Home theater posts - How To- Page 7

Do remote music collaboration for real with LOLA

We've seen plenty of apps promise to allow musicians to play with each other in real time across the Internet, as if they were in the same room. However, they generally didn't work perfectly due to the signal taking too long to traverse an Internet already teeming with cat videos and Angelina Jolie's right leg. As for adding video too--it's just not happening.

The answer could be LOLA--not from the eponymous Kinks song, but standing for "LOw LAtency."

Unlike apps that use the Internet, which either tend to include a delay or employ … Read more

How to add an equalizer to Spotify

Spotify is many things to many people, but one thing it lacks is an equalization feature for letting you adjust bands of bass, midrange, and treble.

Enter Equalify.me, a Spotify plug-in that nestles a 10-band equalizer neatly into the Spotify interface on Windows computers. It's free (donations accepted), and it works, as we know from putting it through its paces on bretberg101's public kraut/spacerock playlist (which, shockingly, lacks both Neu and Faust). In addition to the 10 EQ bands, you get a gain adjuster, which offers another way to control volume, and a toggle control that … Read more

How to add keyboard shortcuts to Netflix

Keyboard shortcuts make browsing Netflix and rating movies quick and easy.

Instead of clicking on menus and navigating to the areas of your interest, why not press one key? That's the functionality that a userscript written by Dustin Luck adds to your browser. The script states it will definitely work in Firefox, but also seems to work Chrome, Opera, and Safari without much of a hitch. Here's how to get it for yourself:

Step 1: Open your Web browser of choice. The notes for the script suggest that you use Firefox, … Read more

How to use your TV as a computer monitor for gaming, videos, and more

So you want to share photos, watch videos, or play computer games on the expansive screen of your HDTV? On one hand, this is a really simple how-to: use HDMI!

That, of course, isn't the whole story. Not all computers, and not all TVs, can output or input a signal via HDMI easily. There are also a few tricks to consider.… Read more

How to turn your iPhone into a keyboard and mouse

The ultimate Internet-connected TV accessory isn't Roku. It's not Apple TV, and it's not Boxee.

It's something you probably already own: a computer.

With an inexpensive cable (like this one for Mac), you can mirror your computer on your television, giving you complete access to any Internet streaming services or local content on your hard drive.

Many newer laptops even include HDMI out, giving you full 1080p mirroring. Older machines would have to rely on DVI or VGA out with an accompanying audio-out cable.

But once you hook up your computer to your TV, the setup … Read more

How to get your Ethernet-only gadgets on your home network

Internet and network connectivity is becoming a key feature in more and more home entertainment products--everything from TVs to Blu-ray players to audio components. But many of these products come with a big caveat: they don't include built-in support for wireless networking, or Wi-Fi.

This list of wired-only products includes such mainstream devices as TiVo, Slingbox, most entry-level Blu-ray players, many Internet-ready TVs, and the pre-2010 versions of the Xbox 360. Even pricier products such as AV receivers (including the otherwise excellent Denon AVR-1912) don't necessarily come with wireless connectivity on board. For many of these, manufacturers offer … Read more

How to set up an HDTV

You found your perfect TV. You've driven/carried/dragged it home. You have this big cardboard box sitting in your living room. Now what?

Well, after you follow the instructions for getting the TV on its stand (if it isn't already), the real setup begins. There are countless settings, options, and potential issues between box and beautiful picture. This how-to guide should help you navigate the waters of TV technology. … Read more