Welcome to today’s daily kōrero!

Anyone can make the thread, first in first served. If you are here on a day and there’s no daily thread, feel free to create it!

Anyway, it’s just a chance to talk about your day, what you have planned, what you have done, etc.

So, how’s it going?

  • @eagleeyedtigerEnglish
    2•10 months ago

    I would love some smart speakers but I find them pricey as well.

    I’m using a Chromecast audio with an old pair of speakers on a smart plug. The speakers are old enough that it only has an IR remote.

    I have it setup so:

    • Chromecast is detected as Playing, speakers turn on.
    • IR blaster sends commands to set the volume and bass level I like.
    • Dashboard displays additional buttons for controlling volume via IR blaster.
    • If Chromecast stops casting, the speakers turn off and buttons on dashboard disappear.

    Main reason it’s setup this way is I already had the old speakers and getting a Chromecast audio and IR blaster was much cheaper than getting good smart speakers. Although you’re right it would be much simpler if I just get some decent smart speakers.

    • @sylverstream
      2•10 months ago

      That’s a nice automation. Where did you get CC Audio? As they are no longer sold.

      • @eagleeyedtigerEnglish
        3•10 months ago

        I got it shortly after I heard they were discontinued, so there was still some stock floating around. I think it might have been through Dick Smith/Kogan at the time?

        If you’re willing to go down the Amazon route, I think Echo Dot’s have an aux out? They had a device called the Echo Input as well which was like and Echo Dot without the speaker, doesn’t seem available anywhere though. I would probably only try this if I could be sure I could disable the microphone and smart speaker functions.