bluetooth

How To: Ubiquiti Cloud Key Gen2 Plus Review & Migration

Mike ConnellyConnected Home

The Ubiquiti UniFi Cloud Key Gen2 Plus consolidates two separate appliances into one: it runs the UniFi SDN controller and serves as a network video recorder for UniFi Protect. The hardware upgrade from our original Cloud Key, the migration process, and the internal hard drive swap are all documented. With only a $20 price gap between the standard Gen2 and the Plus model, we recommend buying the Plus model.
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Line 6 Amplifi 150 Guitar Amplifier Review

Mike ConnellyGuitars

Line 6’s Amplifi 150 strips out the physical knobs and replaces them with an iPad app that controls over 70 amp models, 100 effects, and 20 speaker cabinets via Bluetooth. Here, we examine the remote app workflow and the hardware limitations discovered during testing. The amplifier performs differently in home practice versus live contexts, and the app-dependent control scheme is the reason why. Continue reading Line 6 Amplifi 150 Guitar Amplifier Review

Nikon D500 Camera: Review & Comparison to the Nikon D5, D7500, D7200 & D7100

Mike ConnellyPhotography

I upgraded to the Nikon D500, which carries the D5’s 153-point Multi-CAM 20K autofocus system in an APS-C body at roughly 30 percent of the flagship’s price. This review covers image quality, burst speed, video capabilities, and comparisons to the D7100, D7200, and D5. The resolution-versus-high-ISO trade-off relative to the D7200 is where the D500 either earns its cost premium or doesn’t. Continue reading Nikon D500 Camera: Review & Comparison to the Nikon D5, D7500, D7200 & D7100

Google Chromecast Audio with Multi-room Support Review

Mike ConnellyConnected Home

Google’s multi-room audio distribution technology is based on the success of their video casting platform, Chromecast. This article examines how it compares to the AirPort Express, focussing on signal stability, multiroom grouping, and support for both optical and analog output. The upgrade from older wireless standards enables a measurably more reliable connection under real listening conditions.
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