Technology

Why Roku Still Matters..

In an age where Apple TV, Android TV and Amazon Fire TVs are highlighted more than others, one pioneer of the smart tv falls to the background, Roku. Admit it, have you even heard of the Roku? I have and it was my very first foray into making a smarter living room in 2010, with it’s easy and beautiful interface — buying and transitioning into the smart TV world was a breeze.

Sample Roku interface.
Why does this happen? We are living in an age where the ecosystem of Apple and Google have grown significantly and they both are at phenomenal levels. One note is that on the TV side, these do mostly the same things, mostly. For example, you will not be able to enjoy your iTunes library or Airplay on any Android TV, just like you will not be able to Cast to an Apple TV or access the Play Store. This is why the Roku lineup is great — it is platform agnostic. Agnostic means that it is not going to place one certain platform over another or show favoritism to it’s own services (because Roku doesn’t have it’s own), so services like Google Play Movies, Netflix, Sling and more all work great.  
Roku is available in a variety of options. There is the Roku Express, Roku Streaming Stick, Roku Premiere/Premiere + and lastly the Roku Ultra, with both Premiere options and Ultra having being able to stream 4K content. Roku opens the user up to a variety of apps called “channels” that are easy to add from the built-in store.

Current Roku lineup as of October, 2016.

Bottom line: Try the Roku Player! With many different options to choose from, there is a Roku flavor to meet your needs, tastes and budget. Roku excels because of it’s ease of use and simple interface making it easy for new users and advanced users alike to come aboard.  Convinced?  Go here to see Roku for yourself.

Technology

Tech Elitism has to Stop! (Rise of Technocentrism)

Answer some questions for me.
Does using an Android device, tricking it out, overclocking it and having the latest custom ROM on it make you better than an iPhone user that simply likes to check email?  No.  Does having the latest iPhone, Mac and iPad, having tight integration and pretty products make you better than the Android user who just wants an affordable device?  No.  Does driving a Chevy make you better than all Ford drivers?  Does owning a PS4 grant you any special privileges over those who own XBox One consoles?
All answers to these questions are a resounding NO and I’m getting sick and tired of it.  This gives rise to a new term about those who think their tech is better than everyone else’s — “technocentrism“, you heard it here first.
Phones
I’ve listened to some of the most bigoted and contrite debates in the tech world regarding Android and iOS and in the past, I’ve been part of them.  But let’s face it, each mobile operating system and hardware manufacturer has their pluses and minuses.  Let’s take Android and break it down.  There are thousands of phones, no clear direction, laggy interfaces and buggy software implementations.  On the other hand, there are solid reference devices made by Google, which perform questionably better than most other offerings, valuable choices from OEMs and customizations that make owning a device worthwhile.  Let’s look at Apple and iOS.  There are only 3 choices, no customizations and software and interfances that you cannot control.  On the other hand, there is a fantastic ecosystem with minimal bugs, great implementation from top to bottom and simply great performing devices that you can count on.
Games
PC versus console, it never gets old.  PCs can be upgraded, while consoles cannot.  Consoles promote gaming together with people in real life due to numbers of connected controllers.
Do all of these things really matter?  Or are we missing the point?
Sure, it’s fun to debate about our gadgets, but that’s where it should end.  Owning one device over the other does NOT make you superior to those that do not.  I could call out names of podcasts and writers who portray this attitude, but I digress.  Needless to say, some of them should really get over themselves.
Technology

Just skip the Galaxy Note 7

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The Note 7, such a wonderfully crafted device by Samsung, would be on my instant  recommend list for my productivity needing friends, whom also needed a large screen device;however, since these so-called replacement devices are also STILL duds and catching fire — I can no longer recommend this device and maintain any dignity for myself.

Photo of a damaged Samsung Galaxy Note 7.

These “replacements” are the phones that customers thought would be safe and finally free them from this horrible storyline of “Samsung phones catching fire”. Well, unfortunately the story is not yet over because this problem is still not resolved. For a company of this magnitude, this is unacceptable and shouldn’t be taken lightly. The question here is what went wrong this second time around? Should other Samsung customers be worried? This company has been making great devices for years and this simply brings all of that into question.

Bottom line: This ship has sailed. DO NOT BUY THE GALAXY NOTE 7.

Technology

All About Google Home

“Ok Google!  Turn down the lights and make me a sandwich!” — Isn’t this something you’ve been waiting to shout into the depths of your home?  Of course it is, except for maybe the sandwich part.
My friends, the time is here.  Meet Google Home.
We’ve seen and heard the fuss that Amazon’s Echo has made in the digital assistant and smart home world, but it’s time for our friend Google to try it’s hand at it with Google Home, powered by Google Assistant.  That’s right, Google Now and search have been prepping us for this moment and it’s here.  How?  Your voice searches are saved (you didn’t know?) and are used intelligently (not shared) by Google to help power it’s natural language platform that will allow for the Assistant to communicate with you and understand you better.  Doing so simply makes it easier to get the information you need faster based off of the questions you ask.
Google Home will additionally serve as a central automation hub for your home, which will further propel you into the internet of things (IoT).  The device is slated to work with Chromecast, Nest and Philips Hue with certainly more to come.  What does this mean?  While using the Google Home as your hub with you other devices, this will unlock a range of capabilities that will make controlling each of them that much simpler.
The design of the device is simply beautiful and blends in seamlessly with your interior decor.  In the housing are far-field microphone that will help to decipher your voice, in addition to a hi-fi speaker that is designed to deliver crystal-clear highs and rich bass.  On top, there are touch controls that gives the user full control of the device complete with a microphone mute button on the back.
Did I mention that Google Home is hands-free?
Bottom line:  This is what has taken Google 18 years to design, build and create for us.  The future is now and the internet, a recipe, the weather, your to-do list are all literally one keyword away.  Pre-Order yours today, here.

 

Technology

All About Google Wifi

One pack or three pack? Either way, Google has you covered.
Product, Google Wifi.
Product, Google Wifi.
So Google had to try it’s hand in wireless networking again apart from it’s OnHub solution.  This approach makes wireless simple and easy to control from one app that works either on iOS or Android devices.  The wifi pucks can function in a smaller house to a large house,which means the more coverage you need — you simply need to buy more pucks, with each covering approximately ~1500 square feet.
Top features of Google Wifi:
  • “Network Assist, which is intelligent software built into Google Wifi to provide you with the fastest possible speed. Behind the scenes, Network Assist automatically helps you avoid Wi-Fi congestion, and transitions you to the closest Wi-Fi point for the best signal.” (Source: https://madeby.google.com/wifi/)
  • Google WiFi app.  This app will be used for complete control and management of your home network and will allow for the admin to pause a users access and much more.
Bottom line:  Google WiFi seems to be a solid product that solves the problem of over-complicated network setup.  Google makes it easy.

Tech for the masses, meant to empower, educate and inform by Dexter Johnson.