Smart Home

Wall Mount an iPad with Vidabox Frame

The iPad makes an ideal touch-screen interface for a high-end custom home theater room, home automation setup, or home security system. Yet for many of these applications there’s a need for a wall mount solution so it fits in aesthetically and with a good way to power the device. Vidabox, LLC, a well-known media server … Read more

This Old House: Goodbye SDV, Hello FiOS

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The backstory… We moved into our new (old) home about three weeks ago. And, to be efficient, merely transferred our Cox cable and Internet services. Unfortunately, the migration wasn’t quite as seamless as I had hoped – including blown scheduling by Cox and several days without service at both the old and new locations (without restitution). Additionally, regular readers should be familiar with my ongoing switched digital video pain and Cox’s restrictive CCI Byte implementation… leading to severely crippled TiVos. So no one should be surprised I’d want to give Verizon’s FiOS a try. Given reader encouragement in the comments and an upcoming siding project, we accelerated the plan.

My original goal had been to run both Cox and Verizon services simultaneously, reserving the right to terminate the install at any time, but within 10 minutes of the technician surveying the landscape he started severing legacy coax – which is when I realized there was no turning back. The installer (Matt W.) very patiently and expertly accommodated every request and performed outstanding, detailed work during his 6.5 hour visit. Not only that, he refused every offer of a beverage and a generous tip.

Now I did inform Verizon ahead of time that I’d ordered service, but I’m not sure I received any sort of special treatment. In fact, it could have worked against me…

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This Old House: Fiber Arrives

If you recall, we recently picked up a new (old) house and our plate is full of projects – including some relevant to a digital media blog. So, on with the story… I’ve continued to make progress removing and recycling speaker and aerial antenna wire as I encounter it. There’s no way I’ll extricate it all, and … Read more

This Old House, The Hat Trick

Home wiring projects, even if digitally relevant, fall somewhat beyond our usual territory. However, given the good commentary, traffic, and in light of my preoccupation with the topic this month, we’re carrying on. First off, some progress has been made on a potential Verizon FiOS install. See, I told you it was coming? Although I … Read more

This Old House, Part Deux

Discussion has been good on my initial “new home” post, so we’re following it up today with a video from the basement — which is made up of a large 22′ x 16′ common area, that I’ve claimed as my office and lab, two utility closets, a bedroom, and a bathroom. The home was built … Read more

This Old House

You’ve probably noticed it’s been quiet around here lately. And while it’s true “news” is typically light the week or so heading into Christmas, I’ve been preoccupied with a new home. Well, a new-to-me home. As you might imagine, we’ve got tons of a projects… many technologically oriented, although most aren’t (new bed arriving today, AC … Read more

An Age-Old Format War

It’s about this time every year that I get a plaintive plea from my parents, who would like nothing more for Christmas than for me to convert some form of old media into a new and more usable format. As a kid I remember taping records for my mom so she’d have music to listen … Read more

Hulu Plus on the Roku

Hulu Plus landed on the Roku today with a newly discounted $7.99/month price tag for all subscribers. I don’t have a Hulu Plus account, but I was able to borrow Dave’s for a quick test drive on my home Roku. Initial impressions: Nice execution, but the content is still stinky. In fairness, some of the … Read more