#amazon home automation services

[europalocks-blog]

Convenience

Keyless Entry: smart lock eliminates the need for physical keys. You can unlock door with a smartphone app, a key fob, or even through biometric methods like fingerprints.

Remote Access: many smart locks allow you to unlock your door remotely, which is useful if you need to grant access to someone while you’re away.

Enhanced Security

Access Logs: Smart locks can provide detailed logs of who entered and when, adding an extra layer of monitoring and control.

Temporary access codes: you can create temporary or one-time access codes for guest’s service providers or other, ensuring that only authorized individuals can enter.

Integration with smart home systems

Automation: smart locks can integrate with home automation systems, allowing for seamless control along with other smart devices

Voice control: many smart locks are compatible with voice assistant like amazon alexa, google assistant enabling hands-free operation.

Improved Accessibility

For Those with Mobility issues: smart locks can be easier to operate for people with disabilities or mobility issues, as they often offer touchless or simplified access method.

No more Lockouts: with keyless entry the chances of locking out are significantly reduced, which is especially helpful in busy or stressful situations.

Durability and reliability:

Weather Resistant: many smart locks are designed or withstands various weather condition, making them suitable for external doors,

Battery Backup: most smart locks are battery operated with a backup power source, ensuring they remain functional even during power outages.

Ease of Management

Centralized control: if you have multiple smart devices, managing them through a single app can streamlined operations and make home management more efficient.

Auto Lock Feature: Some smart locks come with auto-lock functions that ensure the door locks automatically after a set period, enhancing security.

Customizable Access Options

Personalization: Users can set different levels of access for family members, friends or service providers and easily modify or revoke permission as needed.

Is it worth the investment?

Initial Cost: smart locks typically have a higher upfront cost compared to traditional locks; however, this cost may be offset by the convenience and security features they provide.

Ongoing costs: some smart locks may require subscription fees for advanced features or cloud services, so it’s important to factor in these potential ongoing expenses.

Technology Dependence: Relying on technology means you’ll need to stay updated on software updates and ensure your devices are compatible with your smart lock.

Overall if you value convenience enhanced security and integration with smart home systems a smart lock can be a worthwhile investment. It’s important to assess your specific needs and budget to determine if the benefits align with your lifestyle and preferences.

To know more about the electronics locks: https://www.europalocks.com/electronic-locks

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[donjuaninhell]

How I ditched streaming services and learned to love Linux: A step-by-step guide to building your very own personal media streaming server (V2.0: REVISED AND EXPANDED EDITION)

This is a revised, corrected and expanded version of my tutorial on setting up a personal media server that previously appeared on my old blog (donjuan-auxenfers). I expect that that post is still making the rounds (hopefully with my addendum on modifying group share permissions in Ubuntu to circumvent 0x8007003B "Unexpected Network Error" messages in Windows 10/11 when transferring files) but I have no way of checking. Anyway this new revised version of the tutorial corrects one or two small errors I discovered when rereading what I wrote, adds links to all products mentioned and is just more polished generally. I also expanded it a bit, pointing more adventurous users toward programs such as Sonarr/Radarr/Lidarr and Overseerr which can be used for automating user requests and media collection.

So then, what is this tutorial? This is a tutorial on how to build and set up your own personal media server using Ubuntu as an operating system and Plex (or Jellyfin) to not only manage your media, but to also stream that media to your devices both at home and abroad anywhere in the world where you have an internet connection. Its intent is to show you how building a personal media server and stuffing it full of films, TV, and music that you acquired through indiscriminate and voracious media piracy various legal methods will free you to completely ditch paid streaming services. No more will you have to pay for Disney+, Netflix, HBOMAX, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Peacock, CBS All Access, Paramount+, Crave or any other streaming service that is not named Criterion Channel. Instead whenever you want to watch your favourite films and television shows, you’ll have your own personal service that only features things that you want to see, with files that you have control over. And for music fans out there, both Jellyfin and Plex support music streaming, meaning you can even ditch music streaming services. Goodbye Spotify, Youtube Music, Tidal and Apple Music, welcome back unreasonably large MP3 (or FLAC) collections.

On the hardware front, I’m going to offer a few options catered towards different budgets and media library sizes. The cost of getting a media server up and running using this guide will cost you anywhere from $450 CAD/$325 USD at the low end to $1500 CAD/$1100 USD at the high end (it could go higher). My server was priced closer to the higher figure, but I went and got a lot more storage than most people need. If that seems like a little much, consider for a moment, do you have a roommate, a close friend, or a family member who would be willing to chip in a few bucks towards your little project provided they get access? Well that's how I funded my server. It might also be worth thinking about the cost over time, i.e. how much you spend yearly on subscriptions vs. a one time cost of setting up a server. Additionally there's just the joy of being able to scream "fuck you" at all those show cancelling, library deleting, hedge fund vampire CEOs who run the studios through denying them your money. Drive a stake through David Zaslav's heart.

On the software side I will walk you step-by-step through installing Ubuntu as your server's operating system, configuring your storage as a RAIDz array with ZFS, sharing your zpool to Windows with Samba, running a remote connection between your server and your Windows PC, and then a little about started with Plex/Jellyfin. Every terminal command you will need to input will be provided, and I even share a custom #bash script that will make used vs. available drive space on your server display correctly in Windows.

If you have a different preferred flavour of Linux (Arch, Manjaro, Redhat, Fedora, Mint, OpenSUSE, CentOS, Slackware etc. et. al.) and are aching to tell me off for being basic and using Ubuntu, this tutorial is not for you. The sort of person with a preferred Linux distro is the sort of person who can do this sort of thing in their sleep. Also I don't care. This tutorial is intended for the average home computer user. This is also why we’re not using a more exotic home server solution like running everything through Docker Containers and managing it through a dashboard like Homarr or Heimdall. While such solutions are fantastic and can be very easy to maintain once you have it all set up, wrapping your brain around Docker is a whole thing in and of itself. If you do follow this tutorial and had fun putting everything together, then I would encourage you to return in a year’s time, do your research and set up everything with Docker Containers.

Lastly, this is a tutorial aimed at Windows users. Although I was a daily user of OS X for many years (roughly 2008-2023) and I've dabbled quite a bit with various Linux distributions (mostly Ubuntu and Manjaro), my primary OS these days is Windows 11. Many things in this tutorial will still be applicable to Mac users, but others (e.g. setting up shares) you will have to look up for yourself. I doubt it would be difficult to do so.

Nothing in this tutorial will require feats of computing expertise. All you will need is a basic computer literacy (i.e. an understanding of what a filesystem and directory are, and a degree of comfort in the settings menu) and a willingness to learn a thing or two. While this guide may look overwhelming at first glance, it is only because I want to be as thorough as possible. I want you to understand exactly what it is you're doing, I don't want you to just blindly follow steps. If you half-way know what you’re doing, you will be much better prepared if you ever need to troubleshoot.

Honestly, once you have all the hardware ready it shouldn't take more than an afternoon or two to get everything up and running.

(This tutorial is just shy of seven thousand words long so the rest is under the cut.)

Step One: Choosing Your Hardware

Linux is a light weight operating system, depending on the distribution there's close to no bloat. There are recent distributions available at this very moment that will run perfectly fine on a fourteen year old i3 with 4GB of RAM. Moreover, running Plex or Jellyfin isn’t resource intensive in 90% of use cases. All this is to say, we don’t require an expensive or powerful computer. This means that there are several options available: 1) use an old computer you already have sitting around but aren't using 2) buy a used workstation from eBay, or what I believe to be the best option, 3) order an N100 Mini-PC from AliExpress or Amazon.

Note: If you already have an old PC sitting around that you’ve decided to use, fantastic, move on to the next step.

When weighing your options, keep a few things in mind: the number of people you expect to be streaming simultaneously at any one time, the resolution and bitrate of your media library (4k video takes a lot more processing power than 1080p) and most importantly, how many of those clients are going to be transcoding at any one time. Transcoding is what happens when the playback device does not natively support direct playback of the source file. This can happen for a number of reasons, such as the playback device's native resolution being lower than the file's internal resolution, or because the source file was encoded in a video codec unsupported by the playback device.

Ideally we want any transcoding to be performed by hardware. This means we should be looking for a computer with an Intel processor with Quick Sync. Quick Sync is a dedicated core on the CPU die designed specifically for video encoding and decoding. This specialized hardware makes for highly efficient transcoding both in terms of processing overhead and power draw. Without these Quick Sync cores, transcoding must be brute forced through software. This takes up much more of a CPU’s processing power and requires much more energy. But not all Quick Sync cores are created equal and you need to keep this in mind if you've decided either to use an old computer or to shop for a used workstation on eBay

Any Intel processor from second generation Core (Sandy Bridge circa 2011) onward has Quick Sync cores. It's not until 6th gen (Skylake), however, that the cores support the H.265 HEVC codec. Intel’s 10th gen (Comet Lake) processors introduce support for 10bit HEVC and HDR tone mapping. And the recent 12th gen (Alder Lake) processors brought with them hardware AV1 decoding. As an example, while an 8th gen (Kaby Lake) i5-8500 will be able to hardware transcode a H.265 encoded file, it will fall back to software transcoding if given a 10bit H.265 file. If you’ve decided to use that old PC or to look on eBay for an old Dell Optiplex keep this in mind.

Note 1: The price of old workstations varies wildly and fluctuates frequently. If you get lucky and go shopping shortly after a workplace has liquidated a large number of their workstations you can find deals for as low as $100 on a barebones system, but generally an i5-8500 workstation with 16gb RAM will cost you somewhere in the area of $260 CAD/$200 USD.

Note 2: The AMD equivalent to Quick Sync is called Video Core Next, and while it's fine, it's not as efficient and not as mature a technology. It was only introduced with the first generation Ryzen CPUs and it only got decent with their newest CPUs, we want something cheap.

