I wanted to introduce you to Pocket (getpocket.com), one of my favorite productivity tools.
How many times have you been looking at a web page or a social media post and said "this is really good, but I don't have time to read it all right now" - that's what Pocket is for. Pocket allows you to save links and read them later - literally putting it in a pocket. The site and app are free. I use it the most on my smart phone. Once installed, Pocket gives you access to all your existing saved sites to go back and read, but more importantly it gives you a new destination on your phone to save the site/post you are on. For example, from Google Chrome on your smart phone while looking at the site, click the "share" or "send-to" and choose Pocket. Now it's saved and you can go back later and read it. You can also create your own tags to organize the saved pockets.
Sign up for free at the site, add the plug-in to Google Chrome and most importantly, install the app on your smart phone.
Enjoy your new-found productivity!
Getting Started with a Smart Home: Part 3 - Voice Assistant
Besides controlling the Smart Home, we wanted a voice assistant to stream music, entertain, inform, etc. Music is big in my house so that was critical. It came down to Amazon Alexa and Google Home. We went with the Alexa and are very happy with it.
We got an Echo Home which went right in the middle of the main floor of the house and is so good it hears you just about anywhere on the main floor. Setup was pretty simple and it works quite well. I love the fact that it works as a Bluetooth speaker and the sound is great.
We also got three Echo Dots - one for the basement and two for upstairs in the office and guest bedroom. I like having Alexa everywhere.
More on setting up Alexa in Part 4 ...
Part 4: Smart Plugs/Smart Bulbs
We got an Echo Home which went right in the middle of the main floor of the house and is so good it hears you just about anywhere on the main floor. Setup was pretty simple and it works quite well. I love the fact that it works as a Bluetooth speaker and the sound is great.
We also got three Echo Dots - one for the basement and two for upstairs in the office and guest bedroom. I like having Alexa everywhere.
More on setting up Alexa in Part 4 ...
Part 4: Smart Plugs/Smart Bulbs
Getting Started with a Smart Home: Part 2 - Better WiFi
Almost all the Smart Home devices I looked at relied on good WiFi to connect and work well. I was already having some challenges in parts of the house that were farthest from the wireless router, so I knew I would have to start with this.
I had tried several brands of repeaters before without success. I currently have Xfinity/Comcast as my provider and I'm using their router, so I started by asking them. They have an add-on feature called 'XFi" that extends your WiFi range, but it wasn't available in my area. I asked to go on the waiting list and held off on my Smart Home work. You may have a different router or configuration - I recommend you start with some research on your own. Look for options that are popular and rated highly.
Once xFi was available, I talked to a tech from xFinity first that specialized in xFi and he convinced me it was the way to go. xFi comes in packs of three - each device is the same and couldn't be easier to set up than plug it in, fire up the app and after few taps, all is good. Now, how to determine when each one would go? The router was in the basement and coverage was good there, so that was out. The main floor was OK, but the upstairs was really where coverage was needed. I decided to put one on the main floor near the TV (which relied on WiFi for streaming) and the other two upstairs near the bedrooms, one on either side of the house. I used a free WiFi signal strength app on my phone to measure the signal as I walked around the house. I also used the SpeedTest website to test (A long-time favorite of mine).
I also walked outside around the house and measured the performance, especially on the back patio. Internet everywhere! Ready for the next step...
Part 3: Pick a Voice Assistant...
I had tried several brands of repeaters before without success. I currently have Xfinity/Comcast as my provider and I'm using their router, so I started by asking them. They have an add-on feature called 'XFi" that extends your WiFi range, but it wasn't available in my area. I asked to go on the waiting list and held off on my Smart Home work. You may have a different router or configuration - I recommend you start with some research on your own. Look for options that are popular and rated highly.
