DJM1740

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DJM1740
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  • How to add HomeKit light switches without rewiring your house

    DJM1740DJM1740
    citpeks said:
    My home lacks neutral wires in its switch boxes, which has been the main thing holding me back from getting into smart integration.

    The Lutron system does get mostly positive reviews, and the others I either haven't heard of, or may not put much faith in.  Leviton is a recognized brand, but its solution doesn't seem to get great reviews.

    It would have been nice to read about the experiences the author does have with their Lutron devices, other than calling it "an excellent solution."

    Otherwise, a mere list of brands that have products that don't require neutral wires makes for a pretty thin article.

    With regard to the Lutron in particular, does it still function locally if the internet connection is lost?  Or what if Lutron happens to do like some brands have done, and simply shuts down their servers?  Will those switches continue to function as "dumb" devices, or do they become bricks, and live up to the nickname of "Internet of [Feces]?"
    I have put the Lutron switches in three houses of older vintage with very few problems. The switches that didn't work were Amazon previously-used returns.  Being able to add remotes allowed me to add switches where none existed before. The dimmer switches don't require a neutral; apparently they can operate off the leakage current that trickles through the dimmable load.  The on/off light switches do need the neutral wire. 

    The biggest problem I have had was the physical fit of the switches in older switch boxes. The smart switches are bigger than the simple toggles and sometimes the fit with smaller switch boxes and older wiring is a little tight. 

    They work just fine without an Internet connection; when my wife and I sold the previous two houses I reset all the switches and the bridge, and paired the remote switches back with their counterparts. They all worked just fine as standalone switches. 

    You do need to pay attention somewhat to the list of compatible dimmable LED bulbs; some unlisted bulbs work better than others but that seems to be less of a problem as LED bulbs improve. 
    citpeks

  • Friend is the creepy and dystopian iPhone accessory that might just work

    DJM1740DJM1740
    Oh no, this is creepy alright. 

    It's creepy (to me) in that people are seeking affirmation from an electronic device instead of real human contact. "Social media" was the start; it claims to help "bring us together" but does the exact opposite; people communicate by that little digital talisman in their pocket even when they are in the SAME HOUSE.

     Now we have AI. Why talk to a real human who might tell you something you don't want to hear when you can get your affirmation fix from that AI chatbot?

     Remember that scene in the movie "I, Robot" when Spooner shows up at Dr Calvin's house and she's sitting on the couch watching TV with a robot?  That's what the device is shown leading towards. And that's awful. 

    /oldmanmode=off 
    Anilu_777dewmewatto_cobra

  • Friend is the creepy and dystopian iPhone accessory that might just work

    DJM1740DJM1740
    broylesj67 said:
    I'm sorry.  Maybe it's not creepy, but what it shows is how pathetic we have become if we require tech to be our "friend".

    And it is a little weird, My digital "pal" berating me, telling me my food looks good.

    Who is the target market for this?
    I don't know, but if my kids ever get the idea of trying one of these out, we are going to have a long talk. 

    Technology and the Internet can (and does) bring people together in positive ways. My son gets to play his favorite games with his friends even though we moved and he doesn't see them as often as he used to. Video calling used to be a piece of science fiction; now there are dozens of ways to video chat with faraway friends and family. That's all great and I'm glad we can do that. 

    But while technology can facilitate human interaction, we can't let technology SUBSTITUTE for human interaction. That gives me arctic chills. When I walk into a room and everybody is staring at their phones it saddens me greatly.

    (Yes I get the irony of my statement, as I sit here post-lunch typing this out on my phone.  I've been making more effort lately to lessen screen time and increase interaction time. I dunno maybe I'm just rambling now, so I'll stop here.)
    muthuk_vanalingamwatto_cobra

  • iPhone X delivery times fall to within one week in US

    DJM1740DJM1740
    I ordered one Thanksgiving morning and the expected ship date was December 3-8.  Quickly it turned into November 28 with expected delivery December 5.  Now it’s on its final leg, delivery scheduled for tomorrow (Dec. 1). 

    I’ll end up receiving it a week before the original delivery date. 

    And yet yet it seems like the local Apple stores can’t get them in stock.
    xzu