Alternatively you could forgo having to keep track of what generation of CPU is equipped with Quick Sync cores that feature support for which codecs, and just buy an N100 mini-PC. For around the same price or less of a used workstation you can pick up a mini-PC with an Intel N100 processor. The N100 is a four-core processor based on the 12th gen Alder Lake architecture and comes equipped with the latest revision of the Quick Sync cores. These little processors offer astounding hardware transcoding capabilities for their size and power draw. Otherwise they perform equivalent to an i5-6500, which isn't a terrible CPU. A friend of mine uses an N100 machine as a dedicated retro emulation gaming system and it does everything up to 6th generation consoles just fine. The N100 is also a remarkably efficient chip, it sips power. In fact, the difference between running one of these and an old workstation could work out to hundreds of dollars a year in energy bills depending on where you live.

You can find these Mini-PCs all over Amazon or for a little cheaper on AliExpress. They range in price from $170 CAD/$125 USD for a no name N100 with 8GB RAM to $280 CAD/$200 USD for a Beelink S12 Pro with 16GB RAM. The brand doesn't really matter, they're all coming from the same three factories in Shenzen, go for whichever one fits your budget or has features you want. 8GB RAM should be enough, Linux is lightweight and Plex only calls for 2GB RAM. 16GB RAM might result in a slightly snappier experience, especially with ZFS. A 256GB SSD is more than enough for what we need as a boot drive, but going for a bigger drive might allow you to get away with things like creating preview thumbnails for Plex, but it’s up to you and your budget.

The Mini-PC I wound up buying was a Firebat AK2 Plus with 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD. It looks like this:

Note: Be forewarned that if you decide to order a Mini-PC from AliExpress, note the type of power adapter it ships with. The mini-PC I bought came with an EU power adapter and I had to supply my own North American power supply. Thankfully this is a minor issue as barrel plug 30W/12V/2.5A power adapters are easy to find and can be had for $10.

Step Two: Choosing Your Storage

Storage is the most important part of our build. It is also the most expensive. Thankfully it’s also the most easily upgrade-able down the line.

For people with a smaller media collection (4TB to 8TB), a more limited budget, or who will only ever have two simultaneous streams running, I would say that the most economical course of action would be to buy a USB 3.0 8TB external HDD. Something like this one from Western Digital or this one from Seagate. One of these external drives will cost you in the area of $200 CAD/$140 USD. Down the line you could add a second external drive or replace it with a multi-drive RAIDz set up such as detailed below.

If a single external drive the path for you, move on to step three.

For people with larger media libraries (12TB+), who prefer media in 4k, or care who about data redundancy, the answer is a RAID array featuring multiple HDDs in an enclosure.

Note: If you are using an old PC or used workstatiom as your server and have the room for at least three 3.5" drives, and as many open SATA ports on your mother board you won't need an enclosure, just install the drives into the case. If your old computer is a laptop or doesn’t have room for more internal drives, then I would suggest an enclosure.

The minimum number of drives needed to run a RAIDz array is three, and seeing as RAIDz is what we will be using, you should be looking for an enclosure with three to five bays. I think that four disks makes for a good compromise for a home server. Regardless of whether you go for a three, four, or five bay enclosure, do be aware that in a RAIDz array the space equivalent of one of the drives will be dedicated to parity at a ratio expressed by the equation 1 − 1/n i.e. in a four bay enclosure equipped with four 12TB drives, if we configured our drives in a RAIDz1 array we would be left with a total of 36TB of usable space (48TB raw size). The reason for why we might sacrifice storage space in such a manner will be explained in the next section.

A four bay enclosure will cost somewhere in the area of $200 CDN/$140 USD. You don't need anything fancy, we don't need anything with hardware RAID controls (RAIDz is done entirely in software) or even USB-C. An enclosure with USB 3.0 will perform perfectly fine. Don’t worry too much about USB speed bottlenecks. A mechanical HDD will be limited by the speed of its mechanism long before before it will be limited by the speed of a USB connection. I've seen decent looking enclosures from TerraMaster, Yottamaster, Mediasonic and Sabrent.

When it comes to selecting the drives, as of this writing, the best value (dollar per gigabyte) are those in the range of 12TB to 20TB. I settled on 12TB drives myself. If 12TB to 20TB drives are out of your budget, go with what you can afford, or look into refurbished drives. I'm not sold on the idea of refurbished drives but many people swear by them.

When shopping for harddrives, search for drives designed specifically for NAS use. Drives designed for NAS use typically have better vibration dampening and are designed to be active 24/7. They will also often make use of CMR (conventional magnetic recording) as opposed to SMR (shingled magnetic recording). This nets them a sizable read/write performance bump over typical desktop drives. Seagate Ironwolf and Toshiba NAS are both well regarded brands when it comes to NAS drives. I would avoid Western Digital Red drives at this time. WD Reds were a go to recommendation up until earlier this year when it was revealed that they feature firmware that will throw up false SMART warnings telling you to replace the drive at the three year mark quite often when there is nothing at all wrong with that drive. It will likely even be good for another six, seven, or more years.

Step Three: Installing Linux

For this step you will need a USB thumbdrive of at least 6GB in capacity, an .ISO of Ubuntu, and a way to make that thumbdrive bootable media.

First download a copy of Ubuntu desktop (for best performance we could download the Server release, but for new Linux users I would recommend against the server release. The server release is strictly command line interface only, and having a GUI is very helpful for most people. Not many people are wholly comfortable doing everything through the command line, I'm certainly not one of them, and I grew up with DOS 6.0. 22.04.3 Jammy Jellyfish is the current Long Term Service release, this is the one to get.

Download the .ISO and then download and install balenaEtcher on your Windows PC. BalenaEtcher is an easy to use program for creating bootable media, you simply insert your thumbdrive, select the .ISO you just downloaded, and it will create a bootable installation media for you.

Once you've made a bootable media and you've got your Mini-PC (or you old PC/used workstation) in front of you, hook it directly into your router with an ethernet cable, and then plug in the HDD enclosure, a monitor, a mouse and a keyboard. Now turn that sucker on and hit whatever key gets you into the BIOS (typically ESC, DEL or F2). If you’re using a Mini-PC check to make sure that the P1 and P2 power limits are set correctly, my N100's P1 limit was set at 10W, a full 20W under the chip's power limit. Also make sure that the RAM is running at the advertised speed. My Mini-PC’s RAM was set at 2333Mhz out of the box when it should have been 3200Mhz. Once you’ve done that, key over to the boot order and place the USB drive first in the boot order. Then save the BIOS settings and restart.

After you restart you’ll be greeted by Ubuntu's installation screen. Installing Ubuntu is really straight forward, select the "minimal" installation option, as we won't need anything on this computer except for a browser (Ubuntu comes preinstalled with Firefox) and Plex Media Server/Jellyfin Media Server. Also remember to delete and reformat that Windows partition! We don't need it.

Step Four: Installing ZFS and Setting Up the RAIDz Array

Note: If you opted for just a single external HDD skip this step and move onto setting up a Samba share.

Once Ubuntu is installed it's time to configure our storage by installing ZFS to build our RAIDz array. ZFS is a "next-gen" file system that is both massively flexible and massively complex. It's capable of snapshot backup, self healing error correction, ZFS pools can be configured with drives operating in a supplemental manner alongside the storage vdev (e.g. fast cache, dedicated secondary intent log, hot swap spares etc.). It's also a file system very amenable to fine tuning. Block and sector size are adjustable to use case and you're afforded the option of different methods of inline compression. If you'd like a very detailed overview and explanation of its various features and tips on tuning a ZFS array check out these articles from Ars Technica. For now we're going to ignore all these features and keep it simple, we're going to pull our drives together into a single vdev running in RAIDz which will be the entirety of our zpool, no fancy cache drive or SLOG.

Open up the terminal and type the following commands:

sudo apt update

then

sudo apt install zfsutils-linux

This will install the ZFS utility. Verify that it's installed with the following command:

zfs --version

Now, it's time to check that the HDDs we have in the enclosure are healthy, running, and recognized. We also want to find out their device IDs and take note of them:

sudo fdisk -1

Note: You might be wondering why some of these commands require "sudo" in front of them while others don't. "Sudo" is short for "super user do”. When and where "sudo" is used has to do with the way permissions are set up in Linux. Only the "root" user has the access level to perform certain tasks in Linux. As a matter of security and safety regular user accounts are kept separate from the "root" user. It's not advised (or even possible) to boot into Linux as "root" with most modern distributions. Instead by using "sudo" our regular user account is temporarily given the power to do otherwise forbidden things. Don't worry about it too much at this stage, but if you want to know more check out this introduction.

If everything is working you should get a list of the various drives detected along with their device IDs which will look like this: /dev/sdc. You can also check the device IDs of the drives by opening the disk utility app. Jot these IDs down as we'll need them for our next step, creating our RAIDz array.

RAIDz is similar to RAID-5 in that instead of striping your data over multiple disks, exchanging redundancy for speed and available space (RAID-0), or mirroring your data writing by two copies of every piece (RAID-1), it instead writes parity blocks across the disks in addition to striping, this provides a balance of speed, redundancy and available space. If a single drive fails, the parity blocks on the working drives can be used to reconstruct the entire array as soon as a replacement drive is added.

Additionally, RAIDz improves over some of the common RAID-5 flaws. It's more resilient and capable of self healing, as it is capable of automatically checking for errors against a checksum. It's more forgiving in this way, and it's likely that you'll be able to detect when a drive is dying well before it fails. A RAIDz array can survive the loss of any one drive.

Note: While RAIDz is indeed resilient, if a second drive fails during the rebuild, you're fucked. Always keep backups of things you can't afford to lose. This tutorial, however, is not about proper data safety.

