Holiday Buying Guide 2015: Gifts for the home
This year, some of the best holiday tech gifts are for the connected home. Over recent years, home automation and the internet of things has become a major area of focus among manufacturers. Some of the most popular ones being light automation, smart thermostats, virtual locks for your home, unified remotes, and of course, video games and TV. Streaming media saw an incremental increase this year and manufacturers are making sure you have the right tools to stay right at home. There’s no better time to get invested in gadgets for the home than the holiday season because of all the hot deals.
Buying gifts can be a difficult process because of the wide range of devices available. At Talk Android, we made the process easy for you. Here’s what we believe are the top gifts of 2015 for the connected home.
Chromecast
Google launched a new version of its popular dongle in June. This year’s Chromecast has a totally new design and a totally refreshed application with tons of new features.
The new Chromecast works in the exact same way as the previous generation and can be purchased at the same $35 price tag. You plug the Chromecast into your television to stream movies, TV shows, music, games and more. Once you’re done setting it up, a Cast icon will appear across apps and throughout your device’s interface indicating you can send the media on-screen to your television. And you can give your television a name while allowing guests to join the casting fun as well.
For only $35, it’s hard to go wrong. The Chromecast makes a great stocking stuffer for anyone looking to stream their favorite content to the big screen. Some of the supported apps include Hulu, Netflix, Pandora, ESPN, Spotify, YouTube, and HBO. Best of all, the list of partners is growing by the day. New to the Chromecast is the ability to cast your device’s screen in full and set up a slideshow of your favorite photo album. It’s quick, simple and enjoyable for the whole family. The dongle is available in stores today in black, lemonade and coral color options.
[Google Store] [Best Buy]
Chromecast Audio
If you’re looking for something slightly different, you may want to consider the Chromecast Audio. This device allows you to turn virtually any speakers into wireless ones. Simply connect the Chromecast Audio to your speakers via a 3.5mm headphone jack, optical or RCA connection, login to your WiFi network, and cast away. The audio will be transmitted through WiFi to the connected speakers. Friends and family can even join in on the experience on their own phones with no additional setup or pairing required. For only $35, playing music to your favorite speakers wirelessly is just a step away. It’s compatible on Android, iOS and select laptops.
[Google Store] [Best Buy]
[Best Buy – Bundle]
Nest Learning Thermostat
The Nest Learning Thermostat is a great holiday gift for the home. Although the product isn’t brand new, it has improved greatly with recent software updates. The Nest Learning Thermostat is basically a remote thermostat for your home that has a few tricks up its sleeve. Nest requires a WiFi connection and a paired smartphone or tablet to work at its full ability.
The Nest Learning Thermostat can be controlled from just about anywhere using your smartphone, tablet or laptop. You can control the temperature in your house using the Nest application available on Android and iOS. Nest has the capability to learn what temperatures you like and what time of day you like them. For example, if it notices a repeated pattern, it will automatically make the adjustments for you. Nest can also turn off the air-conditioning or heat when you’re away at work or on vacation to save power. Additionally, when Nest knows you’re coming home, it’ll turn on automatically and have your house just how you like in time for your return.
One of the best capabilities of the Nest Learning Thermostat is the ability to check the amount of energy you’re using through the app. Nest provides 10-day history so that you can see exactly how much energy you’ve been using, which ultimately lets you save more bucks. With a bit of work, you can also use voice commands to adjust the temperature in your home with your smartphone, tablet or Amazon Echo.
The Nest Learning Thermostat works with 95% of low-voltage heating and cooling systems including gas, forced air, heat pump, solar, radiant, electric, oil, geothermal, and hot water. Nest makes the process easy to install, and if you’re still unsure, Nest makes it easy to hire an expert to do it for you. The Nest Learning Thermostat retails between $200-$250, but with the holiday season up ahead, you might just catch a deal.
[Nest] [Google Store] [Amazon] [Best Buy]
August Smart Lock
The August Smart Lock is among the best in its category. This smart lock, unsurprisingly, is all about keeping your home as safe as possible. Depending on the source, the August Smart Lock can retail anywhere from $150-$250. It’s compatible with Android and iOS and comes in a variety of color options including silver, red, champagne and dark grey.
The August Smart Lock is a keyless way of entering your home. With the replacement of your door’s existing deadbolt, the August Smart Lock brings a whole new level of security to your home. Using a smartphone or tablet, you’re able to manage who has access to enter your home. Your phone acts as the key to the door and can be sent to friends and family via an invitation. Once the door recognizes your phone is near, it’ll unlock almost instantly. Most interestingly, you’ll be alerted when someone arrives or tries breaking into your house. You’ll also be notified when someone leaves your house. The sensor also has a built-in LED indicator which shows whether your door is locked or unlocked. You can do this using the app or by standard means from both the inside and outside of your home.
