This is a quick review of the Chromecast Audio. Chromecast Audio works and looks much like the Chromecast for Video. However, it is used specifically for audio. It can be connected to any speaker using its 3.5mm audio port. The port supports analog and digital signals. Digital audio requires a Toslink-to-Mini-Toslink cable. It also supports Whole Home Audio, which works very well as a cheap alternative to Sonos. Once you have it plugged in all you do is open your favorite music app such as: Spotify, Pandora, Tidal, Amazon Prime Music, etc and tap the Cast button. To my surprise it actually plays the music in sync and works well as a cheap alternative to Sonos if you already have speakers around your house.
Best Laptop Under $400
If you're in the market for a cheap/budget laptop, look no further than the Acer Aspire E5-575-5493. This laptop comes with a Core i5 processor and boasts specs that you would expect to see in a $500+ laptop. This is currently the best laptop for under $400 with with just a few bucks we'll turn it into a $600 laptop. This is a quick overview and review of the laptop including some minor upgrades.
Smart Home Lighting Guide
This is a Smart Lighting Guide for home automation. This video covers many different options for adding smart lighting, including Philips Hue, SmartThings, Wink, Connected bulbs, Z-wave switches, outlets, and micro switches. This video includes installation instructions for wall switches as well as advanced lighting options. Check out my Home Automation Series for more information regarding home automation.
New Fire TV Stick Review
This is a review of the New Amazon Fire TV Stick (2nd Generation) with Alexa Voice Remote. The new Fire TV Stick comes with a quad core processor, 802.11 Wireless, and new voice remote. The new processor helps tremendously with navigation and streaming. I didn't notice any issues with slowness. The voice remote works well and allows you to search for specific music and videos.