To create the pool, use the following command:

sudo zpool create "zpoolnamehere" raidz "device IDs of drives we're putting in the pool"

For example, let's creatively name our zpool "mypool". This poil will consist of four drives which have the device IDs: sdb, sdc, sdd, and sde. The resulting command will look like this:

sudo zpool create mypool raidz /dev/sdb /dev/sdc /dev/sdd /dev/sde

If as an example you bought five HDDs and decided you wanted more redundancy dedicating two drive to this purpose, we would modify the command to "raidz2" and the command would look something like the following:

sudo zpool create mypool raidz2 /dev/sdb /dev/sdc /dev/sdd /dev/sde /dev/sdf

An array configured like this is known as RAIDz2 and is able to survive two disk failures.

Once the zpool has been created, we can check its status with the command:

zpool status

Or more concisely with:

zpool list

The nice thing about ZFS as a file system is that a pool is ready to go immediately after creation. If we were to set up a traditional RAID-5 array using mbam, we'd have to sit through a potentially hours long process of reformatting and partitioning the drives. Instead we're ready to go right out the gates.

The zpool should be automatically mounted to the filesystem after creation, check on that with the following:

df -hT | grep zfs

Note: If your computer ever loses power suddenly, say in event of a power outage, you may have to re-import your pool. In most cases, ZFS will automatically import and mount your pool, but if it doesn’t and you can't see your array, simply open the terminal and type sudo zpool import -a.

By default a zpool is mounted at /"zpoolname". The pool should be under our ownership but let's make sure with the following command:

sudo chown -R "yourlinuxusername" /"zpoolname"

Note: Changing file and folder ownership with "chown" and file and folder permissions with "chmod" are essential commands for much of the admin work in Linux, but we won't be dealing with them extensively in this guide. If you'd like a deeper tutorial and explanation you can check out these two guides: chown and chmod.

You can access the zpool file system through the GUI by opening the file manager (the Ubuntu default file manager is called Nautilus) and clicking on "Other Locations" on the sidebar, then entering the Ubuntu file system and looking for a folder with your pool's name. Bookmark the folder on the sidebar for easy access.

Your storage pool is now ready to go. Assuming that we already have some files on our Windows PC we want to copy to over, we're going to need to install and configure Samba to make the pool accessible in Windows.

Step Five: Setting Up Samba/Sharing

Samba is what's going to let us share the zpool with Windows and allow us to write to it from our Windows machine. First let's install Samba with the following commands:

sudo apt-get update

then

sudo apt-get install samba

Next create a password for Samba.

sudo smbpswd -a "yourlinuxusername"

It will then prompt you to create a password. Just reuse your Ubuntu user password for simplicity's sake.

Note: if you're using just a single external drive replace the zpool location in the following commands with wherever it is your external drive is mounted, for more information see this guide on mounting an external drive in Ubuntu.

After you've created a password we're going to create a shareable folder in our pool with this command

mkdir /"zpoolname"/"foldername"

Now we're going to open the smb.conf file and make that folder shareable. Enter the following command.

sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf

This will open the .conf file in nano, the terminal text editor program. Now at the end of smb.conf add the following entry:

["foldername"]

path = /"zpoolname"/"foldername"

available = yes

valid users = "yourlinuxusername"

read only = no

writable = yes

browseable = yes

guest ok = no

Ensure that there are no line breaks between the lines and that there's a space on both sides of the equals sign. Our next step is to allow Samba traffic through the firewall:

sudo ufw allow samba

Finally restart the Samba service:

sudo systemctl restart smbd

At this point we'll be able to access to the pool, browse its contents, and read and write to it from Windows. But there's one more thing left to do, Windows doesn't natively support the ZFS file systems and will read the used/available/total space in the pool incorrectly. Windows will read available space as total drive space, and all used space as null. This leads to Windows only displaying a dwindling amount of "available" space as the drives are filled. We can fix this! Functionally this doesn't actually matter, we can still write and read to and from the disk, it just makes it difficult to tell at a glance the proportion of used/available space, so this is an optional step but one I recommend (this step is also unnecessary if you're just using a single external drive). What we're going to do is write a little shell script in #bash. Open nano with the terminal with the command:

nano

Now insert the following code:

#!/bin/bash CUR_PATH=`pwd` ZFS_CHECK_OUTPUT=$(zfs get type $CUR_PATH 2>&1 > /dev/null) > /dev/null if [[ $ZFS_CHECK_OUTPUT == *not\ a\ ZFS* ]] then IS_ZFS=false else IS_ZFS=true fi if [[ $IS_ZFS = false ]] then df $CUR_PATH | tail -1 | awk '{print $2" "$4}' else USED=$((`zfs get -o value -Hp used $CUR_PATH` / 1024)) > /dev/null AVAIL=$((`zfs get -o value -Hp available $CUR_PATH` / 1024)) > /dev/null TOTAL=$(($USED+$AVAIL)) > /dev/null echo $TOTAL $AVAIL fi

Save the script as "dfree.sh" to /home/"yourlinuxusername" then change the ownership of the file to make it executable with this command:

sudo chmod 774 dfree.sh

Now open smb.conf with sudo again:

sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf

Now add this entry to the top of the configuration file to direct Samba to use the results of our script when Windows asks for a reading on the pool's used/available/total drive space:

[global]

dfree command = /home/"yourlinuxusername"/dfree.sh

Save the changes to smb.conf and then restart Samba again with the terminal:

sudo systemctl restart smbd

Now there’s one more thing we need to do to fully set up the Samba share, and that’s to modify a hidden group permission. In the terminal window type the following command:

usermod -a -G sambashare “yourlinuxusername”

Then restart samba again:

sudo systemctl restart smbd

If we don’t do this last step, everything will appear to work fine, and you will even be able to see and map the drive from Windows and even begin transferring files, but you'd soon run into a lot of frustration. As every ten minutes or so a file would fail to transfer and you would get a window announcing “0x8007003B Unexpected Network Error”. This window would require your manual input to continue the transfer with the file next in the queue. And at the end it would reattempt to transfer whichever files failed the first time around. 99% of the time they’ll go through that second try, but this is still all a major pain in the ass. Especially if you’ve got a lot of data to transfer or you want to step away from the computer for a while.

It turns out samba can act a little weirdly with the higher read/write speeds of RAIDz arrays and transfers from Windows, and will intermittently crash and restart itself if this group option isn’t changed. Inputting the above command will prevent you from ever seeing that window.

The last thing we're going to do before switching over to our Windows PC is grab the IP address of our Linux machine. Enter the following command:

hostname -I

This will spit out this computer's IP address on the local network (it will look something like 192.168.0.x), write it down. It might be a good idea once you're done here to go into your router settings and reserving that IP for your Linux system in the DHCP settings. Check the manual for your specific model router on how to access its settings, typically it can be accessed by opening a browser and typing http:\\192.168.0.1 in the address bar, but your router may be different.

Okay we’re done with our Linux computer for now. Get on over to your Windows PC, open File Explorer, right click on Network and click "Map network drive". Select Z: as the drive letter (you don't want to map the network drive to a letter you could conceivably be using for other purposes) and enter the IP of your Linux machine and location of the share like so: \\"LINUXCOMPUTERLOCALIPADDRESSGOESHERE"\"zpoolnamegoeshere"\. Windows will then ask you for your username and password, enter the ones you set earlier in Samba and you're good. If you've done everything right it should look something like this:

You can now start moving media over from Windows to the share folder. It's a good idea to have a hard line running to all machines. Moving files over Wi-Fi is going to be tortuously slow, the only thing that’s going to make the transfer time tolerable (hours instead of days) is a solid wired connection between both machines and your router.

Step Six: Setting Up Remote Desktop Access to Your Server

After the server is up and going, you’ll want to be able to access it remotely from Windows. Barring serious maintenance/updates, this is how you'll access it most of the time. On your Linux system open the terminal and enter:

sudo apt install xrdp

Then:

sudo systemctl enable xrdp

Once it's finished installing, open “Settings” on the sidebar and turn off "automatic login" in the User category. Then log out of your account. Attempting to remotely connect to your Linux computer while you’re logged in will result in a black screen!

Now get back on your Windows PC, open search and look for "RDP". A program called "Remote Desktop Connection" should pop up, open this program as an administrator by right-clicking and selecting “run as an administrator”. You’ll be greeted with a window. In the field marked “Computer” type in the IP address of your Linux computer. Press connect and you'll be greeted with a new window and prompt asking for your username and password. Enter your Ubuntu username and password here.

If everything went right, you’ll be logged into your Linux computer. If the performance is sluggish, adjust the display options. Lowering the resolution and colour depth do a lot to make the interface feel snappier.

Remote access is how we're going to be using our Linux system from now, barring edge cases like needing to get into the BIOS or upgrading to a new version of Ubuntu. Everything else from performing maintenance like a monthly zpool scrub to checking zpool status and updating software can all be done remotely.

This is how my server lives its life now, happily humming and chirping away on the floor next to the couch in a corner of the living room.

Step Seven: Plex Media Server/Jellyfin

Okay we’ve got all the ground work finished and our server is almost up and running. We’ve got Ubuntu up and running, our storage array is primed, we’ve set up remote connections and sharing, and maybe we’ve moved over some of favourite movies and TV shows.

Now we need to decide on the media server software to use which will stream our media to us and organize our library. For most people I’d recommend Plex. It just works 99% of the time. That said, Jellyfin has a lot to recommend it by too, even if it is rougher around the edges. Some people run both simultaneously, it’s not that big of an extra strain. I do recommend doing a little bit of your own research into the features each platform offers, but as a quick run down, consider some of the following points:

Plex is closed source and is funded through PlexPass purchases while Jellyfin is open source and entirely user driven. This means a number of things: for one, Plex requires you to purchase a “PlexPass” (purchased as a one time lifetime fee $159.99 CDN/$120 USD or paid for on a monthly or yearly subscription basis) in order to access to certain features, like hardware transcoding (and we want hardware transcoding) or automated intro/credits detection and skipping, Jellyfin offers some of these features for free through plugins. Plex supports a lot more devices than Jellyfin and updates more frequently. That said, Jellyfin's Android and iOS apps are completely free, while the Plex Android and iOS apps must be activated for a one time cost of $6 CDN/$5 USD. But that $6 fee gets you a mobile app that is much more functional and features a unified UI across platforms, the Plex mobile apps are simply a more polished experience. The Jellyfin apps are a bit of a mess and the iOS and Android versions are very different from each other.

