Episode 197 - Home Tech Gallery with Stuart Burgess

On this week's episode of HomeTech: we are joined by Stuart Burgess, founding member of the Home Tech Gallery, a community for home technology professionals to highlight their work.  Stuart shares the story behind this exciting new initiative designed to bring increased awareness to the world of professionally installed connected home. 

That plus... Jason dips his toes in the cut-the-cord water. Is a new voice coming for Alexa (or not)? Google Home is gaining ground on Alexa. The Sonos One is on special, and the price is not-so-coincidental. And more...

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Show Notes

• New features for Tablo DVRs mean you won’t miss a second of your favorite show
• Alexa Loses Her Voice – Amazon Super Bowl LII Commercial - YouTube
• New data: Google Home faring better against Amazon Echo, grabbing 40% of U.S. holiday sales – GeekWire
• Sonos Takes On Apple Homepod | Zatz Not Funny!
• Home Tech Gallery

Episode 196 - HomePod... Where's the Beef?

On this week's episode of HomeTech: Seth and Jason discuss a big week in smart home news including: Silicon Labs' acquisition of Z-Wave tech from Sigma Designs falls apart but does it really matter? Ring and ADT bury the hatchet. Some major features will be missing when Apple HomePod finally begins shipping on February 9. The death of Sonos UPnP integrations. And more...

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Show Notes

• Pic of the Week - "Alexa, turn off Alexa."
• Sigma Acquisition Collapses, but Silicon Labs Could Buy Z-Wave Assets for Cheap - CE Pro
• Ring Settles with ADT in Zonoff Lawsuit, Acquires Lighting Co., Plans Spring Launch of Ring Alarm - CE Pro
• HomePod arrives February 9, available to order this Friday - Apple
• HomePod settings interface, volume controls, more shown off in new images from internal testers | 9to5Mac
• HomePod will support lossless FLAC audio playback as it appeals to audiophiles | 9to5Mac
• Apple's HomePod won't have multi-room or stereo audio at launch
• New Sonos API Disrupts Home Automation Integration, But Lays Solid Foundation - CE Pro

Episode 195 - AI Trolling with Richard Gunther

On this week's episode of HomeTech: Special guest host Richard Gunther of The Digital Media Zone fills in for Jason and we discuss Google, Google, more Google, and recap what CES was like on the show floor. 

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Show Notes

• Hey Google, talk to Yonomi — Yonomi
• Chromecast and Google Homes reportedly overloading home Wi-Fi – Ars Technica
• CES 2018: Google challenges Amazon with smart home offering - Installation Installation
• Hogar Controls
• IBM's quantum computer could change the game, and not just because you can play Battleship on it
• BlackWire Remote Finder Pro for Control4

Episode 194 - CES 2018 Plus a Chat with Digital Delight's JJ Canon

On this week's episode of HomeTech: We are joined by JJ Canon, owner of Digital Delight. Based in Houston, TX, this one-time "traditional" integration shop has adapted its business to embrace consumer brands such as Logitech, Sonos, and Nest. Leveraging well-known brands combined with an intense focus on service and the customer experience, Digital Delight is finding huge success where many others have failed. Tune in to hear how!

That plus...  a quick overvew of CES including some mind pretty mind-blowing OLED TV's and a massive voice control land grab! Don't miss it!

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Show Notes

• LG OLED Canyon
• Lights out at CES
• LG Rollable OLED TV Display - Hands On at CES 2018 - YouTube
• LG Display delivers a 65-inch rollable OLED = Samsung just unveiled a 146-inch, modular TV that could surpass OLED - The Verge
• Sony is bringing a sequel to last year’s fantastic OLED (and more) to CES 2018
• Sony's high-style 4K projector is actual AV furniture for $30K - CNET
• TCL's 6-Series Roku TVs sport a metal design, 4K and Dolby Vision HDR
• LG’s new ThinQ smart fridge has a transparent 29-inch touchscreen and runs webOS - The Verge
• Google's Smart Displays Take on Amazon's Echo Show, Speakers With Tablet-Like Screens | Technology News
• Whirlpool’s new smart oven works with Alexa and Yummly to help you avoid burning down your kitchen - The Verge
• Moen makes Alexa and Siri your shower concierge
• What if Alexa or Google Assistant was a smoke alarm? - The Verge
• Hisense is also bringing Google Assistant to its top 2018 TV models - The Verge
• Is there an Echo in here? Toyota, Lexus add Amazon Alexa to select 2018 vehicles
• 'Alexa, ask Kohler to flush my toilet': Voice control comes to the bathroom | VentureBeat
• Anker's Bluetooth charger brings Alexa to newer cars
• OK., Google, it’s time for you to work with the Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt
• Amazon Alexa now controls your microwave
• Amazon brings Alexa to headphones and smartwatches
• “Alexa, let’s do dishes” — Delta to unveil voice-activated smart faucet
• First-ever Alexa-integrated projector headlines Optoma offerings unveiled at CES
• Alexa is coming to PCs: HP, ASUS and Acer bring Amazon’s assistant onto Microsoft Cortana’s turf – GeekWire
• Meet Tetra, A $299 Countertop Dishwasher That Finishes A Wash Cycle In Ten Minutes | The Spoon
• $80 Z-wave Mouse Trap
• Interview: JJ Cannon from Digital Delight

Episode 193 - Control4's Ihiji Acquisition and More with Brad Hintze

On this week's Happy New Year's episode of HomeTech: We are joined by Control4's Director of Product Marketing, Brad Hintze, to discuss the company's recent acquisition of leading RSM provider, Ihiji. Brad also shares several other updates that will excite home tech pros and end-users alike as we head into what will be a busy 2018!

That plus... HomeTech is now on YouTube! Roku's new and unique approach to whole-house audio. Thoughts on Amazon's acquisition of connected camera maker, Blink. The world's largest CES slide deck preview. And more...

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Show Notes

• Pic of the Week: Reddit - Ubiquiti - My coworker: I didn’t have a mounting bracket...
• Roku to power smart speakers, sound bars and whole-home audio - CNET
• Amazon acquires Andover-based Blink, a maker of security cameras - Boston Business Journal
• Slideshare: Julie Jacobson’s Ultimate CES 2018 Preview - 91 Pages of Smart Home - CE Pro
• The stuff that launched at CES 2017 but never came out
• Control4 Acquires Ihiji Validating Importance of Remote Management - Strata-gee.com
• Control4 Acquires Ihiji, Will Drop Recurring Fees for Remote Network Management - CE Pro