The DJI Osmo Mobile has landed!!!

I finally got my DJI Osmo Mobile. About to dash off to the airport, so for now just a quick unpacking video:

Let me know what you think

Will I ever get my Osmo Mobile???

Not good...

Amazon Echo in the UK

Looks like the Amazon Echo get finally released in the UK today!!!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/09/13/amazon-to-launch-echo-voice-activated-personal-assistant-speaker/

About time, but it's great news!

DJI Osmo Mobile - The Wait

Looks like the guys at DJI are completely overwhelmed with the Osmo Mobile orders.

Originally the statement was shipment in 3-5 business days, which is already not particularly fast. On the forum staff are trying to keep everybody happy, but what I really want is the actual device in my hands...

DJI Osmo Mobile Ordered

My birthday is coming up and it was just decided that the family are clubbing together to get for me the DJI Osmo Mobile. Can't wait - watch out for the unpacking video...

http://www.dji.com/product/osmo-mobile

...and on my birthday weekend we are planning to go to the Munich Octoberfest - should be a great opportunity to give it a field trip!!!

Wow - the future is coming (and yes, I know that's a cheap line)

NASA Selects Proposals for Advancing Adaptive Space Robotics, 3-D Printing and Other Key Exploration Technologies

This is soooo cool - this time it's different to Teflon - we already know (some of) this stuff. Either way, this got to be good.

DJI Osmo Mobile

Image stabilisation for your mobile phone.

Having seen how impressive the stabilisation of the DJI gimbal for their Phantom drones is, this might be rather interesting.

http://www.dji.com/product/osmo-mobile

It's definately going on my wish list!

Google/Alphabet breaking up NEST

So, with Alphabet breaking up NEST

http://www.businessinsider.in/The-end-of-Nest-as-we-know-it-is-a-sign-of-a-new-beginning-for-Android/articleshow/53937171.cms

the big question is if my NEST thermostat, camera and smoke sensors will continue to work...

Alexa Voice Control Comming to Sonos

Another great article form VoWe:

Sonos + Spotify + Alexa

Alexa control comming to Sonos - can't wait.

Review of PowerView Integration with IFTTT and Amazon Echo

I have just posted a review of PowerView integration with IFTTT and Amazon Echo on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/lIfqJ1ZaWeE

I really like the App as it has a really powerful scheduling facility and the integration with Amazon Echo via IFTTT could not be easier.

Also, the service we got from Thomas Sanderson, the UK arm of Hunter Douglas, can not be faulted. I can only recommend them - and no, they are not paying me to say this

Have a look at let me know what you think.

RING Doorbell on Automated Home

Second port from Automated Home in  a row. This time they have reviewed the Ring Doorbell. It's a great piece of technology as it is a truly wireless doorbell giving you a bi-directional video and audio connection so that you can see and talk to people ringing you doorbell wherever you are - in the garden, the bathroom or the other side of the world.

Unfortunately I had to send mine back as it was just too big for my standard UK door. Ring have been very responsive on their Facebook page, suggesting the Ring Pro. This one looks interesting but requires existing doorbell wiring, which I don't have. Either way, it's a great device, but just not right for me. I would like the RING Pro form factor, but without the need for wires.

Best Extension Lead Ever

Over on Automated Home I just saw this article on my favorite extension lead. Yes, it's low-tech, but it just works. I have been using two of these for about half a year and decommissioned 6 old school extension leads as a result.

"Affordable" Hasselblad light enough to carry

The BBC and DPReview both have reports on the new Hasselblad X1D. The first medium format mirrorless camera. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-36598977

http://www.dpreview.com/news/1988725790/medium-format-mirrorless-hasselblad-unveils-x1d

http://www.dpreview.com/news/9438355523/hands-on-with-hasselblad-x1d

The format in this respect is the size of the image sensor, which is much larger than traditional "full frame" sensors. When you pack the light sensing pixels on a sensor closer together you lose image quality, so a larger sensor allows you to pack more pixels onto the sensor while producing better quality images.

However, medium format cameras are expensive and big. You can easily pay £10 - £20.000, while professional full frame cameras are "only" measured in thousands. This makes the X1D a "bargain" at £7.188. In terms of weight, the mirrorless makes the camera light enough to carry around your neck weighing less than a kilogram.

I would love one of these, but unfortunately this bargain is outside my budget. 

FAA Relaxes Rules on Commercial Drone Usage

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-36584515

and

http://www.dpreview.com/news/9546787230/the-faa-is-fine-with-your-drone-photography-business

Brilliant news! The FAA are relaxing the rules for commercial drone use. I can just hope that we here in Europe follow. Flying drones must be done safely and responsibly, but it must be achievable. Current rules make it almost impossible for startups.

Amazon Echo Accessibility Use Case

I love the Amazon Echo, but I never thought of it as an accessibility tool - until I watched this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbNSD5H-O6Y

Surely this would also help people outside the US.

Please Amazon make the Echo available outside the US!!!

Adobe Creative Cloud Updates

Adobe has today updated the CC applications. On of the most notable enhancements is the Content Aware Crop. I can't wait to explore all the new features.

Digital Wimbledon

Great article from the BBC on how Wimbledon is growing more and more digital.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36574406

This one got it all - Artificial Intelligence, Social Media, Big Data, ...

IBM are using Wimbledon to promote and grow their digital agenda just like Atos are with the Olympics. Both organisation have been supporting their respective sports evens for many years and are continuously pushing the boundaries of the technically possible.

Security Issue with Netgear Arlo

Just saw this over at VOWE.net. Looks like a major security issue that shouldn't take a lot to fix. Let's hope Netgear do fix this.

Love the Nest Thermostat and its Friends

We have a Nest thermostat and it just hangs on our living room wall and sorts out the heating. And it does it well. It also connects to our Nest Smoke and CO2 alarms and a Nest cam. If there is smoke or CO2 detected then it switched the heating off in case it is part of the problem. The cam records a video clip at the same time so that you can view what is going on. Great stuff.

I put a video together on how I connected the thermostat to our heating system. Please mind that you must not work with mains electricity if you don't know what you are doing!

You can see  the video at:

Nest Thermostat 3rd Gen Install

Let me know what you think and subscribe to my YouTube channel

Welcome

I have been posting tech related videos and comments on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter for a while, so I thought I'll start collecting them in this blog. I hope you like it. Please comment to let me know what you like.