Jellyfin’s actual media player is more fully featured than Plex's, but on the other hand Jellyfin's UI, library customization and automatic media tagging really pale in comparison to Plex. Streaming your music library is free through both Jellyfin and Plex, but Plex offers the PlexAmp app for dedicated music streaming which boasts a number of fantastic features, unfortunately some of those fantastic features require a PlexPass. If your internet is down, Jellyfin can still do local streaming, while Plex can fail to play files unless you've got it set up a certain way. Jellyfin has a slew of neat niche features like support for Comic Book libraries with the .cbz/.cbt file types, but then Plex offers some free ad-supported TV and films, they even have a free channel that plays nothing but Classic Doctor Who.

Ultimately it's up to you, I settled on Plex because although some features are pay-walled, it just works. It's more reliable and easier to use, and a one-time fee is much easier to swallow than a subscription. I had a pretty easy time getting my boomer parents and tech illiterate brother introduced to and using Plex and I don't know if I would've had as easy a time doing that with Jellyfin. I do also need to mention that Jellyfin does take a little extra bit of tinkering to get going in Ubuntu, you’ll have to set up process permissions, so if you're more tolerant to tinkering, Jellyfin might be up your alley and I’ll trust that you can follow their installation and configuration guide. For everyone else, I recommend Plex.

So pick your poison: Plex or Jellyfin.

Note: The easiest way to download and install either of these packages in Ubuntu is through Snap Store.

After you've installed one (or both), opening either app will launch a browser window into the browser version of the app allowing you to set all the options server side.

The process of adding creating media libraries is essentially the same in both Plex and Jellyfin. You create a separate libraries for Television, Movies, and Music and add the folders which contain the respective types of media to their respective libraries. The only difficult or time consuming aspect is ensuring that your files and folders follow the appropriate naming conventions:

Plex naming guide for Movies

Plex naming guide for Television

Jellyfin follows the same naming rules but I find their media scanner to be a lot less accurate and forgiving than Plex. Once you've selected the folders to be scanned the service will scan your files, tagging everything and adding metadata. Although I find do find Plex more accurate, it can still erroneously tag some things and you might have to manually clean up some tags in a large library. (When I initially created my library it tagged the 1963-1989 Doctor Who as some Korean soap opera and I needed to manually select the correct match after which everything was tagged normally.) It can also be a bit testy with anime (especially OVAs) be sure to check TVDB to ensure that you have your files and folders structured and named correctly. If something is not showing up at all, double check the name.

Once that's done, organizing and customizing your library is easy. You can set up collections, grouping items together to fit a theme or collect together all the entries in a franchise. You can make playlists, and add custom artwork to entries. It's fun setting up collections with posters to match, there are even several websites dedicated to help you do this like PosterDB. As an example, below are two collections in my library, one collecting all the entries in a franchise, the other follows a theme.

My Star Trek collection, featuring all eleven television series, and thirteen films.

My Best of the Worst collection, featuring sixty-nine films previously showcased on RedLetterMedia’s Best of the Worst. They’re all absolutely terrible and I love them.

As for settings, ensure you've got Remote Access going, it should work automatically and be sure to set your upload speed after running a speed test. In the library settings set the database cache to 2000MB to ensure a snappier and more responsive browsing experience, and then check that playback quality is set to original/maximum. If you’re severely bandwidth limited on your upload and have remote users, you might want to limit the remote stream bitrate to something more reasonable, just as a note of comparison Netflix’s 1080p bitrate is approximately 5Mbps, although almost anyone watching through a chromium based browser is streaming at 720p and 3mbps. Other than that you should be good to go. For actually playing your files, there's a Plex app for just about every platform imaginable. I mostly watch television and films on my laptop using the Windows Plex app, but I also use the Android app which can broadcast to the chromecast connected to the TV in the office and the Android TV app for our smart TV. Both are fully functional and easy to navigate, and I can also attest to the OS X version being equally functional.

Part Eight: Finding Media

Now, this is not really a piracy tutorial, there are plenty of those out there. But if you’re unaware, BitTorrent is free and pretty easy to use, just pick a client (qBittorrent is the best) and go find some public trackers to peruse. Just know now that all the best trackers are private and invite only, and that they can be exceptionally difficult to get into. I’m already on a few, and even then, some of the best ones are wholly out of my reach.

If you decide to take the left hand path and turn to Usenet you’ll have to pay. First you’ll need to sign up with a provider like Newshosting or EasyNews for access to Usenet itself, and then to actually find anything you’re going to need to sign up with an indexer like NZBGeek or NZBFinder. There are dozens of indexers, and many people cross post between them, but for more obscure media it’s worth checking multiple. You’ll also need a binary downloader like SABnzbd. That caveat aside, Usenet is faster, bigger, older, less traceable than BitTorrent, and altogether slicker. I honestly prefer it, and I'm kicking myself for taking this long to start using it because I was scared off by the price. I’ve found so many things on Usenet that I had sought in vain elsewhere for years, like a 2010 Italian film about a massacre perpetrated by the SS that played the festival circuit but never received a home media release; some absolute hero uploaded a rip of a festival screener DVD to Usenet. Anyway, figure out the rest of this shit on your own and remember to use protection, get yourself behind a VPN, use a SOCKS5 proxy with your BitTorrent client, etc.

On the legal side of things, if you’re around my age, you (or your family) probably have a big pile of DVDs and Blu-Rays sitting around unwatched and half forgotten. Why not do a bit of amateur media preservation, rip them and upload them to your server for easier access? (Your tools for this are going to be Handbrake to do the ripping and AnyDVD to break any encryption.) I went to the trouble of ripping all my SCTV DVDs (five box sets worth) because none of it is on streaming nor could it be found on any pirate source I tried. I’m glad I did, forty years on it’s still one of the funniest shows to ever be on TV.

Part Nine/Epilogue: Sonarr/Radarr/Lidarr and Overseerr

There are a lot of ways to automate your server for better functionality or to add features you and other users might find useful. Sonarr, Radarr, and Lidarr are a part of a suite of “Servarr” services (there’s also Readarr for books and Whisparr for adult content) that allow you to automate the collection of new episodes of TV shows (Sonarr), new movie releases (Radarr) and music releases (Lidarr). They hook in to your BitTorrent client or Usenet binary newsgroup downloader and crawl your preferred Torrent trackers and Usenet indexers, alerting you to new releases and automatically grabbing them. You can also use these services to manually search for new media, and even replace/upgrade your existing media with better quality uploads. They’re really a little tricky to set up on a bare metal Ubuntu install (ideally you should be running them in Docker Containers), and I won’t be providing a step by step on installing and running them, I’m simply making you aware of their existence.

The other bit of kit I want to make you aware of is Overseerr which is a program that scans your Plex media library and will serve recommendations based on what you like. It also allows you and your users to request specific media. It can even be integrated with Sonarr/Radarr/Lidarr so that fulfilling those requests is fully automated.

And you're done. It really wasn't all that hard. Enjoy your media. Enjoy the control you have over that media. And be safe in the knowledge that no hedgefund CEO motherfucker who hates the movies but who is somehow in control of a major studio will be able to disappear anything in your library as a tax write-off.

[joanhermann]

The Role of CCNP in Multi-Cloud Networking

We live in a time where everything is connected—our phones, laptops, TVs, watches, even our refrigerators. But have you ever wondered how all this connection actually works? Behind the scenes, there are large computer networks that make this possible. Now, take it one step further and imagine companies using not just one but many cloud services—like Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Microsoft Azure—all at the same time. This is called multi-cloud networking. And to manage this kind of advanced setup, skilled professionals are needed. That’s where CCNP comes in.

Let’s break this down in a very simple way so that even a school student can understand it.

What Is Multi-Cloud Networking?

Imagine you’re at a school event. You have food coming from one stall, water from another, and sweets from a third. Now, imagine someone needs to manage everything—make sure food is hot, water is cool, and sweets arrive on time. That manager is like a multi-cloud network engineer. Instead of food stalls, though, they're managing cloud services.

So, multi-cloud networking means using different cloud platforms to store data, run apps, or provide services—and making sure all these platforms work together without any confusion or delay.

So, Where Does CCNP Fit In?

CCNP, which stands for Cisco Certified Network Professional, teaches you how to build, manage, and protect networks at a professional level. If CCNA is the beginner level, CCNP is the next big step.

When we say someone has completed CCNP training, it means they’ve learned advanced networking skills—skills that are super important for multi-cloud setups. Whether it’s connecting a company’s private network to cloud services or making sure all their apps work smoothly between AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, a CCNP-certified person can do it.

Why Is CCNP Important for Multi-Cloud?

Here are a few simple reasons why CCNP plays a big role in this new world of multi-cloud networking:

Connecting Different Platforms: Each cloud service is like a different language. CCNP helps you understand how to make them talk to each other.

Security and Safety: In multi-cloud networks, data moves in many directions. CCNP-certified professionals learn how to keep that data safe.

Speed and Performance: If apps run slowly, users get frustrated. CCNP training teaches you how to make networks fast and efficient.

Troubleshooting Problems: When something breaks in a multi-cloud system, it can be tricky to fix. With CCNP skills, you’ll know how to find the issue and solve it quickly.

What You Learn in CCNP That Helps in Multi-Cloud

Let’s look at some topics covered in CCNP certification that directly help with multi-cloud work:

Routing and Switching: This means directing traffic between different networks smoothly, which is needed in a multi-cloud setup.

Network Automation: You learn how to make systems work automatically, which is super helpful when managing multiple clouds.

Security: You’re trained to spot and stop threats, even if they come from different cloud platforms.