August will also send you a notification of when your battery is nearing the end of its life, which shouldn’t be very often. This device puts an end to carrying around keys, getting up to let someone inside and having to remember to lock the door all the time.
Philips Hue
Philips’ set of Hue lights have been around for some time, but have come a long way since they first launched.
Philips’ Hue lights work with Android and iOS devices. Although a bit pricey, they can make life a lot easier and have the power to last a long time without the need to be replaced. Philips offers a wide range of bulbs and light strips at its online store in a variety of different colors. Many in which support changing from color to color. Using the Hue application, users can connect their light system to their smartphone and/or tablet and have access to a multitude of controls. These include on/off switches, adjustments to sleeping patterns, color changes, brightness and a whole lot more. You can also have the lights alter to match the setting and/or time of day. These actions can be controlled via the app even when you’re miles away from your home.
If you’re interested in light automation, the Philips Hue lights are one of the best options available. For starters, you’ll need to purchase a starter kit. This will include everything you need to get started with setting up your lights along with three bulbs. You can find this at the company’s website, your local Best Buy or on Amazon. Pricing is a near $200 but can vary by source. Additional bulbs, light strips and portable lights are available at extra cost.
[Phillips] [Amazon] [Best Buy]
NVIDIA SHIELD
The NVIDIA SHIELD is a set-top box that holds the power of a gaming console and the library of a media player.
With the creation of the SHIELD, the company set out to create the best all-in-one console for TV’s. The set-top box offers an advanced gaming experience like no other with its beastly Tegra X1 processor and 256-core Maxwell GPU. It supports Dolby 7.1 and 5.1 surround sound and 4K video with 10-bit color and playback at 60fps.
Not only is the SHIELD a gaming console, it’s also a media player. The set-top box comes with Google’s Android TV platform built-in, giving users access to a plethora of popular apps and services like Netflix, Hulu, HBO and a lot more. You can also cast your favorite shows, movies and music directly from your smartphone or tablet with Google Cast support.
The SHIELD is the perfect companion for your home theater. It’ll quickly become the centerpiece for all the entertainment that goes on in your home. For the 16GB model, it’ll cost you around $200. If you need additional space, the 500GB model is available for approximately $100 more. The SHIELD is quite the value if you want to forgo investing in the ecosystems built by Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft with their gaming consoles.
[NVIDIA] [Google Store] [Amazon] [Best Buy]
Logitech Harmony
Have you ever had trouble finding the right remote? We’ve all been there. That’s why Logitech’s collection of universal remotes take the last spot on our list for this list.
Logitech offers a whole series of Harmony remotes each with different functions and capabilities. However, the main purpose is generally the same: a universal remote simplifies your home theater experience by centralizing all your remotes into one. This means you’ll no longer need to switch between different remotes to control your gaming console, home theater gear, A/V equipment and television. The majority of Logitech’s Harmony remotes include vibration feedback, touch controls, volume, rewinding, fast-forwarding, and backlighting.
The Harmony series of remotes work with Android devices running version 4.2 or higher and Apple devices running iOS 8+ using the Harmony mobile app. In the app, you will have access to bonus features such as device groups, programmed activation, and multi-device one-touch activities.
Having one of Logitech’s universal remotes is essential to bringing the connected home together. Pricing varies on the model and can cost you anywhere from $49-$349.
Well there you have it! Our picks for the best gifts for your home. The connected home is becoming a major focus among manufacturers, and as we head into the new year, we can only expect more to jump on the trend. Looking ahead, we can’t wait to see what manufacturer’s put together in the years to come. Feel free to let us know what you’re asking for in the comments down below.
Come comment on this article: Holiday Buying Guide 2015: Gifts for the home
Get $20 in Google Play credit when you buy a Chromecast
Are you looking to buy a Chromecast? You might want to wait until tomorrow, December 13, when Google is starting a promotion in which Chromecast purchasers will get $20 of Google Play Store credit to enjoy some content with the brand new dongle.
See also: Chromecast 2015 and Chromecast Audio Review
Considering the Chromecast is only $35, this offer effectively brings the price down to $15 for the hardware alone. We would say that’s a pretty good deal for those of you who need a good streaming device that won’t break the bank and work like a charm.
