Categories
Technology

Alexa as service, Echo as interface

Today, Amazon released new versions of its tablets, as well as a new Fire TV. The latter is generating interest in part because Alexa has been added to it. This means you can use the new Fire TV in a manner similar to the Echo, and be able to play favorite TV shows, too. The […]

Categories
Smart stuff

C/Net buys itself a smart home

I admire C/Net for taking the next long step in Internet of Things coverage. The company actually bought an entire house to use as a test case for all things smart.  Not just any home, either, but a large behemoth, which should end up being an effective test for signal range and device conflict. I’m also in […]

Categories
Smart stuff

OnHub: Google’s newest Miss/Hit?

Google is known for many things, including being wildly successful and a major cultural impact. But its path is also littered by the skeletal remains of failed projects. Search, Maps, GMail, Chrome, Android, and some of the Nexus devices—not to mention its acquisition of the ubiquitous YouTube, as well as a successful set of hardware […]

Categories
Photography

My first “zoom” set with Nikon Coolpix 900

Thanks to a little quick action, I was able to snag one of the extremely rare Nikon Coolpix P900. I have a couple of Nikon DSLRs, but I was attracted to the concept of one camera for all purposes. Changing lens in the field gets tedious, and I’ve missed photos because I have the wrong […]

Categories
Government

That Wyoming Pond: newest battle between PLF and the EPA

update: 11/30/15 The EPA has responded to the lawsuit, asking the judge to refer the case for Alternative Dispute Resolution, rather than an extensive and costly litigation. As they note in the request: Johnson did dam the creek without permit There is no doubt this is in violation of CWA The reason for the permit […]