Virtual Networking: Since cloud networks are often virtual (not physical wires and cables), CCNP teaches you how to work with them too.

Can I Learn CCNP Online?

Yes, you can! Thanks to digital learning, you can take a CCNP online class from anywhere—even your home. You don’t need to travel or sit in a classroom. Just a good internet connection and the will to learn is enough.

An online class is perfect for students or working professionals who want to upgrade their skills in their free time. It also helps you learn at your own speed. You can pause, repeat, or review topics anytime.

What Happens After You Get Certified?

Once you finish your CCNP certification, you’ll find many doors open for you. Especially in companies that use multiple cloud platforms, your skills will be in high demand. You could work in roles like:

Cloud Network Engineer

Network Security Analyst

IT Infrastructure Manager

Data Center Specialist

And the best part? These roles come with good pay and long-term career growth.

Where Can I Learn CCNP?

You can take CCNP training from many places, but it's important to choose a center that gives you hands-on practice and teaches in simple language. One such place is Network Rhinos, which is known for making difficult topics easy to understand. Whether you’re learning online or in-person, the focus should always be on real-world skills, not just theory.

Final Thoughts

The world is moving fast toward cloud-based technology, and multi-cloud setups are becoming the new normal. But with more clouds come more challenges. That’s why companies are looking for smart, trained professionals who can handle the job.

CCNP training prepares you for exactly that. Whether you're just starting your career or want to move to the next level, CCNP gives you the skills to stay relevant and in demand.

With options like a CCNP online class, you don’t even have to leave your house to become an expert. And once you complete your CCNP certification, you're not just learning about networks—you’re becoming someone who can shape the future of cloud technology.

So yes, if you’re thinking about CCNP in a world that’s quickly moving to the cloud, the answer is simple: go for it.

[mahidhoot1234]

Grocery Store - Venkatesh Kirana

Great! If your blog is focused on grocery stores, there are many directions you can take depending on your target audience and the message you want to convey. Here’s a structured approach you can follow to write a detailed and engaging blog post:

Blog Title Ideas:

"A Shopper’s Guide: How to Make the Most of Your Grocery Store Visit"

"Behind the Aisles: The Hidden Secrets of Your Local Grocery Store"

"Healthy Grocery Shopping: Tips for Filling Your Cart with Nutritious Options"

"The Evolution of Grocery Stores: From Local Markets to Online Shopping"

"Sustainability at Your Local Grocery Store: How You Can Make a Difference"

Blog Structure & Key Points:

1. Introduction:

Start with a hook: You could start by highlighting how essential grocery stores are to daily life. Maybe mention the rise of grocery shopping trends, or how people have shifted between in-store and online shopping in recent years.

Why it matters: Explain why grocery shopping is important—not just for stocking up on essentials, but for making healthy and sustainable choices.

2. The Importance of Grocery Stores in Our Communities:

Cultural significance: Discuss how grocery stores serve as community hubs. They aren’t just places to buy food; they often provide local products, foster connections, and promote community well-being.

Economic role: Mention how grocery stores contribute to the local economy by providing jobs and supporting local farmers or small businesses.

3. Types of Grocery Stores:

Traditional grocery stores: Chain supermarkets, local grocers, etc.

Specialty stores: Organic markets, international grocery stores, health food stores.

Online grocery stores: How the convenience of ordering online has impacted traditional grocery shopping.

4. Grocery Shopping Tips:

Budget-friendly tips: How to make the most of your budget when grocery shopping (e.g., using coupons, buying in bulk, planning meals ahead of time).

Health-conscious shopping: Discuss tips for picking healthy products like fresh produce, whole grains, and organic items.

Sustainable choices: Encourage shoppers to choose reusable bags, avoid excessive plastic, and support local or eco-friendly brands.

5. The Impact of Technology on Grocery Stores:

Self-checkouts and automation: How technology is making the grocery shopping experience faster and more efficient.

Online shopping and delivery services: Discuss how services like curbside pickup and home delivery are changing the way people shop.

Smart grocery shopping apps: Highlight apps that help with shopping lists, comparing prices, or finding discounts.

6. The Future of Grocery Stores:

Trends to watch: You can mention growing trends like plant-based products, alternative protein sources, and more environmentally friendly packaging options.

Innovation in grocery stores: Explore how stores are innovating, such as the rise of cashier-less stores (e.g., Amazon Go), or the integration of AI to personalize shopping experiences.

7. Conclusion:

Recap the significance: Summarize why grocery stores are more than just places to buy food.

Call to action: Encourage your readers to be mindful when grocery shopping—whether it’s about supporting local businesses, choosing healthier options, or reducing waste.

Additional Ideas:

Include a personal touch: If you shop at a specific grocery store, share your experiences, favorite sections, or unique finds.

Visuals: Include images of grocery aisles, products, or grocery store trends to make the post more engaging.

Statistics or research: Incorporating facts about grocery shopping behaviors or the impact of grocery stores on the environment can make your blog post more informative.

If you have a specific focus within your blog topic, feel free to share it, and I can help you refine the post further!

[digitaldetoxworld]

Smart Speakers: The Evolution of Audio Technology and Home Automation

 Smart audio systems have transformed from mere audio gadgets to imperative tools inside the modern home, serving as hubs for enjoyment, productiveness, and automation. These modern devices are powered with the aid of synthetic intelligence (AI), combining voice recognition with internet connectivity to provide an unbroken person's enjoyment. This essay explores the origins, functions, programs, demanding situations, and future of clever speakers, emphasizing their growing role in improving comfort and connectivity in normal life.

Smart Speakers 

The Origins of Smart Speakers

The idea of a clever speaker began with improvements in AI and herbal language processing (NLP). The first and foremost jump came with voice assistants like Apple’s Siri in 2011, accompanied by the aid of Google Assistant, Microsoft’s Cortana, and Amazon’s Alexa. These technologies laid the foundation for voice-interactive gadgets.

In 2014, Amazon delivered the first Echo speaker, presenting Alexa as its built-in assistant. Initially, the Echo became seen as a novelty, allowing customers to invite primary questions or manage a few clever home gadgets. However, its ability to integrate with different clever gadgets quickly gained traction, and main competitors like Google and Apple developed their very own clever speaker traces.

Key Features of Smart Speakers

Voice Recognition and Assistance

Smart speakers depend upon superior microphones and NLP algorithms to system voice instructions. They can solve questions, offer weather updates, examine the information, and perform net searches.

Smart Home Integration

A cornerstone of smart speakers is their potential to govern clever home gadgets inclusive of lighting, thermostats, door locks, and protection cameras. Through structures like Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit, these gadgets act as centralized controllers for a linked home.

Entertainment

From streaming song and podcasts to gambling audiobooks, clever audio systems are designed for leisure. They combine with services like Spotify, Apple Music, and Audible, delivering super sound tailored to users’ choices.

Personalization

Modern clever speakers can understand individual voices, providing customized responses, calendars, and playlists. This characteristic ensures that every person gets a custom-designed revel in.

Multi-Room Audio

Many smart speakers support multi-room audio setups, allowing users to synchronize track playback across more than one gadget in distinct rooms.

Third-Party Skills and Apps

Developers can create "talents" (Alexa) or "moves" (Google Assistant) to enlarge functionality. These range from ordering meals to playing interactive games, making the devices flexible and adaptable.

Applications of Smart Speakers

 Home Automation

Smart audio systems serve as the mind of clever houses. They connect with devices like smart bulbs, thermostats, and appliances, allowing users to govern their houses with easy voice commands. For instance, announcing, “Turn off the lights,” can extinguish lighting fixtures within the entire house.

Productivity and Time Management

Users can set reminders, alarms, and timers or control their schedules using a smart audio system. Integration with productiveness apps like Google Calendar and Microsoft To-Do allows users to stay organized.

Accessibility

For people with disabilities, clever speakers offer an available interface for controlling gadgets, gaining access to records, or communicating. Voice commands dispose of the want for physical interaction, making era more inclusive.

Education and Information

Smart audio systems act as educational gear, answering queries on numerous topics, translating languages, and even supporting math problems. They are an increasingly number of used in classrooms to guide learning.

Entertainment and Relaxation

In addition to gambling music, smart audio systems provide meditation guides, bedtime memories, and interactive games. Some models, just like the Echo Show, encompass displays for video playback and recipe tutorials.

 Shopping and E-commerce

Users could make purchases through clever speakers, check product availability, or order groceries. Integration with platforms like Amazon permits voice-based total buying studies.

Challenges and Concerns

Despite their several advantages, smart audio systems face demanding situations, specifically around privateness, protection, and consumer acceptance as true with.

 Privacy Issues

Smart audio systems are continually listening for wake phrases like "Alexa" or "Hey Google," elevating issues about information collection and inadvertent recordings. Users often worry approximately how their voice facts are saved and utilized by organizations.

Security Vulnerabilities

Being connected to the net makes smart speakers prone to hacking. Cybersecurity professionals have proven how vulnerabilities in these devices can expose touchy information or furnish unauthorized access to smart domestic structures.

 Misunderstandings and Errors

Voice reputation era, though superior, is not foolproof. Misinterpretation of instructions can lead to accidental movements, irritating users.

Digital Dependency

Overreliance on smart audio systems might also make contribution to a decline in important thinking or the ability to carry out obligations without technological help.

 Compatibility Issues

Not all smart domestic devices are compatible with every smart speaker. This fragmentation can be complicated for consumers looking to build cohesive smart ecosystems.

The Future of Smart Speakers

The destiny of smart speakers lies in more integration, improved AI skills, and stepped forward privateness measures. Key trends shaping their development include:

 Advanced AI and Machine Learning

As AI evolves, clever speakers turn into extra intuitive, able to information context and nuanced language. This will permit extra herbal conversations and smarter interactions.

Seamless Integration with IoT

The Internet of Things (IoT) is expected to grow exponentially, and smart audio systems will play a central role in managing interconnected devices. Enhanced interoperability standards like Matter aim to make smart home ecosystems more cohesive.