Once xFi was available, I talked to a tech from xFinity first that specialized in xFi and he convinced me it was the way to go. xFi comes in packs of three - each device is the same and couldn't be easier to set up than plug it in, fire up the app and after few taps, all is good. Now, how to determine when each one would go? The router was in the basement and coverage was good there, so that was out. The main floor was OK, but the upstairs was really where coverage was needed. I decided to put one on the main floor near the TV (which relied on WiFi for streaming) and the other two upstairs near the bedrooms, one on either side of the house. I used a free WiFi signal strength app on my phone to measure the signal as I walked around the house. I also used the SpeedTest website to test (A long-time favorite of mine).
I also walked outside around the house and measured the performance, especially on the back patio. Internet everywhere! Ready for the next step...
Part 3: Pick a Voice Assistant...
Getting Started with a Smart Home: Part 1 - Overview and Planning
In this series, I will walk you thru my experience setting up my own "Smart Home".
Overview
First of all, what is a "Smart Home"? In my opinion, it's a set of technologies that allow you to automate things around your house and allow devices to communicate with each other and just make things easier. For example, do you manually turn on your front lights each night and turn them off in the morning? You can automate that. Do you set up timers when you go on vacation so lights are turned on and off when you aren't home? You can automate that. You get the idea.
In my case, I wanted to do all those things and more. My goals were: Automate as much as I could, have peace of mind when I was on vacation, learn about the technologies and of course, show it off when people come to visit.
Planning
I did my research before I started. Lots of great resources I found out there, especially on YouTube. Here's the steps I came up with:
Overview
First of all, what is a "Smart Home"? In my opinion, it's a set of technologies that allow you to automate things around your house and allow devices to communicate with each other and just make things easier. For example, do you manually turn on your front lights each night and turn them off in the morning? You can automate that. Do you set up timers when you go on vacation so lights are turned on and off when you aren't home? You can automate that. You get the idea.
In my case, I wanted to do all those things and more. My goals were: Automate as much as I could, have peace of mind when I was on vacation, learn about the technologies and of course, show it off when people come to visit.
Planning
I did my research before I started. Lots of great resources I found out there, especially on YouTube. Here's the steps I came up with:
- Implement better WiFi throughout the house and make it available on the front and back lawn/patio too (my existing Wifi was just, meh).
- Pick a voice assistant that everyone in the family would use and a high number of supported Smart Home devices and apps.
- Inventory all the types of Smart Home devices I would need: Smart bulbs and smart plugs were on that list.
- Once a voice assistant was selected, buy the first Smart plug and try it out (pilot program, if you will). I started with the indoor ones and then worked my way outside.
- Continue buying and configuring Smart plugs and bulbs until everything was in place.
Next: Part 2 - Better Wifi ...
Technical Certification: Microsoft 70-347 Enabling Office 365 Services
I'm currently studying for another Microsoft certification: 70-347 Enabling Office 365 Services. I figured I've worked a lot with Office 365, why not get certified? When I was consulting full-time, I like to certifications when new versions of products were released (like SharePoint, of course).
This one is TOUGH. For those that are interested, I purchased the book (I'm a book guy - PDF's are nice, but there's just something about a printed book that I like) directly from the MS Learning site. I also purchased the practice test from Measure Up - that's been very helpful.
Any suggestions for studying?
This one is TOUGH. For those that are interested, I purchased the book (I'm a book guy - PDF's are nice, but there's just something about a printed book that I like) directly from the MS Learning site. I also purchased the practice test from Measure Up - that's been very helpful.
Any suggestions for studying?
My Picks for the 2018 Oscar Winners
Picture - The Shape
of Water
Lead Actor - Gary
Oldman
Lead Actress -
Frances McDormand
Supporting Actor -
Sam Rockwell
Supporting Actress - Allison Janney
Supporting Actress - Allison Janney
Director -
Christopher Nolan
Documentary
(Feature) - Faces Places
Costume Design -
Phantom Thread
Animated Feature -
Coco
Cinematography -
Blade Runner 2049
Score - Phantom
Thread
Song - Mystery of
Love (Call Me By Your Name)
Adapted Screenplay -
Call Me By Your Name
Original Screenplay
- Get Out
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