There is no small writing to worry about, really. The only trick is that you have to buy the Chromecast from December 13th to January 2nd. Oh, and it seems the deal does work with both the regular Chromecast and the Chromecast Audio. You do have to go redeem the offer, so make sure to hit Google’s Offers page to request your prize once you have your Chromecast.
See also: 22 best Chromecast apps for Android
Don’t you love this stuff? Google has always been great at making the Chromecast not only affordable, but also full of goodies and freebies to keep users happy. It’s just one more reason why you should opt for a Chromecast. That is, unless you really need more functionality and would prefer a full smart TV experience. I can see how this would also be upsetting if you just bought a Chromecast, though.
Chromecast Audio dongle stars in yet another video
The YouTube channel ‘Google Cast’ has uploaded yet another video promoting the Chromecast Audio dongle.
If you’re new to streaming media, Google’s newest Chromecast dongles are a great place to start. ‘Google Cast’ has uploaded a brief video on how easy it is to use the Chromecast Audio dongle. Users can use just about any Android device, laptop, desktop computer or even an iPhone or iPad. It’s extremely easy to set up and works using your home’s Wi-Fi network. Best of all, the library of supported apps is growing by the day.
Google also managed to put time aside in the ad to show how its newest feature works. Home Group allows you to link multiple Chromecast dongles together so that you can play the same song all throughout your home. Google also points out that users can use the device while the music player simply runs in the background. Guests can also cast to your Chromecast Audio dongles with no initial setup. If you’re interested in getting one for yourself, now’s a great time because of Google’s active promotion. For a limited time, you’ll get a $20 Google Play credit with your purchase.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Come comment on this article: Chromecast Audio dongle stars in yet another video
Planning on picking up a Chromecast? Act fast to bag a free $20 Google Play credit voucher
If you’ve been contemplating whether or not to pick up the second-generation Chromecast, Google has a deal that might just make your mind up. Consumers who purchase the thumb-sized HDMI dongle between now and January 2, 2016, will receive a complimentary Google Play voucher worth $20.
After the credit has been applied to the customer’s account, they will be able to purchase applications, games, movies, books, music, TV shows and magazines, which can be all downloaded directly from the Play Store and saved on their Android device for viewing at any time.
Source: Google
Come comment on this article: Planning on picking up a Chromecast? Act fast to bag a free $20 Google Play credit voucher
The Chromecast Audio gets an update to allow for multiple room streaming
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The Chromecast Audio is a pretty nifty gadget – in case you’re not up to speed, it’s basically a Chromecast (same price too at $35 USD), but instead of streaming video to a TV, it streams music to a device via audio cable. With the advent of Bluetooth speakers, this might not seem that useful, but Google has just added a few features that is going to make the Chromecast Audio much more attractive. The update that has presumably started rolling out adds Hi-Res audio support – for those in the know, this means 96KHz/24bit lossless audio playback – as well as support for multiple Chromecast Audios in multiple rooms to be synced up to the one device a la Sonos-style.
While Hi-Res audio support is likely to make audiophiles happy, it’s the multiple device support that really has me impressed as it basically gives you a Sonos system without the cost (though the quality will depend on the speakers you plug it into). According to Google, to set up the multi-room streaming, all you need to do is use the Chromecast app to group the several Chromecast Audios together. Now if only Google would release the Chromecast Audio outside of the US…
What do you think about these new Chromecast Audio features? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Google Chrome Blog via engadget
The post The Chromecast Audio gets an update to allow for multiple room streaming appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Chromecast Audio finally gains multi-room streaming, Hi-Res audio support
Alongside the second-generation Chromecast, Google introduced the Chromecast Audio – a handy device used to turn your normal speakers into connected audio devices. One of the most interesting features Google announced with Chromecast Audio was that users would have the ability to to link multiple Chromecast Audio devices together, making it easy to play the same song in every room at the same time. Unfortunately the device came to market without this feature, leaving early adopters wondering when the streaming device would get updated. We’re happy to report that your wait is finally over – Google has just announced an update to Chromecast Audio that brings multi-room streaming and a few other nice features to the device.
Setup for multi-room streaming is pretty easy. Just connect and setup a Chromecast Audio device on whichever speakers you’d like, then create a group using the latest version of the Chromecast app. You’ll be able to cast to the group the exact same way you’d cast to a single Chromecast device. Awesome, right?
See also: Chromecast 2015 and Chromecast Audio Review
That’s not all, Chromecast Audio is also gaining Hi-Res audio support, which will bring support for up to 96KHz/24-bit lossless audio playback.
