Apple Music

 

 

I used Google Play for music for a couple of years, and I have to say I didn’t really care for it.  It did the job – I could pick a song and play it, but often the ‘song generated’ playlists (pick a song and start a radio from it) – for lack of a better word – sucked.  If I picked a song with a female lead, I got almost all female singers.  Pick a Canadian song, and I would get all Canadian songs (really, Stompin’ Tom mixed in with the Headstones?  Really??).  That kind of thing.  If I want a radio based on a rock song, I want rock radio, if I radio Blue Rodeo, I want that Country Rock vibe, not Anne Murray just because she’s Canadian.  Come on!  

As luck would have it, my credit card company issued me a new credit card, and I forgot to change the billing on my Google Play account.  It expired, which initially gave me the brief “Oh NO!” feeling.  But then I thought, “Aha!  Now I can try out this Apple Music I’ve been hearing about!”

Just to clarify – I am a Google guy.  NOT an Apple guy.  I have a Note 5, I use Gmail, and I generally scoff at people when they say “Macs never have issues”, or “Macs are way more user-friendly”, or “Macs make my beard nicer”.  Yeah, whatever buddy.  So I didn’t come pre-packaged with the Mac/Apple bias.

At first, when I installed the app, I was presented with a bubble screen for me to pick what I like – cute, Apple, real cute.  Weird, ’cause you never really see bubbles in the interface again.  But whatever, someone’s kitty cat-loving single sister picked the feel of that screen or something.  Liveable, but weird.  What did surprise me however, was the “FOR YOU” section – right away I had “A-List Rock” waiting for me.  Gave it a listen…Awesome.  Then it hit me with Judas Priest Deep Cuts – AWESOME!! (I’m a bit of a metal-head at times).  And everyday since, the “FOR YOU” section has been a little bit of awesomeness.  I’m sometimes on the road for hours with my job, and listening to something fresh to me is so cool.  Not only playlists, but albums I might be interested in.  Again…awesome!  

My family & I have a small cabin off-grid, so before we packed up, I downloaded a few playlists to my Note 5 and dumped on some acoustic curated playlists, because I really enjoy acoustic versions of tunes when hanging out, or hanging over.  My wife & I played some cards in the evening at the cabin, and the lists were spectacular!  I downloaded the “A-List Pop” for my daughter as well, and on the trip to and from the cabin that was a huge hit! – not just the same old same old we hear on the radio, but some fresh tracks (many that we did hear over and over because she fell in love with them, but not Apple’s fault).

So, all in all, I’m very impressed.  Will I go back to Google Play?  Nope.  Apple Music really is that good – and the family pack for $15.99 is very impressive.  

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Review:

ipets Petrainer PET916-1 E-Collar

Product Description:  

Petrainer PET916-1 has a professional look and is rechargeable, waterproof while delivering professional performance for a starting amateur trainer.  It’s the perfect introductory system for someone new to e-collars who desire to perfect obedience around the house, yard or walks in the park.  Our range of 330 yards will easily cover any household misbehavior and backyard problems.  It features 4 modes:  static shock, vibration, beep and light.  Don’t forget the remote transmitter is also waterproof to ensure it can handle any type of wet conditions.  Lastly, you can always add another collar to the remote transmitter as it can control up to two dogs.

E-Collar Features:

• Collar Size:  Able to fit small, medium, and large dogs.  15 lbs or larger.  TPU Collar Size from 7 to 26 inches long.
• Includes one collar, remote transmitter can control up to 2 collars.  (Extra collars sold separately).
• Battery Type:  Rechargeable lithium batteries for collar receiver and remote transmitter.
• Water Capabilities:  Waterproof remote transmitter and collar receiver.
• Range:  UP to 330 yards.
• Tone/Vibration Options:  100 levels of vibration and 1 level of standard tone.
• Stimulation Levels:  100 levels of static shock.
• Easy to read display with blue back light.
• Quick and straightforward pairing process.
• Conserves power when not in use to extend battery life.
• Remote transmitter and receiver can be charged at the same time.

