Episode 231 - Bye Bye Buzzer

On this week’s episode of HomeTech: We say goodbye to the Alexa buzzer. Streaming TV services on pace to grab 25% of the market by 2022. Google Play lowers the price of 4K content and offers free upgrades. Amazon participates in a $50 million funding round for German smart thermostat maker Tado. Netflix to raise a staggering $2 in debt to fund original content and more. Apple’s long-awaited streaming TV subscription service rumored to be launching soon in more than 100 countries. And much more…

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Show Notes

• HomeTech Headlines
  • Alexa’s new Whisper Mode goes live
  • Amazon invests in $50M funding round for German smart thermostat startup tado
  • Sonos may add Roku's entertainment platform to its speakers
  • Spotify Premium redesign borrows one of Pandora's best features
  • Google Play is upgrading your movie purchases to 4K for free
  • Google apologizes for YouTube TV outage, offers free week of credit
  • Streaming TV services will nab 25% of video market by 2022, analyst says
  • PlayStation Vue is now integrated with Apple’s TV app
  • Sling TV exec: Our vMVPD competitors are ‘repeating the sins of pay TV past’
  • Apple’s Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the ‘data industrial complex’
  • Netflix will raise $2 billion to pay for more original content
  • Apple to Launch TV Subscription Service Globally
  • Big Mouth | Netflix Official Site
• Pic of the Week
  • Hands Free Phone Ad - 1993
  • The First | Hulu
  • Patriot | Prime Video

Episode 230 - Silver Linings

On this week’s episode of HomeTech: Amazon plugs a big hole in Echo’s whole-house audio function. SimpliSafe releases a new doorbell cam. An interesting new B8ta-Google partnership. Is Mark Gurman’s startup, Essential Products, on the ropes? More great numbers from Netflix but are they invincible? And much more…

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Show Notes

• HomeTech Headlines
  • Amazon Fixes Big Alexa Problem in Whole-House Audio
  • SimpliSafe releases a new smart doorbell with a wide angle camera
  • Hulu plans to move some channels from its live TV service back to on-demand
  • iTunes launches massive Dolby Atmos 4K movie sale from $5, plus this week's $1 rental, more - 9to5Toys
  • Sonos pares back its desktop app as it prioritizes mobile
  • Google Partners With B8ta to Allow Customers to Test Smart Home Tech | Digital Trends
  • Android Creator’s Startup Essential Products Cuts About 30% of Staff - Bloomberg
  • Facebook is reportedly making a video chat camera for your TV
  • It turns out that Facebook could in fact use data collected from its Portal in-home video device to target you with ads
• Streaming News
  • Netflix Isn't Invincible
  • Netflix expects to hit 146 million subscribers in Q4
  • The best streaming TV apps
  • Netflix now has more than 137 million subscribers
• Pic(s) of the Week
  • Can you fix this?
  • THIS IS NOT A TRASH CAN!!
  • https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/spotmini-robot-dances-uptown-funk/
  • Boston Dynamics' Atlas robot shows upgraded agility in 'Parkour' video

Episode 229 - Is RSM Dead?

On this week’s episode of HomeTech: The latest in home tech headlines including Google’s big October announcements, and a “non-hyperbolic” question gets definitively answered: “Is RSM Dead?”

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Show Notes

• HomeTech Headlines
  • Xiaomi introduces its new 4K HDR Mi Box S for $60
  • California bans default passwords on any internet-connected device
  • Verizon rolling out ‘5G Home’ internet service with free Apple TV in select cities starting today
  • Ubiquiti releases new AmpliFi Instant Mesh Wi-Fi System, sets up in under 2 minutes
  • Portal from Facebook: Voice Enabled Hands-Free Video Calling
  • Nest’s smart thermostat now comes in three new colors
• Google October Event
  • Google Home Hub hands-on: A surprisingly compact smart display
  • Google Home Hub is official, available October 22 for $149
  • Google's revamped Home app puts all of your devices in one place
  • A Google Home First: Local Integration with GE Smart Bulbs via BLE - No Network Needed*
• Is RSM Dead?
  • OneVision Resources | RSM GUIDE
• Pic of the Week: Homeplay's Non-Rendered Showroom

Episode 228 - Billions in TP and Oreos

On this week’s episode of HomeTech: The latest in home tech headlines including;

• Speculation on Google’s big press event on Oct 9th

• The world’s most embarrassing new-product leak, courtesy of Best Buy

• SiriusXM acquires Pandora

• Comcast acquires Sky

• Roku unveils a $40 4k streaming device

• WiFi (finally) adopts version numbers

• Samsung reveals pricing on their 85” 8K display

• Thoughts on Amazon’s new Alexa Connect Kit

• A new and very compelling device from Caavo

• And more…

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Show Notes

• HomeTech Headlines
  • The Day After: Catch up on Breaking News from Google/Nest Oct. 10
  • Best Buy accidentally sells customer the new, unannounced Chromecast
  • SiriusXM to acquire Pandora for $3.5 billion
  • Johnson Controls announces acquisition of Lux Products Corporation, a leader in residential thermostats and smart products
  • Comcast outbids 21st Century Fox for Sky
  • Roku’s Cheapest Streamers Ever - 4K Roku Premiere and Premiere+ with Voice Remote Start at $39
  • Wi-Fi now has version numbers, and Wi-Fi 6 comes out next year
  • Samsung’s 85-inch 8K TV will go on sale for $15,000
• Caavo is back!
  • Control Center + Universal Remote
  • Control Center Works With: Entertainment Hub + Universal Remote Compatibility
  • Video: Caavo Control Center
• Pic of the Week
  • "My @nest doorbell automatically locks the front door when it sees a face it doesn't recognize. Today it didn't recognize me, so I went into the app to investigate and..."
• Mailbag
  • Sign Up for the Alexa Connect Kit Preview
  • Amazon wants Alexa to be the operating system for your life
  • Surprise, no one buys things via Alexa

Episode 227 - Stupid Microwaves

On this week’s episode of HomeTech: Join as we discuss a busy week in home tech headlines including:

• Leaked images of the new Google Home Hub

• Hulu bolsters their live TV lineup

• Plex shuts down its cloud service

• tvOS12 brings Dolby Atmos and more to Apple TV

• Apple’s HomePod gets voice calling features

• And Amazon flexes their muscles with a massive new product release event

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

Show Notes

• Images of Google Home Hub leak ahead of company’s October hardware event
• Hulu nabs five Discovery channels for its live TV line-up
• Plex is shutting down its personal cloud streaming service
• tvOS 12 now available for Apple TV 4 and Apple TV 4K, brings Dolby Atmos audio, screensaver updates, more | 9to5Mac
• Apple's HomePod speaker will make and receive phone calls
• Here's every Alexa device Amazon announced today
• Amazon unveils revamped Echo lineup, multi-room audio, new Ring cam, much more - 9to5Toys
• ‘Alexa, cook my potato’: Amazon unveils $60 WiFi-connected microwave
• Amazon updates Ring Stick Up Cam with same $180 price tag
• Amazon announces Echo Sub, Echo Link, and Link Amp to fully take on Sonos
• Amazon’s new Echo speakers have better sound and better looks
• Pic of the Week: The Column of Shame
• Mailbag: Amazon Echo the Complete Guide