 Enhanced Privacy Features

Future models may additionally encompass on-tool processing, where commands are handled regionally instead of inside the cloud, lowering privateness issues. Companies are also likely to introduce policies that are more transparent regarding records.

Expanded Accessibility

Smart audio systems will continue to cater to diverse populations, with functions like multilingual aid, visible aids for the hearing-impaired, and tactile interfaces for people with constrained mobility.

 Immersive Audio Experiences

Advancements in the audio era will make clever audio systems capable of turning in excessive-constancy, 3-D soundscapes, enhancing their role as enjoyment hubs.

Sustainability

With developing environmental attention, manufacturers are focusing on the usage of sustainable materials and strength-efficient additives in clever audio systems.

[yogeshwarisinha]

Title: Integrating IoT Fire Alarms with Smart Home Systems.

Introduction:

Integrating IoT fire alarms with smart home systems is an innovative way to enhance safety and convenience in your living space. As technology advances, traditional fire alarms are evolving into smart devices that not only alert you to danger but also communicate with other smart home devices, providing a comprehensive safety solution. Here’s how you can integrate IoT fire alarms into your smart home system.

First, choose an IoT fire alarm that is compatible with your existing smart home ecosystem, whether it’s Google Home, Amazon Alexa, or Apple HomeKit. These smart fire alarms can send notifications to your smartphone when smoke or carbon monoxide is detected, even when you’re away from home. This feature is crucial for ensuring safety, as it allows you to take immediate action, such as contacting emergency services or checking on your property remotely.

Once you have your IoT fire alarm, the next step is to connect it to your smart home hub. Most modern smart home systems have user-friendly apps that guide you through the setup process. After connecting the fire alarm, you can create automation routines. For instance, if the fire alarm goes off, you can program your smart lights to flash, alerting you or your family members to the emergency. Additionally, you can set up your smart thermostat to shut off the HVAC system to prevent smoke from spreading.

Finally, regular maintenance and testing of your IoT fire alarms are essential to ensure they function correctly. Many smart fire alarms come with self-testing features and notifications for battery replacement, making it easier to keep your system in top shape. By integrating IoT fire alarms with your smart home system, you can create a safer living environment that offers peace of mind, knowing that you’re always connected to your home’s safety features.

[semaj-naij]

5 Key Trends in Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

The landscape of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is constantly evolving, driven by innovations that transform how we communicate, work, and live. Here are five key trends currently shaping the ICT sector, complete with examples and photos to illustrate their impact.

1. Convergence

Convergence in ICT refers to the merging of previously distinct technologies and services into a unified system. This trend is breaking down barriers between various media, telecommunications, and IT services, leading to more integrated and streamlined solutions.

Example: Smart Home Devices - Devices like Amazon Echo and Google Nest integrate voice control, home automation, and entertainment in one system.

Before:

After:

2. Social Media

Social media continues to revolutionize how people connect, share information, and engage with content. Its influence extends beyond personal interactions to business, marketing, and customer service.

Example: Instagram for Business - Companies use Instagram to promote products, engage with customers, and build their brand presence.

3. Mobile Technology

Mobile technology is at the heart of modern ICT, with smartphones and tablets becoming essential tools for communication, entertainment, and work.

Example: Mobile Banking Apps - Apps like Venmo and Revolut enable users to manage finances, transfer money, and make payments from their smartphones.

4. Assistive Media

Assistive media technologies are designed to help individuals with disabilities access information and communicate effectively, promoting inclusivity and accessibility.

Example: Voice Assistants - Devices like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant provide voice-activated support for visually impaired users.

5. Cloud Computing

Cloud computing continues to transform how businesses and individuals store, manage, and process data, offering scalable and flexible solutions.

Example: Google Workspace - A suite of cloud-based productivity tools that includes Google Docs, Sheets, and Drive, facilitating collaboration and remote work.

PASSED BY:JAMES JIAN B. ESLABON

[cherictech]

Digital Marketing Trends 2023

Digital Marketing Trends 2023: What to Expect and How to Get Ahead

As the year 2023 approaches, significant changes are expected in the world of digital marketing. From artificial intelligence (AI) to automation and voice search, these changes will have a significant impact on businesses of all sizes and shapes. In this post, we explore some of the top digital marketing trends in 2023 that businesses need to be aware of to stay ahead of the curve.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) AI is poised to change the world of digital marketing. It has the ability to optimize ad targeting, personalize user experiences and improve customer service. According to a study by the Boston Consulting Group, artificial intelligence will make up about 60% of marketing functions by 2023. This means that companies using artificial intelligence have an advantage over their competitors in terms of efficiency and the ability to offer personalized experiences to customers.

Automation and chatbots Automation and chatbots are becoming increasingly popular in the digital marketing world. Companies use chatbots to provide 24/7 customer support and automate certain tasks such as scheduling appointments and tracking orders. According to a Gartner report, by 2023 more than 25% of customer service operations will use chatbots across multiple channels. This trend significantly improves customer experience, reduces workload and costs.

Optimizing voice search Voice search is becoming more common thanks to the rise of voice assistants like Amazon's Alexa and Google Home. Businesses need to optimize their content for voice search queries so that their websites and products can be easily found by voice search. ComScore research predicts that by 2023, 50% of searches will be voice-based.

Video marketing Video marketing is an integral part of digital marketing and is predicted to grow further in 2023. According to a Cisco report, 82 percent of internet traffic will be video-based by 2023. This means that businesses that invest in video marketing can reach a wider audience, increase engagement and increase sales.

In conclusion, the world of digital marketing is evolving rapidly and companies must stay ahead of the curve to remain competitive. By embracing these digital marketing trends, businesses can improve efficiency, deliver personalized experiences, reduce workload, reduce costs and increase sales.

For More Details Click here

[syedgaffar]

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Modifying Digital Marketing

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has appeared as a game-changer in digital marketing. AI-powered tools and techniques are revolutionising the way how businesses interact with customers and prospects, offering unprecedented insights into customer behaviour and preferences. One of the key areas where AI is making a significant impact is in the field of customer engagement. 

One of the key benefits of AI in digital marketing is its ability to process large amounts of data quickly and accurately. This allows businesses to obtain insights into customer habits, preferences, and interests and use this information to create more personalised marketing campaigns. For example, AI can analyse customer data from social media platforms, emails, and other sources to identify patterns and trends and use this information to create targeted advertising campaigns. 

AI-powered tools can also help businesses maximise their marketing campaigns by automating tasks such as A/B testing, content creation, and lead generation. This frees marketers to focus on further strategic tasks, such as developing creative campaigns and building customer relationships. 

AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are becoming progressively popular, providing businesses with 24/7 customer support and assistance. These AI-powered tools can link with customers in real-time, answering questions, providing information, and even completing transactions. This allows businesses to provide a more personalised and responsive customer experience while reducing the workload on customer service teams. Another area where AI is transforming digital marketing is in the field of data analytics.

AI-powered tools can analyse vast amounts of client data and provide the perception of customer behaviour and preferences. This information can be used to customise marketing messages, target specific customer segments, and predict customer behaviour. AI is also playing an essential role in improving the effectiveness of digital advertising.

AI-powered tools can examine customer data and identify the most effective channels and formats for advertising messages. This information can be used to maximise ad campaigns and improve their ROI. Overall, AI is helping businesses to create more effective, personalised, and engaging digital marketing campaigns. It enables them to better understand customer behaviour and preferences and modify their marketing messages accordingly. As AI technology evolves, it will likely become a progressively important tool in the digital marketing arsenal. AI also transforms search engine optimisation (SEO) by allowing businesses to optimise their content for voice search. 

With the increasing number of voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Home, businesses must ensure their content is optimised for voice search queries. AI can help businesses create content optimised for natural language searches, enabling them to rank higher in voice search results. 

Finally, AI is helping businesses to identify and target new audiences. By analysing data from social media platforms and other sources, AI can identify potential customers likely to be interested in a particular product or service. This enables businesses to create targeted advertising campaigns that are more likely to result in conversions. In conclusion, AI is revolutionising digital marketing by allowing businesses to create more personalised, targeted, and effective campaigns. AI transforms how businesses approach marketing from data analysis and optimisation to chatbots and voice search. As AI technology evolves continuously, it would be interesting to see how it becomes an increasingly important tool in the digital marketing arsenal.

[nickgerlich]

Fetch This

We love our pets. They are valued members of our household, and in some cases, we enjoy their company more than we do that of other humans. We speak to them as if they understand our language, although they are very challenged when it comes to communicating back.And we will do almost anything for them.

In addition to the 334 million Americans residing here, there are 89.7 million dogs and 58.3 million cats. That’s a lot of extra mouths to feed, but we do it because we crave their companionship, and without their faithful humans, they would suffer. All told, USAmericans spend $136.8 billion each year on their pets.

That’s a huge market, and while big-box chains like Pet Smart and Petco long ago realized this, I am surprised that mass marketers had not stepped up to the plate to claim a bigger piece of the action.Sure, all the big ones, like Target, Meijer, Walmart, and others, have extensive pet supplies sections in their stores.

But there is still money on the table, and that is pet services. These run the gamut from nail clippings to grooming and vaccinations, the kinds of things that typically require a visit to a veterinarian.

Walmart, though, has sniffed out a potentially lucrative strategy to break into that sector by opening its first pet center, with plans to open many more if it does well.

I am betting that, in addition to realizing this market is simply too good to ignore, that Walmart is also very much aware that change is afoot in the veterinary services field as well. Turns out that between 2017 and 2022, $45 billion in private equity deals were made to scoop up local vets and their clinics. That’s another way of saying that, while your local vet may look and smell like a home-town operation, they may very well be part of a much larger entity.