Package Contents:

• 1 x Remote Transmitter
• 1 x Collar Receiver
• 1 x Adjustable TPU Strap
• 2 x USB Charging Cable
• 1 x Charger
• 1 x Test Bulb
• 3 Sets of Contact Points

What We Think:

We ordered the collar for our then 4 month old Shepard/Lap/Rotti cross.  Our dog is big, and growing much, much bigger.  He is fairly smart, but also has the ‘lab’ excitability/enthusiasm.  The dog had recently started to learn some bad habits, like jumping to ‘nip’ at our 4-year-old’s hands, and not coming when he was called.  We ordered the collar on the internet for approximately $60, as it was at least $100 cheaper than anywhere closer.  It took about a week to get here, granted though, that it was ordered during the Christmas holidays.  

We didn’t want to put our dog through anything that would hurt him, we wanted to use the least amount of deterrent required, we were planning on using the vibration only setting.  We wouldn’t use anything on our dog we were scared to use on ourselves.  So, before trying the collar on the dog, we tried it on our own thighs.  (***Do not try this at home!***)  You have to ensure both ‘prongs’ on the collar unit are sitting firmly on your skin and pressing down slightly on the unit, so the prongs are depressed.  Using the vibration only setting of 10, it felt like a minor vibration of the unit on the collar.  Once we raised the setting to 20, there was a definite vibration, not enough to hurt, but definitely enough to make you stop what you were doing.  

The collar was easy to apply to the dog.  The collar strap was long enough to accommodate any size of dog, but there was no way to secure the excess collar to the collar.  We tried looping it around so it went back through the loop.  However, it didn’t stay looped, so it ended up being loose most of the time, and our dog ended up chewing the excess off.  Problem solved?  The dog got used to the excess bulk of the collar/unit fairly quickly.

At first we used the vibration only setting of 10 whenever he exhibited the behavior we wanted to correct.  The first couple of days, the effect was instantaneous.  He would stop the behavior immediately and come to us.  We made sure not to ‘over-use’ the collar, however, the dog seemed to become de-sensitized to the lowest setting.  So we raised it to 15, then 20 (still vibration only).  At the setting of 20, the collar seemed to be effective again, and has remained effective ever since.  We have had the collar several weeks now, and have not had to increase the vibration setting, nor add any other setting.

Pros:

You choose the behavior deterrent you want/need:  Tone only, Vibration only, Tone and Vibration, Shock.  There are 100 levels of vibration, and 100 levels of shock (“static”).  The remote has a range of up to 300 meters, and both the collar and the remote transmitter are waterproof.  This is great, because we were planning on taking him to the lake with us this summer, and in the boat.  The transmitter is expandable to control 2 collars, which is great if you get another dog.

Cons:

The transmitter is bulky, and although it has a hook to attach it to your belt/pocket, it falls off easily.  So we tend to put it down wherever we are, and forget it.  Also, when one person is upstairs, and one downstairs, the dog follows whoever he wants at the time.  So we find ourselves either forgetting the transmitter there too, or passing it up/down the stairs.  However, this could be a product of the dog behaving for the most part.  

Overview:

The collar/transmitter combo are great and easy-to-use for the beginning trainer.  My only suggestion:  Use the lowest level deterrent you need.  If you need to use the highest level of shock, you may need something more than just the collar/transmitter…try obedience training first, and maybe this just isn’t the dog for you.  

 

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iSmartAlarm

Home Security System

 

Their claims:

Peace of mind made easy

• DIY Home Security and Home Automation
• Monitor and Manage your home from your phone
• Quick and Simple Setup
• No Contracts
• No Monthly Fees

 

There are other packages available (listed at the end), but not at the retail store that we went to.  We chose the larger of the 2 packages that were there.  We also purchased a package of 2 extra contact sensors.  

Preferred Package

Recommended for an apartment, dorm, studio, or smaller house.

 Includes:

CubeOne (1)

Control Unit, the ‘brain’

• Plug-and-Play:  Just connect to wall outlet and internet router
• Supports iCamera video cameras (1st Generation and iCamera KEEP), and all iSmartAlarm devices.  Almost infinitely expandable.
• Built-in 110-decibel siren – louder than a car horn.
• Dimensions:  100mm x 100mm x 105mm
• Weight:  370 grams
• Distance:  <100m (Outdoor, open space).
• Connection and Expansion:  USB port 2.0; 10/100 BASE-T Ethernet (RJ-45 Connector)
• Operating Temperatures:  -10°C to 55°C (14°F to 122°F)
• Classification:  External power

Motion Sensor (1)

