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CES 2016Remotely Possible
EZVIZ Makes DIY Home Security Easy and Affordable
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Jan 07, 2016
EZVIZ makes cheap—no, that’s not right, because they’re high-quality so let’s say very affordable—cameras for DIYers to use to monitor homes and apartments without breaking the bank in the process. The company’s cameras are also small, unobtrusive, and, importantly, not ugly. I tried out the EZVIZ Mini last year and was quite impressed with the performance and form factor, especially considering the $69 price. Now EZVIZ is introducing several new models that, if they live up to their pre-release promises, will be even more exciting.
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Audio Video News
FCC Likes A La Carte
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Feb 10, 2006
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) - soon to be known as the Fickle Communications Commission by television programming providers - has had second thoughts about whether or not it's a good thing for you to be able to pick and choose among the TV channels you subscribe to.
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CES 2012
Fear the Robot Seal Club
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Jan 11, 2012
One more step along the road to the eventual domination of the human race by robots is the creation of cute little baby seal robots that are supposed to soothe lonely and ill people’s feelings and make them feel that something actually cares about and loves them. Of course, it’s just a dang robot with no feelings or real fur. I know just posting this has put me on the robot empire’s hit list. I will definitely be keeping a close eye on my iRobot Roomba from now on...

Remotely Possible
Fibaro's New Smart Plug Lights Up Your Nights
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Sep 06, 2017
Fibaro is using CEDIA 2017 to introduce to the US market a smart power adapter called Wall Plug, a device then company says is “the smallest intelligent power adapter with standard & USB plugs” incorporating Z-Wave Plus. Wall Plug is an unusual smart outlet switch that includes a standard, controllable AC outlet along with a built-in USB charging port and can monitor power levels and energy usage. It’s compatible with most smart home hubs and systems that are Z-Wave-enabled.

Fibaro refers to the Wall Plug as “an intelligent outlet adapter” because...

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HOW TO============
Finding the Right Type of HTIB System
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Sep 04, 2007
What is an HTiB?
What exactly is a Home Theater in a Box, or, as those of us who prefer to use acronyms rather than real words call it, an HTiB? Before you guffaw and wonder what kind of an idiot put this bit of advice together, give this question a chance to sink in. Now let's consider just how difficult a creature this HTiB thing is to pin down.
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On-Wall Speaker Reviews
FineLine LCR-21 On-Wall Speaker System
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Oct 11, 2011
Performance
Value
Build Quality
Price: $1,975 At A Glance: Only 1.75 inches deep • Woofer frame is part of the steel speaker cabinet itself • Planar magnetic tweeter

As I sit in my theater room writing this, there’s an interesting juxtaposition in front of me. On the wall are three FineLine LCR-21 speakers neatly mounted around my Samsung plasma HDTV. Now that I’m finished with my listening tests of the FineLines, I’ve hauled my next set of review speakers (a MartinLogan ElectroMotion system) into the room in order to finish burning them in. The main MartinLogan EM-ESLs are floorstanding speakers that need to be positioned out from the wall to sound best. So there it is: small, svelte, unobtrusive panels on the wall versus slender, 52-inch-tall towers (plus associated speaker wires and power cables on the floor) that are unmistakably part of an audio system.

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CEDIA 2011
Fire Sale
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Sep 10, 2011
You wouldn’t expect to find a company known for making cooking grilles at CEDIA, but Dimplex came to CEDIA for the first time bringing several examples of the company’s electric fireplaces – a couple of which were built into home theater media consoles. The Dimplex electric fireplaces can be run with or without producing heat. With the heater off, the fireplace costs just a penny or two an hour to run. While you wouldn’t be able to heat an entire home with one, the faux fireplaces are perfect for supplemental zone heating. At the moment, the fireplaces come with an RF remote control; but after many suggestions from interested installers, the Dimplex’s people now know how important it is to be able to integrate the operation of the fireplaces into home automation systems.

Prices start at around $1,600.

Audio Video News
First HD DVD Players Released for Sale
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Mar 31, 2006
HD DVD may be delayed here in North America, but that hasn't stopped Toshiba from rolling out the first commerically available HD DVD player to the Japanese market today.
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Remotely Possible
Fitbit Ionic Smartwatch Is A Smart Choice Even If You're Not Fit
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Dec 06, 2017
In terms of competence, experience, and knowledge (okay, let’s throw insight in there, too), I should be one of the last people to evaluate the new Fitbit Ionic watch and the equally new Fitbit Flyer wireless fitness headphones.
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Audio Video News
Five Nominees with Five Channels
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Dec 15, 2005
Once again, at the 48th Annual GRAMMY Awards, The Recording Academy will present an award for "Best Surround Sound Album". This year's nominees, for vocal or instrumental albums released October 1, 2004 through September 30, 2005, include:
Brothers In Arms - 20th Anniversary Edition
Chuck Ainlay, surround mix engineer; Bob Ludwig, surround mastering engineer; Chuck Ainlay & Mark Knopfler, surround producers (Dire Straits) [Warner Bros.]
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