Your Chromecast Audio devices should be updated in the background on Google’s end, but you’ll still need to download the latest version of the Chromecast app to get this functionality. The update is live now, so follow the Play Store link below to grab the latest version of the app.
Google’s Chromecast Audio beams music to multiple rooms
If you’re been eyeing Google’s Chromecast Audio for your holiday shopping spree, Mountain View just added some new features to sweeten the deal. First, the $35 gadget now supports high-res audio with 6KHz/24 bit lossless playback. This means that if you have the proper audiophile-grade setup, you can expect to hear better than CD quality music coming through your speakers.
Next, and perhaps more importantly, you can use Chromecast Audio to create a multi-room system over WiFi similar to the likes of Sonos and others. As you might expect, you’ll need one of the dongles in each room you plan to beam music to, but once they’re in place, you can use the Chromecast app to group them. Once they’re all connected together, simply cast the audio to your speakers just like you would to a single unit. To take advantage of the new features, update to the latest version of the Chromecast app on iTunes or Google Play.
Source: Google Chrome Blog
Google Cast posts new advertisements for both the new Chromecast model and Chromecast Audio
Just yesterday, Google Cast uploaded two new advertisements, one for the new Chromecast model and the other for the Chromecast Audio adapter.
Google is beginning to give its new Chromecast model and Chromecast Audio dongle more attention. The tech giant’s latest ads show off how useful the dongles can be.
In the first ad, Google shows two people casting back and forth to the TV set in their home. Each person conveys the words they want to say through means of the TV. The video ends with one girl apologizing for doing the wrong thing and hugging the other. Google closes with the words, “don’t love it a little, love it a lot.” The idea is that the Chromecast can bring people together.
The second ad starts off with a girl humming a song. Someone observing then uses Spotify to recognize the song title and casts it to nearby speakers wirelessly using his/her Chromecast Audio. Google displays the words “play your music apps out loud.”
Both the new Chromecast model and Chromecast Audio dongle are available in stores today for only $35. You can watch the ads in their entirety down below.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Come comment on this article: Google Cast posts new advertisements for both the new Chromecast model and Chromecast Audio
More classic Hasbro games get Chromecast versions on the Play Store
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There are plenty of great board games that have made their way onto mobile, but in most cases, it’s incredibly difficult to play the same game with multiple people on the same tiny screen (even if it is a tablet). To that end, Hasbro has just launched new versions of Risk, Game of Life and Scrabble Blitz 2 with Chromecast support so that you can enjoy all these classic board games from the comfort of your lounge room. The neat thing about this arrangement is that you’re able to link multiple devices up to the game and share the screen – there is a pretty major catch though; all these games are free-to-play, but you only get three games every day unless you pay the unlock fee.
The unlock fee is $5.99 USD for Risk and Game of Life, and $3.99 USD for Scrabble Blitz 2 – note that this is only for an individual Google Play account, so if you want to play unlimited games of something, you’ll all have to pay the unlock fee. Having said that, the three games a day is going to be enough for most casual players so that’s not a huge issue. If this is your kind of party, you can pick up one (or all three) of the games for free – Play Store links are below:
http://playboard.me/widgets/pb-app-box/1/pb_load_app_box.js
What do you think about these new Chromecast versions of Hasbro games? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Android Police
The post More classic Hasbro games get Chromecast versions on the Play Store appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Deal: grab a $15 discount when you buy 2 Chromecasts
Winter is coming, so why not snuggle up in front of the TV and stream some good media? Lucky for you, the holiday season also comes with a bevy of awesome deals, and today you can grab a good discount from Google if you buy a couple streaming devices.
See also: Best Android gifts under $50 (2015 holiday gift guide)
We have certainly seen Google offering good discounts when you buy 2 Chromecasts, but this is still a good deal to take advantage of. Buying two Chromecast units from the Google Store will save you $15 ($7.50 per device). This means you can get 2 Chromecasts for $55, as opposed to $70.
By the way, you can mix and match here. One could either buy 2 Chromecasts, 2 Chromecast Audios or one of each. It’s very simple; all you have to do is go add them to your Google Store cart! The discount will be applied automatically.
See also: 22 best Chromecast apps for Android
The Chromecast and Chromecast Audio are great devices to have plugged into your TVs… or speakers. Sometimes people don’t realize that all they do with their smart TVs is stream video and audio, which is what the Chromecast units are best at! You can read our full review to find out more about both the new Chromecast and Chromecast Audio.
See also: Chromecast 2015 and Chromecast Audio Review
And don’t forget to come back and hit the button below to sign up to get your own Chromecast devices!
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