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20
Oct

Roku Home Security Review


Roku, to me, has become the standard for smart TVs. While the company has seen multiple competitors, it’s still one of the most popular smart TV platforms around. Recently, Roku has taken its no-nonsense approach to your entertainment and applied similar logic to DIY home security.I’ve been testing the majority of the Roku Home Security lineup for a few weeks now, and based on what I’ve seen, Roku has something here for the casual user.Easy setupIf you’ve ever used a Roku TV you know these are dead simple to setup. The Roku Security system is the same. The app and included materials do a fantastic job walking you through the process.It’s as simple as scanning a QR code on each device and following the app’s instructions. You start with the monitoring Hub and then move through the accessories. Our review package included a motion sensor, indoor and outdoor SE cameras, and two entry sensors. 1 of 13 As mentioned, the app does a great job of keeping straightforward details of adding each new item to the system. Once the hub is set, you have a pairing sequence to add each new sensor. Each has good visual keys in the app to make sure you get it right.Decent array of additions for first-generationEven for an initial lineup of devices from Roku to enter the security market, the selection is pretty decent. You get the keypad, base station, two entry sensors, and a motion sensor with the default $99 bundle. It’s comparable to others in the segments and is a great starter kit.Additional components can be added like indoor cameras, doorbells, and a new outdoor camera. That’s on top of extending the starter kit options. You can easily add another keypad or entry sensor as you see fit for your home. For our review, we were sent the starter kit with additional indoor and outdoor cameras.As mentioned, I like the options Roku has in the lineup, but I do want to point out a few things that make the cameras feel slightly dated. All of the cameras have to be wired. Both the indoor and outdoor cameras are wired via a micro-USB connection.This is a double fault for me, especially on the outdoor camera. Most modern systems have moved to the newer USB-C standard or gone completely wireless. The wireless part doesn’t bother me much on the indoor cam, but Roku should consider a wire-free outdoor camera. Casual users hate running power and my ideal spot shouldn’t be influenced by where a constractor decides an outdoor outlet should have been on the home.Integration with Roku OSWe can’t go any further in this review without mentioning one of the best features if you already own a Roku OS device or Roku TV. With the full monitoring package, you can get alerts, and view your live camera feeds, directly on your television. This truly makes the Roku security system feel modern and seamlessly drops into your current setup with no additional hardware or services.You can access these cameras on-demand as well as enable notifications on your Roku home screen. This allows you to drop into the camera feeds as alerts come in. It’s worth noting that notifications on the TV are only sent over if the system is set to armed for Home or Away.Smartphone notificationsI’ve found the smartphone notification in the Roku Smart Home app to be solid. Logging into your account from a fully closed app is fast and seamless. Camera live feeds take a few seconds to load, but nowhere outside the norm for these types of systems.The outdoor camera does a decent job of recognizing humans versus objects as well. I was concerned that my dog would set it off more often, but that hasn’t been the case. I’ve had a few false alerts from the trees in my yard that are close by, but otherwise no issues.The app in general is very simple and well designed. Accessing all your controls, camera views, and remote monitoring is accomplished in an easy fashion. Apps can easily drag down and hinder home security monitoring in the DIY space, but Roku has avoided this.ConclusionRoku has always impressed with a no-nonsense approach to the smart TV and the company has brought this DNA to the smart home with its security bundle. With a competitive price and simple setup, you can have your home protected and professionally monitored, in under 30 minutes.Finally, let’s talk pricing. The initial Roku Security bundle will cost you $99. This includes the base hub station, keypad, motion sensor, and two entry sensors. The additional indoor and outdoor cameras will set you back another $27 and $50 respectively. Hit the links below to snag any of this lineup.Purchase the Roku Home Security bundlePurchase the Roku Indoor Camera SEPurchase the Roku Outdoor Camera SE
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20
Oct

Apple GPT: What We Know About Apple’s Work on Generative AI


With the explosive popularity of generative AI tools like ChatGPT, there have been rumors that Apple is working on its
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20
Oct

FCC Says Apple Can Use Faster 6GHz Spectrum for Headsets, CarPlay, and More


The United States Federal Communications Commission today opened up 6GHz Wi-Fi spectrum to low power devices like AR/VR wearables (via
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20
Oct

Amazon Alexa Now Supports Apple Podcasts in Over 40 Countries


Alexa now natively supports Apple Podcasts on Amazon Echo and Amazon Fire TV devices in over 40 countries following the
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20
Oct

Realme Phone Buyer’s Guide


Realme is a Chinese smartphone company that is known for its affordable and feature-rich smartphones. Realme phones are typically popular among young consumers and tech enthusiasts.As of October 2023, Realme offers a variety of smartphones in different price ranges. Here is an overview of the key devices available from Realme today:Realme 11The Realme 11 is the company’s entry-level smartphone for 2023. It is powered by the MediaTek Helio G88 chipset and comes with a 6.6-inch IPS LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate. The phone also has a triple-lens rear camera system with a 50MP main sensor, an 8MP ultrawide sensor, and a 2MP macro sensor.The Realme 11 is a good choice for users who want an affordable smartphone with good performance and features. It is a good option for general users and gamers alike.Realme 11 Pro+The Realme 11 Pro+ is the company’s flagship smartphone for 2023. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and comes with a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The phone also has a triple-lens rear camera system with a 200MP main sensor, an 8MP ultrawide sensor, and a 2MP macro sensor.The Realme 11 Pro+ is a good choice for users who want a powerful and feature-rich smartphone at a competitive price. It is especially well-suited for gamers and mobile photographers.Realme 11 ProThe Realme 11 Pro is a slightly less expensive alternative to the Realme 11 Pro+. It shares many of the same features as the Pro model, but it has a slightly slower Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset and a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. The Realme 11 Pro also has a triple-lens rear camera system with a 108MP main sensor, an 8MP ultrawide sensor, and a 2MP macro sensor.The Realme 11 Pro is a good choice for users who want a powerful and feature-rich smartphone at a more affordable price. It is a good option for gamers and general users alike.Realme GT Neo5 SEThe Realme GT Neo5 SE is a mid-range smartphone with a focus on gaming performance. It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8100 chipset and comes with a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate. The phone also has a dual-speaker system with Dolby Atmos support and a large 5080mAh battery.The Realme GT Neo5 SE is a good choice for gamers who want a mid-range smartphone with good gaming performance and battery life. It is also a good choice for general users who want a mid-range smartphone with a high refresh rate display and a large battery.Realme V30The Realme V30 is a mid-range smartphone with a focus on photography. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset and comes with a 6.56-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The phone also has a triple-lens rear camera system with a 108MP main sensor, an 8MP ultrawide sensor, and a 2MP macro sensor.The Realme V30 is a good choice for users who want a mid-range smartphone with good photography capabilities. It is also a good choice for general users who want a mid-range smartphone with a high refresh rate display and a good camera system.Who is the target user for each Realme device?Realme 11: Budget-minded users, general usersRealme 11 Pro+: Gamers, mobile photographers, power usersRealme 11 Pro: Gamers, general usersRealme GT Neo5 SE: Gamers, general users who want a smartphone with a high refresh rate display and a large batteryRealme V30: Users who want a mid-range smartphone with good photography capabilities, general users who want a mid-range smartphone with a high refresh rate display and a good camera system
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