home theater, cord cutting, video streaming, a/v tech, and more!

[NTP66]

...and I've been counter-offered at $2338 shipped because of PA taxes. I'm going to see if I can scrounge up a promo code and pull the trigger this time. Thanks you two.

[eddy]

hope it works. I'm excited and I'm not even getting a new tv!

[NTP66]

I'm trying to get them to cut it to an even $2300 since I know others got it for that. We'll see if they call my bluff.

[Willie Kool]

[NTP66]

**** it, decided against messing around and accepted the $2338. I see the set listed on a grey market site for much less, so I'm going to use Citi's PriceMatch to save a few hundred there, too.

[PrinceOfRossTownship]

How long does it take Hulu to put up a season after it airs? I know they air some stuff within a week of its original air date but apparently they're not doing that with the current season of Baskets.

[Factorial]

Has anyone here used one of the intel Atom Z8300 computer sticks? My old "media laptop" that I have connected to the tv/stereo is on it's last leg and this looks like a good replacement. It runs windows 10 pro so I'll be able to RDP to it, set up my vpn, etc:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MA ... 0DER&psc=1

I don't play any games (just video and music) so I'm not concerned about gaming performance.

[NTP66]

I have no experience with those computer sticks, but many companies are now using those Atom chips for lightweight clients with great success.

[NTP66]

Anyone here use Philips Hue lighting? @shmenguin? Prime Day is coming up, and I'm considering giving it a try, but I'm curious to know your workflows. I'm so used to using wall switches, but if I make this move, want to figure out the best way to handle lighting - which I assume is using Alexa integration. I do know of other wall switches that will allow old school people (read: my wife) still use a switch without actually cutting the power.

[shmenguin]

My whole house is hue lit at this point. The kids rooms, the bathrooms and some pendants in the kitchen are all that haven’t been upgraded.

I obviously love them. I posted a video from my attic office in the DIY thread, but that’s not why i advocate for them. My house is lit exactly how I want it, which drastically increases my overall comfort.

As far as how you implement, figure out as you go. They work fine with your existing switches. I have a couple hue wall switches that give you quick shortcuts to change your settings, but mainly I use my phone. Alexa integration works as expected, but it’s still cumbersome IMO.

But yeah, they’re awesome and you can build your collection slowly over time. Get mainly the ones where you can adjust the light temp (the mid range ones) and then get a few of the color ones for your entertainment areas.

The light strips are also awesome - especially under your kitchen cabinets.

Edit: and the bulbs have memory now, so cutting the power isnt a problem. They come back the way they were left.

[NTP66]

Nice, thank you. My worry with the switch wasn't really the bulb memory, but the fact that they wouldn't work at all unless that switch was flipped again. Minor worry, though.

I thought about upgrading my undercabinet lighting, but I already have an LED strip under there, and don't think it's worth spending $140+ on replacing it just to integrate it into a new system, to be honest. I'll check out the DIY thread, too.

[skullman80]

My company thanks you for your contribution @shmenguin and soon @NTP66 . Lol.

They are awesome though.

[NTP66]

My company thanks you for your contribution @shmenguin and soon @NTP66 . Lol.

They are awesome though.

Feel free to PM me promo codes or something to save a few bucks. I'll buy many more of them that way, helping secure your career...

[skullman80]

My company thanks you for your contribution @shmenguin and soon @NTP66 . Lol.

They are awesome though.

Feel free to PM me promo codes or something to save a few bucks. I'll buy many more of them that way, helping secure your career...

I don't work on the lighting side actually, I work on the healthcare side(Cpap's/software), but if I come across anything will let you know.

We do have an employee store with good discounts, but I don't know if they will let me ship stuff to anyone other than myself. I never tried.

[NTP66]

No worries, I wouldn’t risk you getting into trouble.

[NTP66]

Citi is killing off price matching from their cards in September, so I'm trying to sneak one last match in there for the TV I just bought. I found a grey market set for a few hundred less, and if they accept the match, I'll get $200 back. That'd be a killer deal.

[DigitalGypsy66]

Praise the Maker: Google and Amazon kissed and made up, so YouTube will be on the Fire stick and Amazon Video will have Chromecast support starting ASAP.

[dodint]

Youtube worked seamlessly with the Amazon Silk browser so I wasn't affected by that at all.

[iamjs]

Found out yesterday that my less than legal cable is now supporting 4 in 1 multiviewing, which will allow me to do full view, a 3/4 screen view with 3 other feeds across the bottom, or four feeds all taking up equal space on the screen.

[willeyeam]

For those on ATTSN to DTVNow watch, this might be good

https://barrettsportsmedia.com/2019/07/ ... -networks/

[nocera]

Ah yes, Sinclair Broadcast Group...

[DigitalGypsy66]

So WarnerMedia is launching HBO Max next spring, a standalone streaming service with its own content separate from HBO (although it sounds like it will have HBO shows on there as well, it will have original shows not on HBO). Anything Warner Brothers will end up there, like Friends. They are anticipating it to be more expensive than the current $14.99 per month for HBO Now...

Sounds like it's a pirate's life for me...

[NTP66]

Source of the post Sounds like it's a pirate's life for me...

https://1337x.to and https://zooqle.com will be your best friends. You're welcome.

[nocera]

Do you not use the pirate bay anymore? Is that like asking if you still use Kazaa?

[NTP66]

TPB is good for software, but those two sites are superior for TV/movies.