GSE390 Holiday Break Entertainment

On episode 390 of Geekiest Show Ever, Elisa and Melissa share some hardware, app and tv picks to entertain your inner geek over the holiday break. Melissa reviews her new Philips hue smart plug and shares how she’s used it to upgrade her tv. She also reviews Chill Zones, SYC PRO, and Piezo apps. Check out our full show notes here https://www.geekiestshowever.com/gse390-holiday-break-entertainment/  Do you have questions about what you heard in this episode? Please send us your feedback. You can email us: podcast at geekiestshowever dot com. Follow us on Twitter for additional tips and conversation: https://twitter.com/GeekiestShow. We’d like to hear from you, so let us know which tech topics interest you most. Elisa can be found at https://twitter.com/elisapacelli1 and Melissa can be found at https://TheMacMommy.com/ Geekiest Show Ever is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Inc. Products made by Apple mentioned in this podcast are a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions. Episode art is by Melissa Davis using images provided by the developers mentioned in this episode. See links for more information.

Links

Melissa can now control her entire living room with just her voice. It makes her very happy to have something to boss around when the kids and hubby are away!

Philips Hue Smart plug

Melissa uses audio and video downloader apps to:

  • create video screensavers
  • curate a sleep playlist that can be set to a timer using Apple Music app
  • preserve audio memories of a loved one singing songs on Smule.com

Softorino makes two YouTube downloader apps. Softorino YouTube Converter PRO (SYC PRO) has more advanced features than Softorino YouTube Converter 2, but they both worked well in Melissa’s testing when she made an aquarium screensaver for her Apple TV.

https://softorino.com/youtube-downloader-mac/

https://softorino.com/youtube-converter/

Softorino has their own app store with multiple options for licensing: https://softorino.com/store/

You can license each app individually for a monthly fee with the option to save on cost by paying annually or purchase a lifetime license. (Full disclosure: they gave me a lifetime license which I’m using to test out and review their apps then share my thoughts with you.)

Chill Zones by Filip Němeček is an app for tvOS, iOS, and iPadOS. After using SYC PRO to download the aquarium videos from YouTube, she copied them to her Photos Library then used Chill Zones to upload them to her Apple TV.

Learn more about Chill Zones and how to use it here: https://nemecek.be/pages/chill-zones

Ever wanted to download the karaoke songs you performed using Smule Sing? Well, now you can with Piezo from Rogue Amoeba. Find yours or your loved one’s songs on Smule.com then open Piezo and click record. It’s really easy.

Our TV Recommendations for Your Holiday Binge

Apple TV+

Suspicion

Blackbird

Slow Horses

Five Days at Memorial

Bad Sisters

Mythic Quest

Peacock

Ticket to Paradise

A Friend of the Family

Resident Alien

HBO

The West Wing

House of the Dragon

Barry

ShowTime

City on a Hill

Show Us Some Love

Melissa loves her eufy cameras. If you decide to purchase a eufy camera, use Melissa’s referral link: https://fbuy.io/eufyus/zp85rwa3

Thinking of switching to Mint Mobile? Use our refer-a-friend links: Elisa’s is http://fbuy.me/tSm4x and Melissa’s is http://fbuy.me/tRqgc

Do you like getting cash back on purchases? Use our Rakuten referral links: Melissa’s is https://www.rakuten.com/r/MELISS95892?eeid=28187 and Elisa’s is: https://www.rakuten.com/r/SENSEI13

Listen on Google Podcasts

Check the Apple Security Updates page to see if your Apple gear is up to date.

Geekiest Show Ever is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Inc. Products made by Apple mentioned in this podcast are a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions.

Audio Link

GSE386 Catching Up

On episode 386 of Geekiest Show Ever, Elisa shares her latest cruise experiences. Melissa is taking piano lessons with iPad and Yamaha while illuminating her home in smart light from Phillips Hue and getting it all on camera with her new eufy pan and tilt. Check out our full show notes here https://www.geekiestshowever.com/gse386-catching-up/.

