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Autos, Connected Home

How To: Watch Movies in Your Honda Pilot or Odyssey Using Android TV Updated

We recently purchased a 2018 Honda Pilot Touring edition that has a rear entertainment system (RES). In addition to playing Blu-rays, DVDs, and CDs, the Honda entertainment system can play anything that connects via either an HDMI or component auxiliary video input. My wife asked me for a media solution that was as simple as inserting a DVD disc but that permitted us to play a number of movies on demand for our children. T Continue reading How To: Watch Movies in Your Honda Pilot or Odyssey Using Android TV Updated

Mike Connelly
Guitars

How To: Playing a USB-connected Guitar in GarageBand for Your Mobile Studio

I am going to focus on how I jam when I’m not in my home studio. Because the Ultra-III has a USB jack built into the guitar, no separate interface box is required. I couldn’t find a non-proprietary male USB Type-B to Lightning adapter cable. The Epiphone comes with a heavy-duty male USB Type-A to male USB Type-B cable. If you prefer a similar but shorter cable, you can order one from Amazon here.  You then need a female USB Type-A to male Lightning adapter cable. Continue reading How To: Playing a USB-connected Guitar in GarageBand for Your Mobile Studio

Mike Connelly
Guitars

Epiphone Les Paul Ultra-III Guitar Review Updated

Like its predecessor Ultra models, the Epiphone Les Paul Ultra-III is a hybrid electric+acoustic guitar. It preserves the look of a traditional Les Paul guitar. It possesses a rosewood fingerboard and mahogany neck. The back of the neck has a satin finish. The Ultra-III has a chambered body, which makes it much lighter and gives it more acoustic overtones. Like the Ultra-II, it has Grover tuners and a Tune-o-matic bridge with a stopbar tailpiece. The Midnight Ebony version of the Epiphone Ultra-III has nickel hardware, which I prefer over the gold hardware on the Ultra-II. Continue reading Epiphone Les Paul Ultra-III Guitar Review Updated

Mike Connelly
Photography

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

Nikon announced the D500, along with the full frame Nikon D5, at CES 2016.  Although Nikon continued to position the 2009 D300S as its premier DX series camera, their D7x00 series cameras long ago surpassed the D300S both in terms of image quality and features. When the D7000 was released in 2010, there was no reason to pay more for the D300S. I upgraded my D300 to a D7100 but I didn’t see enough value to jump from the D7100 to the D7200. Continue reading Nikon D500 Camera: Review & Comparison to the Nikon D5, D7500, D7200 & D7100 Updated

Mike Connelly