Thursday, 14 December 2017

Nanoleaf Rhythm turned our smart home into a dance club video - CNET

Plug this nifty module into your Nanoleaf Aurora LED light panels and you'll be able to sync lighting changes to the beat of whatever music you're listening to.

from
https://www.cnet.com/videos/nanoleaf-rhythm-turned-our-smart-home-into-a-dance-club/#ftag=CADa08b18a

Amazon's Alexa now lets you pay for premium voice apps - CNET

Today, it's a few select games -- tomorrow, maybe Alexa's top personalities could quit their day jobs.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/amazon-alexa-premium-skill-in-app-purchase/#ftag=CADa08b18a

McIntosh Updates its Flagship Tower Speaker

McIntosh today introduced an updated version of its flagship column speaker, the XRT2K.


from
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/mcintosh-updates-its-flagship-tower-speaker

Should I Upgrade My Amplifier or AV Processor?

Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I was planning to replace my 225Wpc Anthem Statement A2 amplifier with a 300Wpc McIntosh MC302 amp to improve my system. It was suggested that I would get more bang-for-the-buck by instead replacing my Integra DHC 80.3 surround preamp/processor with a new McIntosh MX122 surround preamp/processor. The reason given was that upgrading to a marginally more powerful amp wouldn’t result in a significant difference in my system, but a state-of-the-art processor would. Do you agree with that viewpoint? The speakers I am using are Definitive Technology Mythos STS Super Towers with a Mythos center channel and surrounds. — KJ King



from
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/should-i-upgrade-my-amplifier-or-av-processor

ecobee Smart Thermostats - CNET

ecobee Smart Thermostats

from
https://www.cnet.com/deals/ecobee-smart-thermostats-0158f126/#ftag=CADa08b18a

5 Tips: How to Choose a Solar Panels for Your Home

If you’re looking to install solar panels on your house for the first time, you might have a lot of questions regarding exactly what to look for in a solar company and where to find it?  Besides the obvious task of scanning through online reviews of solar panel providers, here are a few key things to look for when choosing a solar company.

Word of Mouth — The best kind of verification is word of mouth, so ask around.  Word-of-mouth conversations and referrals are great because they can help you identify problems (and even intangible benefits) that won’t come up in a normal online review.

Cast a Wide Net — Get a sense for all the options you have in the area and you might be surprised about the amount of providers in your region. There are some companies that might be more prevalent in your neighborhood or even be doing local advertising, like Solar City or Vivint Solar, but you’d be surprised.

Prepare for Sticker Shock – No matter which solar provider you ultimately select, be prepared to open your wallet. If you are serious about going solar, you need to ready for the high cost.  Even though in the long run solar panels pay for themselves, there is a high upfront cost.  Also, your home’s electrical system might need some upgrades to accommodate for the solar panels, adding more costs.

Determine Which Type of Panels You Want – Not every solar provider offers different types of systems. For example, some companies will only do rooftops systems. If you desire not to have the panels on your roof but instead want a ground-mounted system, your choice of providers will be different.  In most cases, ground-mounted systems will be more expensive than their rooftop counterparts due to the need for longer wiring runs. Moreover, if you are looking for a hydraulic solar tracker for the yard, the providers will be even more limited. Older homes may not be able to support the added weight of solar panels.

Check the Warranty — Every solar panel company should provide some sort of warranty for your panels.  The industry standard is 25 years.

Source: https://www.energymatters.com.au/residential-solar/buying-a-solar-system/

The post 5 Tips: How to Choose a Solar Panels for Your Home appeared first on Electronic House.



from
https://www.electronichouse.com/home-energy-management/5-tips-how-to-choose-a-solar-panels-for-your-home/

Eatsmart Precision Plus Digital Bathroom Scale with Ultra Wide Platform and Step-on Technology, 440-Pounds - CNET

Eatsmart Precision Plus Digital Bathroom Scale with Ultra Wide Platform and Step-on Technology, 440-Pounds

from
https://www.cnet.com/deals/eatsmart-precision-plus-digital-bathroom-scale-with-ultra-wide-platform-and-step-on-technology-440-pounds-709d5036/#ftag=CADa08b18a