You can create a MIDI connection using a Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter connected to an iPad with the Flowkey app and a supported Yamaha piano will see the device and play sound through the speakers on the piano keyboard. It will also recognize your key presses and let you know if you’ve played the correct note. Find out more about Flowkey here and how to get a free trial by registering your piano keyboard here: https://www.flowkey.com/en/yamaha

Philips Hue smart bulbs can be found here: https://www.philips-hue.com/en-us

Melissa loves her eufy cameras. If you decide to purchase a eufy camera, use Melissa’s referral link: https://fbuy.io/eufyus/zp85rwa3

Do you have questions about what you heard in this episode? Please send us your feedback. You can email us: podcast at geekiestshowever dot com. Follow us on Twitter for additional tips and conversation: https://twitter.com/GeekiestShow. We’d like to hear from you, so let us know which tech topics interest you most. Elisa can be found at https://twitter.com/elisapacelli1 and Melissa can be found at https://TheMacMommy.com/

Episode Artwork Photo by David Pisnoy on Unsplash

Listen on Google Podcasts

Check the Apple Security Updates page to see if your Apple gear is up to date.

Geekiest Show Ever is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Inc. Products made by Apple mentioned in this podcast are a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions.

Audio Link

GSE382 Smarter Home Stuff

On episode 382 of Geekiest Show Ever, Melissa and Elisa discuss some new smart home tech. Melissa reviews her new gear and shares tips for how to make a tv into a digital photo frame. Do you use HomeKit for your security cameras? Check out our full show notes here https://www.geekiestshowever.com/gse382-smarter-home-stuff/ and look for additional tips and links to the products we discussed.

AirPods Pro Case with AirTag holder: 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09N3K3XNS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thermacell Mosquito Repellant Lantern: 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00194D6ZW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Otoscope: 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NW1G7VS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Eufy Cameras: (affiliate link)

https://share.eufylife.com/v1/shopping/s/g/QG6z2Kz8Whttps://share.eufylife.com/v1/shopping/s/g/QG6z2Kz8W

Eufy Indoor Cam (affiliate link): https://share.eufylife.com/v1/shopping/s/g/bPJ2JQ1KS

Leak Detectors:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07888CVYR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Tip: You can use your big screen TV as an oversized digital photo frame! You can even allow friends and family members to contribute photos if you invite them to do so. Here’s how you can achieve it using Apple TV:

First, using the Photos app on your iPhone or iPad, create a new Shared Album. In my own library, I created an album and called it “Screensaver.” You can name it anything you want. Complete instructions are here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202786

On Apple TV, launch the Settings app then go to General. Next, select Screen Saver and choose the Type which will be called “My Photos.” Select the Shared Photo Album you’ve already created so it pulls images from this album in rotation. Next, select a Transition. I chose Origami. You can preview all the different transitions to see which you like best.

Image shows three different chargers in one hand to compare the sizes. First is the Apple 5W USB power adapter that came with older iPhones. Next is the Anker USB-C 20W charger and last is the Apple 20W power adapter that comes with HomePod mini.
Image shows three plugs connected to the surge protector power strip that hide behind the wall-mounted tv. Apple TV plug, flat screen TV plug, and HomePod mini power cable plugged into Anker’s 20W USB-C charger.

Anker USB-C 20W Charger for HomePod mini:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08H4KS2LV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

10 ft Power Strip Surge Protector: 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09G27X3GN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

TV Wall Mount: 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KXTZ3BE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Apple TV Wall Mount: 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B099Z8YZ9X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Elisa’s New iPad Case:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KLW4LCG?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Consider joining a local Macintosh Users Group near you. If you live or visit Tucson, come check out Tucson Macintosh Users Group.

Do you have questions about what you heard in this episode? Please send us your feedback. You can email us: podcast at geekiestshowever dot com. Follow us on Twitter for additional tips and conversation: https://twitter.com/GeekiestShow. We’d like to hear from you, so let us know which tech topics interest you most. Elisa can be found at https://twitter.com/elisapacelli1 and Melissa can be found at https://TheMacMommy.com/

Episode Artwork Credit: Melissa Davis

Check the Apple Security Updates page to see if your Apple gear is up to date.

Audio Link

GSE368 Happy New Gear

On episode 368 of Geekiest Show Ever, Melissa is back to unpack the new tech she’s gotten for her new home. Elisa has some handy tips so listen in to find out more.

Check out our full show notes here: https://www.geekiestshowever.com/gse368-happy-new-gear/

Do you have questions about what you heard in this episode? Please send us your feedback. You can email us: podcast at geekiestshowever dot com. Follow us on Twitter for additional tips and conversation: https://twitter.com/GeekiestShow. We’d like to hear from you, so let us know which tech topics interest you most. Elisa can be found at https://twitter.com/elisapacelli1 and Melissa can be found at https://TheMacMommy.com/

Photo Credit: Jackie Zhao on Unsplash

Check the Apple Security Updates page to see if your Apple gear is up to date.

Audio Link