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Inference at the Edge: Running a Large Language Model Chatbot on Consumer Hardware

Mike ConnellyArtificial Intelligence, Technology

Large language models can now run entirely on consumer laptops, with no cloud connection required. We explore how hobbyists and open-source developers are deploying instruction-tuned, locally optimized LLMs on standard hardware and what that means for privacy, cost, and accessibility. The practical tradeoffs between model size and response quality are what make this shift more consequential than it first appears.
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Recipe: Lasagna Bolonese

Mike ConnellyFood

Authentic Lasagna Bolognese requires three separate preparations: a meat ragù, a ricotta mix, and a besciamella, before a single noodle is layered. This recipe walks through all three, drawing on techniques from J. Kenji López-Alt, America’s Test Kitchen, and the New York Times. The ragù alone simmers for three hours, and the reason that patience produces a fundamentally different result is explained in the method. Continue reading Recipe: Lasagna Bolonese

A Primer on Conversational Artificial Intelligence Agents & Large Language Models

Mike ConnellyArtificial Intelligence, Technology

Conversational agents and the large language models (LLMs) have become increasingly proficient at mimicking human language and behavior so that they can respond to a wide variety of instructions. At their mathematical core, they are statistical distributions of token adjacency probabilities. This article covers how LLMs work, how they evolved from first-generation transformers to instruction-tuned systems, and what the temperature parameter actually controls.
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Proposal: Potential JellyFin Native tvOS App Including User Experience Ideas

Mike ConnellyConnected Home, Technology

Jellyfin has no native tvOS app encompassing both on demand and live TV. What follows is a detailed UX proposal for what that native tvOS app could look like, covering navigation architecture, user profile selection, the media player engine, and a screen-by-screen breakdown of each tab. Continue reading Proposal: Potential JellyFin Native tvOS App Including User Experience Ideas

How To: Synology DS1821+ Network Attached Storage (NAS) & DSM 7.0

Mike ConnellyConnected Home, Technology

A significant upgrade, the Synology DS1821+ replaces the DS1819+’s Atom C3538 with an AMD Ryzen V1500B quad-core processor and adds two built-in M.2 NVMe slots. We cover the hardware differences, SSD caching trade-offs, and notable DSM 7.0 features relevant to the upgrade decision. The performance gap between these two units is larger than the model numbers suggest. Continue reading How To: Synology DS1821+ Network Attached Storage (NAS) & DSM 7.0

How To: Home Network 5.0 with Ubiquiti WiFi 6 Long Range & Protect G4 Review & Calibration

Mike ConnellyConnected Home, Technology

Building a fully integrated smart home spans at least seven distinct technology categories, each with its own ecosystem and trade-offs. This installment recaps the full smart home series: managed UniFi networking, Lutron Caséta lighting, Synology NAS storage, UniFi Protect cameras, NextGen TV tuners, and a multi-room AV setup built around LG OLEDs, Sonos, and Apple TV 4K. Continue reading How To: Home Network 5.0 with Ubiquiti WiFi 6 Long Range & Protect G4 Review & Calibration

How To: ATSC 3.0 & the HDHomeRun QUATRO 4K

Mike ConnellyConnected Home, Technology

ATSC 3.0 brings 4K HDR video and Dolby Atmos audio to free over-the-air television. We examine the technical upgrades, the hybrid broadcast transition currently underway, and the hardware required to receive the signal. We test Silicon Dust’s HDHomeRun QUATRO 4K tuner firsthand and assess emerging capabilities including targeted advertising and CDN delivery. Continue reading How To: ATSC 3.0 & the HDHomeRun QUATRO 4K

How To: Sonos Amp Review & Configuration

Mike ConnellyConnected Home, Music

The Sonos Amp replaces a Connect:Amp design that dated back nearly a decade and topped out at modest power output. Our hands-on review includes a full configuration walkthrough of the Sonos Amp in a rack-mounted, multi-zone passive speaker installation. We also take a detailed look at how the Amp handles whole-home deployments that its predecessor could not. Continue reading How To: Sonos Amp Review & Configuration

How To: Android Auto 5.5 for Navigation & Entertainment on a BMW S1000XR

Mike ConnellyMotorcycles

The BMW S1000XR includes a factory navigation quick-disconnect coupler that accepts a third-party smartphone mount, eliminating the need for a dedicated GPS unit. This article covers installing that mount on an S1000XR and running Android Auto 5.5 on a Motorola G6, including navigation, music, and voice control. With Android Auto 5.5, Waze became available alongside Google Maps as a supported navigation option, giving riders a meaningful choice between the two platforms. Continue reading How To: Android Auto 5.5 for Navigation & Entertainment on a BMW S1000XR

How To: Ubiquiti Unifi Protect Video Security System Review

Mike ConnellyConnected Home

According to InterNACHI, 34 percent of residential burglars enter through the front door and 81 percent through the first floor. Planning, sizing, and deploying Ubiquiti’s Unifi Protect camera system for whole-home coverage including hardware selection, local versus cloud storage trade-offs, and network configuration are the focuses here. Continue reading How To: Ubiquiti Unifi Protect Video Security System Review

How To: Lutron Caséta Lighting Control System Review

Mike ConnellyConnected Home

Lutron’s Caséta sits at the entry point of a residential lighting control lineup that segments by device count, coverage area, and whether installation is DIY or professional. Based on our home deployment, we explain switch selection, installation, and integration with Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant. We also present an honest look at where the system’s device and range limits matter in practice. Continue reading How To: Lutron Caséta Lighting Control System Review

How To: Lowering Your BMW S1000XR

Jerry SkeneMotorcycles

The BMW S1000XR ships from the factory with a seat height that leaves even a 190 cm rider stretching to reach the ground at stops. Jerry Skene’s guide covers the complete process of lowering the bike 2.5 cm using Soupy’s Performance adjustable turnbuckle kit, including rear dogbone replacement and matched front fork adjustment. The procedure also requires re-examining kickstand angle after the drop is complete. Continue reading How To: Lowering Your BMW S1000XR

How To: Ubiquiti UniFi Security Gateway Pro 4 & Intrusion Prevention (IPS)

Mike ConnellyConnected Home

Enabling IPS on the entry-level UniFi USG caps WAN throughput at 85 Mbps, making it impractical for gigabit internet connections. This article walks through upgrading to the USG Pro 4, configuring UniFi’s Suricata-based intrusion prevention system, and selecting threat categories beyond Ubiquiti’s defaults. We cover real-world throughput results, the USG Pro 4’s fan noise issue, and the migration process from the USG.
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