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Continue reading →: Game Streaming from an Xbox One to a MacBook Air (11 inch, mid-2013) using Windows 10 (Boot Camp)
The Short Version: I was able to successfully use Xbox One Game Streaming using Windows 10 via Boot Camp (OS X El Capitan) on my MacBook Air (11 inch, mid-2013) with 8 GBs of RAM and the Medium quality setting with only minor audio lag and no noticeable video lag.
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Continue reading →: Blogging Hiatus
I’ve been on a bit of a blogging hiatus for nearly a year. The first half of the break was the result of other responsibilities and, quite simply, not feeling too eager to spend a lot of time on a laptop after work. The other half was the result of,…
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Continue reading →: Baby Monitor (Temporarily) Killed Z-Wave Network
Late last week I started to experience problems with various Z-Wave modules that began having communication problems. One module refused to work at all and others, including our thermostats, demonstrated frequent communication problems. This was frustrating because I had never experienced communication issues with my Z-Wave gear; it is one…
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Continue reading →: Using a Blacklight Flashlight to Find Dried Dog Urine and Lost Toys
Yes, you read that correctly. A while back I purchased a blacklight flashlight to find dried dog urine in our house. Why? Because when you have two young puppies it’s not uncommon to identify the smell of urine but to not be able to find the source… They’ve grown a…
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Continue reading →: The Forgotten Role of Technology: One Step Away from Magic
I’ve noticed an increasingly more prevalent theme this year. The core theme is the concept of technology that is so ubiquitous and elegant that it appears to work like magic. For most of us that is rarely our experience. Often technology, whether we’re using an electronic tool that performs some…
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Continue reading →: Washing Machine Notification (Smart Energy Sensor & Indigo)
As part of my recent dive back into home automation I decided it would be cool (and once again practical) to be able to receive an alert that the washing machine has finished washing a load of clothes. This wasn’t something I blindly jumped into. There is plenty of information…
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Continue reading →: Using a Multi-Color LED Bulb to Visually Indicate the High Temperature Range for the Day (Zipato RGBW LED & Indigo 6)
In the morning, when I first get up, I walk past a motion sensor. A moment later a lamp with a color-changing bulb illuminates, glowing a specific color to indicate the temperature range that will include today’s forecast high temperature. With just one glance I know whether or not I…
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Continue reading →: Using a Zubie Key (Vehicle Monitoring Service)
My wife recently purchased a new vehicle and so I started thinking about also purchasing a new vehicle. And then I decided that not having a car payment was something that I currently prefer over having a car payment (note – my wife had a very good reason to purchase…
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Continue reading →: A View of What Fails in the Blend Door Actuators (Impala 2008)
As a 2008 Impala owner I’ve become well acquainted with a specific part failure. Typically, it’s not expensive to correct (as long as it’s not one under the dash) but it can be inconvenient and over time I’ve had to replace two of them multiple times each. For those that…
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Continue reading →: First Impression: Amazon Fire TV Stick
My wife and I decided to pre-order an Amazon Fire TV Stick for her parents, which we gave to them for Christmas. While visiting with them I had the opportunity to setup the device and use it for an extended period. Overall, I’m impressed. The cost is relatively low, performance…
Hello,
I’m Mike
Welcome to my blog, which I have maintained for several years, off and on, to share things that I’ve learned from numerous projects and various problem solving escapades. This is my way of giving something back to the online communities that have helped me learn more about a wide variety of topics.
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