Podcast # 1212: Where is the Ring Indoor Security Drone and Top 10 Streaming Shows of the First Half of 2025
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this week’s show we ask what ever happened to the Ring Indoor Security Drone and we take a look at the Top Ten Streaming shows for the first half of 2025. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. News: What Ever Happened to the Ring Indoor Security Drone? I was thinking about all the cool stuff that had been introduced at CES over the years and remembered one that I really wanted to use, the Ring Indoor Security Drone. It's perfect for those who own a home and may want to check in on parts of it without placing cameras everywhere. So what happened to it?...
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Podcast #1211: Why Are Consumers Skipping New Streaming Devices
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this week’s show we take a look at why people are not upgrading their set top boxes and we read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. News: Why Are Consumers Skipping New Streaming Devices We are big fans of streaming devices for a bunch of reasons like; they have the latest hardware so streamers can take advantage and give you higher quality. Or apps are updated more frequently, Or even that you can have identical experience across different manufacturers. Regardless of why we love them, a recent report by , said that devices like Roku, Amazon’s Fire TV, Apple...
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HDTV Rewind Episode #10: Blu-ray VS DVD
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this episode of the Rewind show we go back to July 23rd 2010 where we read your emails, look at a news story or two, discuss how to pick an AV Receiver and why Bluray was not selling like hotcakes.
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Podcast #1210: Rokus Secret Menus
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this week’s show we look at what the posters at AVS forum have spent on their home theaters and we look at the Roku Secret Menu options. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. News: Your Roku has secret menus and settings here's how to access them Roku devices have hidden menus for advanced users, offering diagnostic tools, customization options, and more. Full article at ZD Net - . Here's how to access them using your Roku remote: 1. Developer Settings How to Access: Home × 3 > Up × 2 > Right > Left > Right > Left > Right What It Does:...
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Podcast #1209: Money is No Object Home Theater - Within Reason
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this week’s show we design a high end home theater but one that is within reason because we are not going to spend your money just for the sake of spending money. We also read your emails and the week’s news. News: Other: Money is No Object Home Theater - Within Reason We have designed a budget based home theater system before so for this episode we decided to design a money is no object system. This high-end home theater system is centered around an 85" television and a 7.1.2 speaker configuration, optimized for premium performance since budget is not a constraint. We...
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Podcast #1208: HDMI 2.2
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this week’s show we take a first look at the proposed HDMI 2.2 specification. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. News: HDMI 2.2 Specification The HDMI 2.2 specification, announced by the HDMI Forum at CES 2025, introduces several advanced features to support higher resolutions, refresh rates, and enhanced audio-visual performance. Below is a summary of the key features included in the HDMI 2.2 specification based on the information we have today: Increased Bandwidth (Up to 96 Gbps): HDMI 2.2 doubles the bandwidth of HDMI 2.1 (from 48 Gbps to 96...
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HDTV Rewind Episode #9: Room Acoustics
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this episode of the Rewind show we go back to July 2nd 2010 where we read your emails, look at a news story or two, and discuss room acoustic treatments.
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Podcast #1207: Most Popular HDTV and Home Theater and Automation Products
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this week’s show we take a look at some of the most popular products in our homes. And we read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Other: Most Popular HDTV and Home Theater and Automation Products On this week’s show we take a look at some of the most popular products in our homes. What is the most popular TV size in the USA The most popular TV size in the USA is currently around 65 inches, with recent trends showing it overtaking the previously dominant 55-inch size. Data from 2021 indicates the average LCD TV screen size in North America reached...
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HDTV Rewind Episode #8: What is Quartics?
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this episode of the Rewind show we go back to June 25th 2010 where we read your emails, look at a news story or two, and look at a company called Quartics and what they are up to today.
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Podcast #1206: Streaming Services Ranked
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this week’s show we rank our favorite Streaming Services. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. News: Other: " The Definitive Streaming Service Ranking We received an email from a listener named Scott that pointed us to an article titled ”” written by Josh Rosenberg and published in Esquire magazine. In the article he ranks the top seven streaming services. We’ll go through his picks from seven to one. And then we’ll give our rankings. 7 Amazon Prime Video - The main criterion for ranking streaming services is whether...
info_outlineOn this week’s show we look at what the posters at AVS forum have spent on their home theaters and we look at the Roku Secret Menu options. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news.
News:
- Belkin plans to power down Wemo support in 2026
- Netflix Sees Rapid Q2 Subscriber Gains
- Broadcast TV hits historical viewership low in June
Your Roku has secret menus and settings here's how to access them
Roku devices have hidden menus for advanced users, offering diagnostic tools, customization options, and more. Full article at ZD Net - Your Roku has secret menus and settings here's how to access them. Here's how to access them using your Roku remote:
1. Developer Settings
- How to Access: Home × 3 > Up × 2 > Right > Left > Right > Left > Right
- What It Does: For developers to test apps on Roku. Enables app installation, sideloading, and Roku account management.
2. Network Menu
- How to Access: Home × 5 > Right > Left > Right > Left > Right
- What It Does: View IP/MAC addresses, check internet connection, join networks, and toggle bandwidth-saver mode.
3. Wireless Secret Screen
- How to Access: Home × 5 > Up > Down > Up > Down > Up
- What It Does: Displays signal strength, antenna info, and error logs. Run AP speed tests or clear Wi-Fi settings.
4. Reset & Update
- How to Access: Home × 5 > Fast Forward × 3 > Rewind × 2
- What It Does: Factory reset, soft reset, search for updates, and USB port tests.
5. Ads & Screenshots
- How to Access: Home × 5 > Up > Right > Down > Left > Up
- What It Does: Control scrollable ads, disable screensaver ads, and adjust screenshot output formats.
6. HDMI Secret Screen
- How to Access: Home × 5 > Down > Left > Up × 3
- What It Does: View supported resolutions, refresh rates, HDR settings, switch inputs, and run input tests.
7. Platform Secret Screen
- How to Access: Home × 5 > Fast Forward > Play/Pause > Rewind > Play/Pause > Fast Forward
- What It Does: Displays CPU, memory usage, remote diagnostics, IPv6 settings, and remote logs.
8. Channel Info Menu
- How to Access: Home × 3 > Up × 2 > Left > Right > Left > Right > Left
- What It Does: View installed channel versions and build numbers. Uninstall apps directly from this screen.
9. Reboot Shortcut
- How to Access: Home × 5 > Up > Rewind × 2 > Fast Forward × 2
- What It Does: Quick reboot without accessing menus. Roku restarts immediately.
Tips and Warnings
- Use these menus cautiously; some actions (e.g., factory reset) are irreversible.
- Not all menus work on every Roku model (e.g., older devices or specific models like the Roku Smart Soundbar).
- To exit, press the Home button.
- For additional settings, explore the standard Settings menu or enable developer mode via Roku’s website for app sideloading.
Note: Always back up important settings before experimenting.