• Identify trouble anywhere within 30 feet.
• Be notified instantly of intruders.
• Wireless and repositionable.
• Battery-powered.
• For use in the kitchen, living room, spare room, garage, home office, or hallway.
• Dimensions:  100mm x 69mm x 50mm
• Weight:  80.1 grams
• Distance <100m (Outdoor, open space)
• Operating Temperature:  -10°C to 50°C (14°F to 122°F)
• Classification:  Internally-powered

Remote Tag (2)

• Give a Remote to anyone in the family as a dedicated identification key, so even if they are too young for a phone, or they don’t have a smartphone, they can still control the system and be monitored.
• Control your system from anywhere in the home.
• Track your children and pets.
• Arm and Disarm your alarm using the Remote Tag.
• Use the Remote Tag to set off the alarm in case of intruder or when you need help, even if the iSmartAlarm is not Armed, such as in case of a fall or medical emergency.
• Dimensions:  60mm x 30mm x 10mm
• Weight:  12.8 grams
• Distance:  <100m (outdoor)
• Operating Temperature:  -10°C to 50°C (14°F to 122°F)

Contact Sensor (2)

 

• Easily placed at any door or window opening using two-sided adhesive tape (included).
• Removeable and maveable – Can be used on a door today, a window tomorrow.
• Wireless
• Battery-powered
• For use with:  doors, sliding doors, cleaning supply cupboard, refrigerator, windows, drawers, liquor cabinet, pool gate.

Window Sticker (2)

 

Deter burglars and break-ins with the small, but visible, window stickers.

 

 

We also purchased an extra package of 2 contact sensors.

 

 

Review:

The ‘Preferred Package is available from Best Buy for $199.99US online (or from BestBuy.ca for $229.99CDN), or from Amazon for $199.99US (at time of publish, it was on sale for $165.99US).  You can also get it from the iSmartAlarm website for $229US, but at time of publish their website was down.  Our house is 1700 sq feet, with a basement, and a lot of windows. We purchased the larger of the 2 iSmartAlarm packages available at our local big box store.  We also purchased a package of 2 extra contact sensors.

We knew if we searched further locally, we might have found the bigger package (Premium Package), but it was doubtful.  We knew we could get it online, but we wanted the instant gratification, plus we didn’t want to lay out a bunch of cash if the system didn’t work.

After installation, and ‘playing’ with the system, we wish we would have bought the bigger package, but we can always get the additional accessories separately.  Although we’ll likely have to buy online, as our local box store didn’t carry much at all (just the ‘Preferred Package’, ‘CubeOne’ separately, packages of 2 contact sensors, and 1 box of extra remote tags).  So, unless you live in a larger centre, where the box store has everything & anything in stock, you’ll likely have to special order or buy online.

Actual Installation:

The actual installation was extremely easy.  The CubeOne truly was ‘plug-and-play’.  We plugged it into our router upstairs, and it went through ‘the motions’, and was ready to go.  The installation app was easy to find on GooglePlay with a quick search.  The installation app prompted us to update the outdated firmware, which took all of 60 seconds to download & update.  The 7 devices (4 contact sensors, 2 remote tags, and 1 motion sensor) linked to CubeOne instantaneously, and we could see them on the smartphone screen.

The only trouble we had was when we went to link up another smartphone to the group.  We didn’t know if we should ‘join’ or ‘create new user’.  Thinking that the 2nd smartphone was a ‘new user’, we went with that.  FAIL.  If you’re joining up a 2nd (or 3rd, or 4th) smartphone to the group, make sure you ‘join’.  Also – when it asks for ‘username’ DO NOT put in the username of the 1st smartphone, or else you will disconnect that smartphone (and yours will have identity crisis).  Make sure you make up your own ‘username’.  After this, though, we had no problems signing up a 3rd smartphone user.  One thing we are still having problems figuring out, is how to make a 2nd smartphone an ‘administrator’ as well as the 1st smartphone.  We still haven’t figured that out.

We weren’t sure how the contact sensor was going to work on our back door, as the door opens to the outside, thus we had to put the sensors at a 45° angle.  Works perfectly.  No issues whatsoever.