That’s your cue, Walmart, because if vet clinics are attracting that kind of PE money, there must be a lot more gold to mine. And, Walmart offers something that all the others do not: convenience. Stir in competitive pricing, and you have a 1-2 punch that will find shoppers bringing Fido to the store, and picking their groceries while he gets his nails trimmed and shots updated. It’s also not a whole lot different from dropping off your car for a tire rotation or oil change at Walmart while you do your shopping.

I have to smile, too, because this is something that is so NOT digital, at a time when it seems everything is going that way. It requires you to show up in person, along with your pet. You know. Be in the moment, and interact with other humans. And their pets. You might be able to book appointments and so forth electronically, but you can’t get a rabies shot online or through an app.

But there is a digital side to all of this, and that’s the new subscription service Walmart is rolling out for regular consumables for your pets. Heck, if Amazon will deliver my vitamins each month, there’s no reason Walmart can’t deliver a 46-pound bag of dog food on a similar schedule. Let them do the heavy lifting.

The new pet center will have its own dedicated entrance, which is a wise move, since I’m sure Walmart doesn’t want people and their pets entering the store along with everyone else. It will be staffed by employees of a separate firm, although it will all be branded as Walmart. This also makes sense, because Walmart does not have the types of employees needed to deliver such services.But it sure has the right venue for selling them.

The planned price list for services will also put Walmart in a good place. Vet clinics have had little or no competition in the past, but Walmart is about to shake the fruit off of that tree. With inflationary pressures finding more people, including pet owners, trading down or delaying spending money, this is a strategy that is consistent with Walmart’s overall mission to provide value.

Amid all of the effort to push forward into the future, to incorporate ever more automation, it is refreshing to see that there is still opportunity to make money the old fashioned way. I’m thinking my dog Huck would like this, and if and when we get this service in Canyon, we’ll be there.

Dr “You Want A Treat, Buddy?” Gerlich

Audio Blog

[top-10-gifts]

Top 10 Scale Gifts for the Gadget Enthusiast

Finding the ideal present for the gadget lover in your life may be thrilling and difficult at the same time because technology is continuously changing, and gadgets are becoming an essential part of our lives. The appropriate gadget may make their world come alive, whether it's for a birthday, an anniversary, or to express gratitude. We've put together a list of Top 10 Scale Gifts for the Gadget Enthusiast to aid you in your search for the perfect present.

High-end headphones

There's nothing quite like immersing yourself in music or podcasts with a pair of high-quality headphones. For the audiophile in your life, consider options like the Bose QuietComfort 35 II or Sony WH-1000XM4. These headphones not only offer exceptional sound quality but also come with noise-canceling features, making them perfect for music lovers on the go.

Smartwatch or Fitness Tracker

Smartwatches and fitness trackers have become more than just timekeeping devices; they're personal assistants for tracking health and staying connected. Due to their abundance of health and fitness capabilities, app compatibility, and stylish designs, the Apple Watch Series 7 and Fitbit Versa 3 are both fantastic options.

Drone

Drones have taken the world by storm, offering a unique perspective and endless possibilities for creativity. DJI's Mavic Air 2 and Skydio 2 are top-notch options, equipped with high-resolution cameras, obstacle avoidance, and impressive flight capabilities. A drone is an excellent gift for both tech enthusiasts and photography lovers.

Virtual Reality (VR) Headset

Step into another world with a VR headset. Oculus Quest 2 and Valve Index provide immersive gaming experiences and access to virtual reality applications. VR headsets are perfect for those who crave a new level of entertainment and want to explore virtual realms.

High-Performance Laptop

A powerful laptop is essential for the tech enthusiast who wants power on the run. Choose laptops are notorious for their exceptional speed, stunning defenses, and portability, similar as the MacBook Pro or Dell XPS 15. These laptops work well for a variety of operations, including videotape editing and programming.

Smart Home Devices

Transforming a house into a smart home is a trend that continues to gain momentum. Smart home devices like Amazon Echo, Google Nest, and Philips Hue lights offer convenience and automation. They allow control over lights, music, security, and more with just a voice command or a tap on your smartphone.

Streaming Device

Cutting the cord has never been more accessible with streaming devices like Roku Ultra and Apple TV 4K. These devices offer access to a vast library of streaming services, including Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu, in stunning 4K quality. Streaming devices are perfect for binge-watchers and movie buffs.

High-Resolution Camera

Capture life's moments in stunning detail with a high-resolution camera. The Sony Alpha a7R IV and Canon EOS R5 are recognized for their superb image quality and adaptability. For photographers who want to capture landscapes, portraiture, or wildlife, these cameras are perfect.

Gaming Console or Accessories

Gaming is a passion for many gadget enthusiasts. Consider the latest gaming consoles like the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X. Enhance the gaming experience with accessories like gaming chairs, mechanical keyboards, or gaming headsets.

Tech Toolkit or DIY Electronics Kit

For those who love to tinker and build, a tech toolkit or DIY electronics kit is the perfect gift. Arduino Starter Kits and Raspberry Pi Bundles provide endless opportunities for creating gadgets, robots, and electronic projects.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it need not be difficult to select the ideal present for a gadget fanatic. With the top 10 scale gifts we've outlined, you can surprise your loved one with a thoughtful and exciting present that aligns with their passion for technology. Remember, the best gift is one that shows you know their interests and cater to their tech-savvy side.

[newkiqx]

Don't use any home automation if it's not local, kids. If it has an app, it's probably not the device you want.

Not just because of the security risks, but a lot of these will stop working when support stops or when, for example, your amazon delivery driver thinks your doorbell said something racist, or if you're Louis Rossman and you call them out on it.

Anyway fuck big tech and fuck cloud services and fuck always online products and fuck devices you bought not being yours and fuck planned obsolescence and fuck subscription based ownership

[blazingsporerebel]

Modern Home Building Services in Placerville, CA – Your Trusted Partner

When it comes to modern home building services in Placerville, CA, homeowners and investors seek a blend of innovation, quality craftsmanship, and personalized design. At Complete Construction & Realty, we specialize in delivering cutting-edge residential construction solutions tailored to your unique vision. Whether you're building a custom home from the ground up or renovating an existing property, our team ensures seamless execution with a focus on sustainability, functionality, and aesthetic appeal.

Why Choose Modern Home Building in Placerville?

Placerville, CA, is a thriving community where historic charm meets contemporary living. Modern home building services here emphasize energy efficiency, smart home technology, and open-concept designs that cater to today’s lifestyles. With Complete Construction & Realty, you benefit from:

Customized floor plans designed for optimal space utilization

High-quality materials that enhance durability and style

Eco-friendly construction practices to reduce environmental impact

Smart home integration for convenience and security

Investing in a modern home ensures long-term value and comfort, making it a wise choice for growing families and professionals alike.

Our Comprehensive Home Building Process

At Complete Construction & Realty, we follow a streamlined process to bring your dream home to life:

Initial Consultation – We discuss your vision, budget, and timeline.

Design & Planning – Our architects create 3D models for your approval.

Permitting & Approvals – We handle all necessary paperwork.

Construction & Quality Control – Skilled craftsmen execute every detail with precision.

Final Walkthrough & Handover – We ensure complete satisfaction before you move in.

Our transparent approach keeps you informed at every stage, ensuring a stress-free experience.

Custom Home Designs Tailored to Your Lifestyle

No two homeowners are alike, which is why we offer fully customizable modern home designs in Placerville, CA. Whether you prefer minimalist aesthetics, farmhouse elegance, or ultra-modern finishes, our team works closely with you to:

Select premium materials (e.g., hardwood floors, quartz countertops)

Incorporate natural lighting and energy-efficient windows

Design functional outdoor living spaces (decks, patios, landscaping)

Your home should reflect your personality while meeting practical needs—let us make it happen.

Sustainable Building Solutions for a Greener Future

Sustainability is a cornerstone of modern home building services in Placerville, CA. Complete Construction & Realty integrates eco-conscious practices, including:

Solar panel installations for renewable energy

High-efficiency HVAC systems to reduce utility costs

Low-VOC paints and recycled materials for healthier indoor air quality

By choosing sustainable construction, you contribute to environmental preservation while enjoying lower long-term expenses.

Smart Home Technology Integration

Today’s modern homes are incomplete without smart technology. We equip your home with:

Automated lighting and thermostat controls

Advanced security systems (smart locks, cameras)

Voice-controlled assistants (Amazon Alexa, Google Home)

These features enhance convenience, safety, and energy management—perfect for tech-savvy homeowners.

Why Complete Construction & Realty Stands Out

With years of experience in modern home building services in Placerville, CA, we pride ourselves on:

✅ Licensed & Insured Professionals – Guaranteed compliance with local codes. ✅ Transparent Pricing – No hidden fees; detailed cost breakdowns. ✅ Customer-Centric Approach – Your satisfaction is our top priority.

Our portfolio showcases stunning homes built with passion and expertise—let’s create yours next!

Start Your Modern Home Building Journey Today

Ready to build the home of your dreams in Placerville, CA? Complete Construction & Realty is here to guide you from concept to completion. Contact us today for a free consultation and take the first step toward a beautifully crafted, modern living space tailored just for you!

[emendstudiosmathesh]

background removal service reviews USA

In the visual-first world of digital business, background removal services are no longer optional—they’re essential. Whether you're running an eCommerce brand, managing a photography studio, or operating a creative agency, clean and professional imagery boosts your credibility and conversions. But with so many editing services out there, how do you know which one delivers real results?

This article looks at background removal service reviews in the USA, summarizing what customers value most and what sets the top providers apart in 2025.

Why Background Removal Services Matter

From Amazon product listings to lifestyle photos for Instagram, visual consistency is key. Background removal services help businesses:

Isolate products for a cleaner look

Replace or remove unwanted environments

Prepare images for print, web, or advertising use

Comply with marketplace image standards

But not all editing services offer the same level of quality, speed, or support.

Top Features U.S. Businesses Expect (According to Reviews)

Based on aggregated reviews from eCommerce brands, photographers, and agencies, here are the most valued features in 2025:

⭐ 1. Manual Editing for Accuracy

Many reviewers emphasize that AI-based tools fall short, especially for detailed items like jewelry, hair, or transparent objects. The best-rated services use manual clipping paths and masking for clean, pixel-perfect cutouts.

⭐ 2. Fast Turnaround Times

Speed is critical. U.S.-based clients prefer services that deliver within 12–48 hours—even for bulk orders. Express delivery options are often praised in 5-star reviews.

⭐ 3. Affordable Pricing with Bulk Discounts

Businesses want affordable solutions without sacrificing quality. Highly rated companies often provide tiered pricing plans for different volumes, making it accessible for startups and large brands alike.

⭐ 4. Consistent Quality

One-off perfection isn't enough. Customers highlight consistency across batches as a major trust factor in long-term partnerships.

⭐ 5. Responsive Customer Support

Top-rated services offer 24/7 live chat, email support, and dedicated account managers. Clients value quick responses, revisions, and clear communication.

Popular Industries Leaving Reviews

According to feedback from major review platforms and testimonials, the following industries rely heavily on background removal in the U.S.:

Ecommerce Retailers (Amazon, Shopify, Etsy)

Fashion Brands & Studios

Jewelry Sellers

Commercial Photographers

Furniture & Home Decor Brands

Beauty & Skincare Companies

Sample Customer Reviews (Paraphrased from Real Feedback)

🗨️ “They’ve edited over 5,000 images for our Shopify store—always clean cuts, fast delivery, and great communication. Highly recommended.” – Apparel Brand, New York

🗨️ “As a product photographer, I needed precise background removal for complex jewelry shots. Their manual work is far better than any automated tool I’ve tried.” – Photographer, Los Angeles

🗨️ “They helped us reformat our food packaging photos for Amazon. Turnaround was within 24 hours. Super easy to work with.” – Food Brand, Chicago

Top-Rated Providers (Based on U.S. Reviews)

While specific rankings may vary, common names among well-reviewed U.S. services include:

Pixelz – Known for bulk eCommerce editing

Emend Studios – Strong in manual clipping and retouching

Clipping Path India – High accuracy, fast delivery, competitive pricing

Remove.bg (for simple tasks) – Useful for basic background replacement

Path – Custom enterprise solutions with white-label options

Conclusion

If you're seeking a background removal service in the USA, reviews make one thing clear: quality, speed, and support are non-negotiable. Businesses from coast to coast continue to praise manual editing, fast delivery, and responsive teams as key reasons they stick with their chosen service.

Whether you’re launching a new product, refreshing your image library, or scaling your content production—background removal services with strong U.S. reviews can help your visuals shine.

[pranjaldalvi]

Home Security Products & Solutions Market Emerging Trends Shaping Future Safety

The home security products & solutions market is undergoing a transformative shift driven by advanced technologies, increasing consumer awareness, and growing concerns over residential safety. As smart home integration and AI-based systems gain traction, the industry is evolving from traditional alarm systems to fully automated, connected ecosystems. Emerging trends in this market are not only enhancing physical safety but also providing homeowners with real-time control and surveillance, reshaping how modern security is perceived and implemented.

Rise of Smart Home Integration

One of the most significant trends is the rapid integration of home security systems with smart home technologies. Consumers are now favoring devices that can communicate seamlessly with home assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit. Products such as smart locks, video doorbells, and motion detectors are increasingly being bundled into cohesive systems that allow for remote access and monitoring via mobile apps. This integration not only boosts convenience but also ensures faster response times during emergencies, making smart home compatibility a critical feature for new security solutions.

Expansion of AI and Machine Learning Capabilities

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are playing pivotal roles in enhancing the effectiveness of security products. Modern systems equipped with AI can distinguish between normal activity and potential threats, reducing false alarms. For instance, video surveillance systems with AI capabilities can identify faces, detect unusual behavior, and even notify homeowners of unauthorized access attempts in real-time. This trend is expected to grow further, offering predictive security features that enhance proactive threat management.

Growing Adoption of Wireless Security Systems

Wireless technology is reshaping the landscape of residential security systems. The shift from hardwired systems to wireless solutions offers a more scalable, flexible, and cost-effective setup. Wireless systems are easier to install, can be relocated without hassle, and are often managed via cloud-based platforms. This has led to greater adoption, especially among renters and urban dwellers who prefer portable and non-intrusive solutions. Furthermore, wireless security devices are often powered by battery backups, ensuring continuous operation even during power outages.

Surge in Demand for DIY Security Kits

The growing popularity of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) home security kits is another noteworthy trend. These kits allow homeowners to self-install and manage their systems without relying on professional services. The appeal lies in cost savings, ease of use, and customization options. Companies like Ring, SimpliSafe, and Arlo have tapped into this market by offering modular kits that include cameras, sensors, alarms, and mobile integration. DIY security solutions are particularly popular among tech-savvy consumers who prioritize convenience and affordability.

Cloud-Based Monitoring and Data Storage

Cloud technology is revolutionizing data storage and access within the home security landscape. Modern security systems now store surveillance footage and access logs in the cloud, offering users greater flexibility and data security. Cloud-based solutions enable real-time video streaming, event logging, and remote access from multiple devices. This trend has also fueled the growth of subscription-based models, where users pay for premium features such as extended cloud storage, advanced analytics, and 24/7 professional monitoring.

Heightened Emphasis on Cybersecurity

As home security systems become more interconnected, cybersecurity has become a vital concern. Vulnerabilities in network-connected devices can be exploited, leading to breaches that compromise both physical and digital safety. Manufacturers are now placing a stronger emphasis on encrypted communications, secure cloud interfaces, and regular firmware updates to combat cyber threats. Regulatory bodies and consumer advocacy groups are also pushing for stricter standards to ensure that security products protect against both physical intrusions and digital attacks.

Regional Trends and Market Penetration

Regionally, North America continues to dominate the home security market due to higher disposable income, technological readiness, and heightened security awareness. However, rapid urbanization and rising crime rates in Asia-Pacific and Latin America are spurring demand in emerging markets. Countries like China, India, and Brazil are witnessing increased investments in smart home infrastructure, creating new opportunities for security solution providers to expand their footprint.

Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Designs

Sustainability is becoming a focal point for manufacturers in the security industry. The demand for energy-efficient, recyclable, and environmentally conscious products is driving innovation in design and materials. Solar-powered security cameras, rechargeable battery systems, and low-energy sensors are gaining popularity among environmentally aware consumers. As global emphasis on sustainability grows, this trend is expected to become a key differentiator in product development and marketing strategies.

Conclusion

The home security products & solutions market is rapidly evolving, driven by technological innovation, consumer preferences, and the growing need for integrated and intelligent security measures. From AI-powered analytics and smart home compatibility to DIY kits and cloud-based solutions, the market is embracing a future where home protection is smarter, more accessible, and deeply personalized. Companies that can adapt to these emerging trends while addressing concerns like cybersecurity and sustainability will be well-positioned to thrive in this dynamic landscape.

[shahinslifestyle]

Home Automation Services Company in UAE: Revolutionising Smart Living

In today’s digital age, the concept of a smart home is no longer a futuristic luxury — it’s a present-day reality. From controlling lights with your voice to securing your home with a tap on your smartphone, home automation services have transformed how people live and interact with their surroundings. The UAE, a region known for embracing innovation, is leading this smart living revolution with a growing demand for advanced home automation solutions.

What is Home Automation?

Home automation refers to the integration of various home systems and appliances — such as lighting, security, climate control, and entertainment — into a centralised, intelligent network. This setup allows users to monitor and control their home environment remotely via smartphones, tablets, or voice commands.

Why Home Automation Matters in the UAE

With a hot climate, diverse population, and a tech-forward outlook, the UAE is the perfect place to adopt home automation. Smart homes not only offer convenience and luxury but also contribute to energy savings, enhanced security, and a more sustainable lifestyle — all key priorities in the UAE’s residential and commercial sectors.

Key Features of Home Automation Services

A professional home automation services company in UAE typically offers:

Smart Lighting Systems: Control brightness and ambiance remotely or through motion sensors.

Climate Control: Automated thermostats to optimize air conditioning and reduce energy bills.

Security & Surveillance: Smart CCTV, motion detectors, door locks, and alarm systems for enhanced safety.

Audio-Visual Integration: Whole-home sound systems and smart TVs for immersive entertainment.

Curtain and Blind Automation: Open or close window coverings with scheduled timers or sunlight sensors.

Voice Control & AI Integration: Use Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple HomeKit to control everything with your voice.

Mobile App Access: Manage your entire smart home ecosystem from anywhere in the world.

Choosing the Right Home Automation Company in UAE

With many service providers available, choosing the right company is crucial for a smooth experience. Here’s what to look for:

1. Experience and Technical Expertise

Look for companies with proven success in residential and commercial automation projects. Check their portfolio and client testimonials.

2. Customized Solutions

Each home is unique. A good provider will design solutions tailored to your space, needs, and budget.

3. Top Brands and Technologies

The best companies use reliable technologies and products compatible with major platforms like Google, Amazon, and Apple.

4. After-Sales Support

Ongoing maintenance, software updates, and technical support are essential for long-term performance.

Zyonz Technologies: A Trusted Name in UAE

If you’re looking for a reliable home automation company in the UAE, Zyonz Technologies stands out for its comprehensive smart living solutions. Based in Dubai, Zyonz offers everything from smart lighting and home security to complete automation for villas, apartments, and businesses. Zyonz's hifi home automation famous service in the UAE. Their team of experienced engineers and designers ensures high-quality service with seamless installation and support.

Whether it’s a new construction or a retrofit project, Zyonz tailors its services to suit every client’s lifestyle and needs, making smart living accessible and hassle-free.

Final Thoughts

Smart homes are no longer just a trend — they are the new standard of living. With the right home automation services company in the UAE, you can enjoy greater comfort, improved security, and more control over your environment. If you're planning to upgrade your home or build a new smart space, now is the perfect time to make the switch.