Tech Tip # 4: How to set up and use Widgets on iOS Devices.

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Do you want to see important information at a glance such as, how long it will take you to get to work in current traffic this morning or what the temperature is outside ?

Well you can !!!

Check out the video on Youtube now !!!

I will guide you along on how to set up and use Widgets on your iOS devices, whether it’s an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch.

It is super simple and highly valuable

What are you waiting for ?!?!?!

Go watch the video and leave us a comment to tell us how you will be using the Widgets to help streamline your day.

and don’t forget “Keep Living A Modern Lifestyle Through Technology.”

Tech Tip #3: The perfect wake up X Philips HUE

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The rising sun has been waking us up since before the dawn of civilization.


It’s the perfect indicator , not too dim, not too bright. Just right. 


But what about the times where you have to wake up before the sun is out ? Or perhaps you have room darkening shades?


Nothing is worse than turning on a light and being blinded in the morning or waking up your partner.

HUE App routines

We all want the Perfect Wake Up.

There’s a fix for that if if you have the Philips Hue lights. There’s option 1 which is not that good and then option 2.  Option 2 is more customizable and the way to go !!


Option 1 is in the Hue app and is found under Routines, named Wake Up.


Briefly on how to set up option 1 :


You set a time for them to turn on and the lights come on at full 100% brightness, definitely not the best option.


Option 2 can be found under Explore --> Hue Labs --> Formulas and scroll down to Personal wake up.


  • You set a power wake up or a relax wake up. 

  • Set the brightness and fade in time.

  • Set which days you want them to turn on.

  • Set the lights you want to come on.

  • And finally what time you want them to turn off.


Now, my lights turn on at the time I want them to and at the precise brightness. No more blinding myself.

Just the Perfect Wake Up !!

Tech Tip #2.5: How to control your TV with your voice, VIDEO

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A little while back I did a post on how to turn your TV on using Alexa and The Harmony Ultimate Remote Hub I have now made a video demonstrating how it actually works !!! 

Here is the link to the post on how to set up and enable this skill 

https://www.cruxoftech.com/techtips/voiceactivatedtv

 

 

Check it out below and leave a comment. 

Tech Tip #2: Turn your TV on with your voice.

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Amazon echo for voice

Yes, you can turn on your TV using your voice, you do need a couple of things first, as an Alexa enabled device is not enough to make this happen.

 

You will also need a Logitech Harmony Hub, this lets Echo talk to your TV.

 

I am going to skip the steps where you set up your Logitech Hub.

 

If you need a refresher, I wrote a post on the Harmony Ultimate remote. Go check it out.

 

How to set up this skill;

 

·      Go to your Alexa app

ALexa App

·      Go to Skills

SKills

·  Search Harmony, use the Harmony skill with the blue logo

Harmony BLue

·      Click Enable

Harmony enable skill

·   Connect your Logitech account

·   Click Authorize

AUthorize logitech

·   Name your devices

NAme Devices

·   Select TV Favorites

Name channels

·   Click link Account

Connect logitech account

·   Click done

Successful linked accounts

·  Click Discover Devices.

 

That’s it, now go take it for a spin. Say “Alexa, turn on TV” or whatever you named your devices. 

 

Few things I would like to point out, name your devices easy and friendly names. Alexa, as we all know sometimes doesn’t understand the command.  I would also use the three letter code for broadcast channels like CBS and NBC. 

Lastly make sure you click on Discover Devices at the end, otherwise it will not work.

Hello, World!

Tech Tip #1: Have more than one Echo or Echo Dot? Connect them all for multi-room play back.

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It is now possible and easy to connect your Amazon Echo speakers for multi-room play back,

Here is how;

Make sure you have them all on the same WiFi network, you also need to have Amazon Prime Music or Music Unlimited. To have more than one stream at once you do need to have a family plan with Music Unlimited. Multi-Room playback also supports Pandora, iHeartRadio, SiriusXM, Spotify and TuneIn. 

Unfortunately Multi-Room playback is not possible over Bluetooth, if you do have a Bluetooth speaker you will have to connect them using the 3.5mm jack. I tend to connect my phone to the speakers via Bluetooth so this was a small drawback for me. 

Now to getting it set up

  • Go to your Alexa App

  • Go to Settings

  • Scroll down to Multi-Room Music

  • Click on Multi-Room Music

  • Press on Add Group

  • Press on Amazon Multi Room Music Group

  • Name your Group and press Next

  • Click on all the speakers you want to connect and press save

  • A screen will up that says Connecting your Echos..

Pretty easy to do, now if you want to add more or delete a speaker 

  • Go to Settings>Multi Room Music>Click on name of group.

  • Select or deselect which speaker you wan to add or delete and press save.

To play music just say "Alexa play music (Group Name).  To play from Pandora for instance,  you say Alexa play (radio station) on Pandora on (Group name) 

That's all, enjoy. 

Check back regularly for more Tech Tips !