Notes

• HomeTech Headlines
  • Logitech Officially Discontinues Harmony
  • Rumors claim Samsung will make OLED TVs with LG panels next year | Engadget
  • Netflix will get exclusive streaming rights to future Sony films | Engadget
  • Roku announces Express 4K Plus streaming player and rechargeable Voice Remote Pro
  • Apple gets its own button on Roku’s latest remotes
  • Roku OS 10 adds instant resume for streaming apps, brings AirPlay 2 to more devices
• Pick of the Week
  • UniFi® Design Center

This week on Hometech: Rumors about a new AppleTV on the horizon, T-Mobile launches their 5G internet network for the home, and IKEA and Sonos are up to something again... All this and of course, the pick of the week.

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Show Notes

• HomeTech Headlines
  • tvOS 14.5 beta code suggests 120Hz support coming to a new Apple TV model - 9to5Mac
  • T-Mobile's wireless home internet service launches today | Engadget
  • Ring brings its radar-scanning tech to a floodlight camera | Engadget
  • Sonos and IKEA are developing new Symfonisk speakers that hide in plain sight | Engadget
  • Ikea is working with Sonos on a hidden speaker built into art you hang on the wall
  • ADT Faces Class Action Lawsuit Related to Spying Technician - CEPRO
• Pick of the Week
  • EF4 Tornado Newnan GA 03-26-21 Actual Footage

This week on Hometech: A quick recap of the week's news and a conversation about the death of the Logitech Harmony remote – even if Logitech doesn't want to admit it. It seems everyone in retail, distribution, and within Logitech knows the product line has been discontinued... so where's the announcement? All this and of course the pick of the week.

Fan of the show? Want to support our efforts? Please consider becoming a Patron!

Show Notes

• HomeTech Headlines
  • Whistleblower claims Ubiquiti Networks data breach was ‘catastrophic’ | ZDNet
  • T-Mobile is killing its own TV streaming service in favor of YouTube TV | Engadget
  • Josh.ai Celebrates 6 Years with Limited Edition Cobalt Blue Josh Micro
  • Discussion: Is Harmony Discontinued?
    • Evidence: Letter from Distributor
    • Evidence: Confirmation from Logitech Rep for other product lines
    • Evidence: Harmony remotes are fading in relevance as streaming takes over, says Logitech CEO
    • Evidence: Logitech Discontinues Harmony Remotes? | AV Gadgets
• Pick of the Week
  • GluePen Cordless Hot Glue Gun | Bosch DIY
  • Gluey - Cordless Hot Glue Pen Set (with 20 Glue Sticks) Lagoon Blue for Bosch
  • Ryobi P305 One+ 18V Lithium Ion Cordless Hot Glue Gun

This week on Hometech: A quick recap of the week's news and a fast pick of the week. We also sit down with Jack MacDougall, CEO of Pixelgen, and Larry Pace, President of DarbeeVision, to talk about PXLVISION and how this new product aims to improve the picture on your TV.

Fan of the show? Want to support our efforts? Please consider becoming a Patron!

Show Notes

• HomeTech Headlines
  • Regal Cinemas strikes Warner Bros. deal to show 2021 movies alongside HBO Max | Engadget
  • LG's 2021 OLED TV lineup starts at $1,299 | Engadget
  • Sonos now has a 24-bit music streaming option | Engadget
  • HomePod Mini Features Dormant Temperature and Humidity Sensor That Could Be Activated in a Future Software Update
  • Apple Developing New 'HomePod' Models With Screens and Cameras
• Interview
  • PXLVISION - Pixelgen Design
• Pick of the Week
  • R650 | RUCKUS R650 Indoor Access Point | CommScope