We were also unsure of our opening windows.  The screen is on the inside, and the window opens from the left to the outside.  We mounted the sensors on the opening side of the window (you’ll either have to take the screen out, or mount them from outside), and at a 45° angle on the window frame (between the screen and the opening window).  It works amazing.  In fact, I quite often forget about the sensor and open the window before I disarm the alarm.  Which brings me to another point…

You can set the delay on the alarm (the time between a sensor is triggered, and the time that the alarm starts going full-tilt).  We set ours at 1 minute.  Yes, it means I have to rush around to turn it off from my phone (which is never in my pocket, where it should be).  However, it is enough time, if you rush.  I don’t want to give anyone that breaks in more time than that, before the alarm goes, because an awful lot can happen, even in just 1 minute.  It does give you a beeping ‘count-down’ to warn you that you forgot to disarm the alarm, or to warn intruders that there is an alarm in the house.  I would also make sure that ‘CubeOne’ is out-of-sight, and can’t be easily seen within that 1 minute.  The count-down beep is clearly coming from CubeOne and really, all they have to do is unplug it.  You would get a notification on your phone if it was unplugged.  

You can set your phone to receive ‘notifications’ whenever a sensor is triggered, even when the system isn’t armed.  However, unless you really need to know when a door or window is opened (and closed again), I wouldn’t use this.  I ended up getting over 400 notifications in the 1st day & it got a little annoying.  What is nice, that if you want to keep track of when they get home (and either they have one of the remote tags, or the app on their phone), you can still see when they get home, and you can always check if a door or window is open or closed.  

Pros:

• Really easy to install.  Truly is ‘plug-and-play’.
• We had a window that opens to the outside, with the screen on the inside.  We weren’t sure how this would work, putting the two halves at 45 degrees, but it worked really well.  We just put the smaller part of the sensor on the side of the window, and the larger sensor on the side of the opening part of the window.  (See picture)
• Very small footprint.  All parts included are very inconspicuous, and don’t take up a lot of room.  Probably the most conspicuous part is the motion sensor, which has to be placed 6 1/2 feet off the floor, on a wall with the greatest visibility of the area to be monitored.
• Esthetically pleasing.  Matches today’s decor

Cons:

• Would like to be able to ‘safety monitor’ specific contact sensors, without having to receive notifications on every single device.  This would be handy if you have a teenager in the house that likes to sneak out through their window.
• During setup, to add additional users/smartphones to be linked.  It asks you to ‘log in’ or ‘create new user’.  The instructions are not very clear on which you should pick.  I picked ‘log in’ the first time, and ended up having to uninstall the App and reinstall it before doing it correctly.  To add additional smartphone/user, click ‘create new user’.  Pick a nickname that you want for your phone, and your own password.  Then click ‘join’.  Other than the brief wrong turn, adding an additional smartphone/user was really easy.

In all, I was very impressed.  For a D-I-Y alarm system I found it priced very reasonably, and extremely easy to install.  I give the iSmartAlarm 4 Geeks.  

 

 

 

Other iSmartAlarm Packages Available:

Premium Package:  Recommended for a medium sized house.

Includes: 1 CubeOne, 1 iCamera, 2 Door/Window Sensors, 1 Motion Sensor, 2 Remote Tags, 2 iSmartAlarm Stickers.

 

 

 

Other iSmartAlarm Accessories Available:

iCamera

• Use your phone to control the pan and tilt, and view streaming video.
• Automatically take and receive pictures if anything is amiss.
• Manually take pictures at any time, from anywhere with your phone and save them to the cloud to access later.
• Wireless communication with the CubeOne and with you.
• Ceiling and tabletop mount.
• Resolution:  640 x 480
• Field of View:  90°
• Pan and Tilt Angle:  Vertical 110°, Horizontal 350°
• Night Vision Distance:  at 0.5 lux, viewing angle not less than 30°, able to view detail at 10 m.
• Maximum Working Distance:  100 m (300 feet) in open space.
• Operating Temperature:  0°C to 55°C (14°F to 131°F)

iCamera KEEP

HD resolution, motion and audio detection, and on-demand streaming video control with free video storage

• HD resolution, motion and audio detection, and on-demand streaming video control – the iCamera KEEP provides comprehensive home visibility with free video capture and storage.
• Streaming on-demand video control from your smartphone
• 1280 x 720 HD Resolution
• 350° x 40° pan and tilt
• Night vision
• For use with iSmartAlarm system or as a stand-alone Wi-Fi camera

Yard Sign

Deter burglars and break-ins with the weather-proof and long-lasting iSmartAlarm yard sign and window stickers

 

 

iSmartAlarm has new devices coming soon: