Erin Lawrence

Keeping your home safe and secure has never been easier or more convienient than it is today. It used to be you needed to purchase an expensive system, hire a pricey installation team, and they’d take all day to wire your house. No more. Cameras are now small, sleek, and blend in to any home’s decor; like the Netatmo Welcome Camera with facial recognition. Netatmo makes a popular and well-liked Weather Station, but does the camera measure up to the company’s reputation? Find out.

Weather is one thing that affects each and every one of us every single day, so it makes sense to pay close attention to it.  While you can turn on the TV or the radio or go online, wouldn’t it be nice to havea personalized weather data, telling your what’s happening outside your very own front door? That’s where the Netatmo Weather Station comes in.

It’s a common question with the release of Google’s new Chromecast streaming device; what’s the difference between the old version and the new? Aside from the obvious physical differences, there are a few surprises hidden under the hood. Read on to see which device is right for you.

This week on Shelly’s Friday Favourites: a guest post! I’m Erin, and most of my articles are about home theatre and televisions, but today Shelly asked me to write about an event I participate in each year: a Cookie Exchange. 

There are two devices newly available from Google: Chromecast and the Chromecast Audio. A question we’re seeing often is, “What’s the difference between the two?”   While they have different and distinct purposes (primarily Audio vs Video), there is some overlap and crossover. 

The new Google Chromecast Audio has received plenty of press since its anouncement, but you may be wondering exactly what is does, how it works, or why you’d even need one (click through for these answers). Perhaps if you’ve already decided the device is for you, you’re wondering how to get started quickly and easily. Fortunately the device is as easy to use as it is versatile.

If you’re new to the streaming TV game, there’s never been a better time to take the plunge. There are all kinds of streaming options for your TV, particularly now with the launch of Google’s new Chromecast TV device. The company has also added Chromecast Audio, which promises to make older, “dumber” speakers smart. Check out what each of these devices can do, how they work and what they can add to your home theatre.

Reviews are a great way to get an accurate picture of how well the electronics device you’re interested in buying will perform and whether you’ll be happy with it too. Feedback and opinion from other TV owners with experience with the exact TV you’re considering can give you a great idea about whether you’re about to make a great investment or a poor one.   We’ve done some research for you and picked out some of the best rated TVs by Best Buy customers, along with why they like their choice. See what’s on the top of the list in each TV category.

Selecting audio for your home theatre can be intimidating. There are many different setups, and components galore; so how do you know what to choose? I’ve broken the process down into three different configurations from easy to elite to help you find just the right audio solution for your home.

Portable wireless speakers are taking over home entertainment. It’s just too easy to move them around and play your favourite music, podcasts, or web streaming services anywhere.  One of the big complaints about this kind of speaker has been audio quality, but thanks to audio giant Bose, there’s now an entire line of high end portable Wi-Fi speakers available to choose from.  What’s the difference in the different speakers in their line, and how well do they work? Read the review.