Podcast #650: SmartThings Home Automation

We have had a running joke about the year of home automation for a few years now. Judging by how many home automation hubs that have been released in the last few months it's safe to say home automation is now mainstream. There is the Revolv (HT Guys Review Podcast #620) that can speak to Z-Wave, Insteon, and more. It goes for $299. Home Depot got into the game with their $50 Wink Home Automation Hub and connected devices. Staples has a competing $50 product called Staples Connect Home Automation Hub. With all these products you may wonder is there room for anyone else?

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Podcast #649: UHD: Next Big Thing or Next Big Yawn?

Ever since the big HDTV buying boom a few years ago, television manufacturers have tried to come up with new ways to stimulate another giant upgrade cycle. It didn't work with 3D. UHD or Ultra HD, is the next big hope. But while some are predicting a pretty quick uptake, some analysts aren't counting on it. There seems to be a bit of debate raging in the analyst-sphere about just how big the UHD transition will be and how quickly it will take hold.

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Podcast #648: Handheld Movie Server

We both took vacations recently and decided to leave the laptops behind. But that didn’t mean we didn’t want to take our content with us. If you have an iPad you are limited to 64GB at present and with Andriod many devices allow you to add storage through SD cards. While that gives you a potentially unlimited amount of storage its impractical for large libraries. What are you to do?

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Podcast #647: Home Automation in the Cloud and IFTTT

We're starting to see a strong push to merge two of the hot topics in technology today, the smart home and the cloud. As home automation moves to cloud enabled devices and services, it certainly gets easier for the average user to install. But does that convenience come at the cost of performance, flexibility or reliability? Perhaps, like MP3 audio and streamed video, it won't matter. Convenience could trump quality once again.

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Podcast #646: Interview with Mohu CEO Mark Buff

Ara has the Mohu Sky HD antenna on his roof and is picking up signals from Los Angeles (55 miles) and San Diego (90 miles) away. Today we talk to the Mark Buff of Mohu about his company and the cutting edge technology they use, as well as the yet to be released, crowd funded Mohu Channels product.

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Podcast #645: 4K TV Options

4K or UltraHD technology is starting to approach mainstream, and the options for 4K TVs is getting better all the time. In a quick glance at the choices selling right now at Amazon.com, we were surprised to see how many there are, and how affordable the have quickly become. Of course, Vizio isn’t in the list yet, so if you’re waiting for that like a certain HT Guy might be, you’ll have to keep waiting. But if you need a new TV now, 4K might be within reach.

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