Speak to the Geek

I’ve just noticed that Reolink have updated their app and the way that their 180 degree cameras are displayed has changed. This is so much better, easier to see on a phone screen - pan around the wide view to see in a normal aspect ratio!

We have a brand new Tesla Model 3 (2025 "Highland") on test drive from Tesla for a couple of days and we're using it to move our daughter into her halls of residence for her first year at university.… How practical is a Tesla Model 3 for moving to university?

How practical is a Tesla Model 3 for moving to university? See how we get on in this week's video:
youtu.be/pxFU0f_E9Y8

#Tesla #Model3 #EV #roadtrip #moving #electricvehicle

It's been doing my head in for the last few days because I have to update all of my apps to support it properly. I've been using it since the beta hoping it would get better and putting the development tasks off. It hasn't and I now have no choice if I want to keep them on sale :(

I can't be the only one hoping Apple abandons Liquid Glass next year? As a user it looks a mess in most apps, as a developer it works inconsistently switching between light and dark modes randomly. I can't even set the selected font colour in an iPad app on a UITabBar!

Home Assistant's Octopus Energy integration by BottlecapDave has been updated and from v17 onwards there are some breaking changes related to its behaviour around the Intelligent Octopus Go tariff.… UPDATE NOW to avoid BREAKING automations! Home Assistant and Intelligent Octopus Go Big Changes

UPDATE your automations NOW to avoid them BREAKING! Big changes for Home Assistant and Intelligent Octopus Go discussed in this video and the updates you need to make:
youtu.be/95X7MR5a-Gg

#HomeAssistant #IntelligentOctopusGo #octopusenergy #givenergy #homeautomation

I’ve been planning this one for a week or so, several trips to Screwfix to get the parts I need. I’m almost done, I just can’t get the sink waste to seal properly!

Today I am mostly plumbing. What could possibly go wrong? It’s not like I ever have bad luck with water and flooding or anything…

LinknLink have kindly sent me their new eMotion Ultra to have a play with. In this video I’ll go over the advantages of mmWave technology in presence sensors like the LinknLink eMotion Ultra and how… This mmWave 3D Presence Sensor knows EXACTLY where you are! LinknLink eMotion Ultra

New Video! This mmWave 3D Presence Sensor knows EXACTLY where you are: LinknLink eMotion Ultra.
youtu.be/tmIX_MEwz-4

#mmwave #presencesensor #homeautomation #mqtt #smarthome #motionsensor

SwitchBot have released an updated version of their already amazing mini robot vacuum: the K11+. Let’s take a look at the stylish new base station design and test the massively increased suction… Stylish Mini Robot Vacuum: SwitchBot K11+

New Video! SwitchBot have given their mini robot vacuum cleaner a stylish overhaul - meet the SwitchBot K11+
youtu.be/RGiypjAnLik

#SwitchBot #RobotVacuum #SmartHome #Matter #HomeAutomation

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If you're after a heat pump install yourself from Octopus (or indeed solar & batteries) then visit speaktothegeek.co.uk/heatpump and we'll both get a £100 gift voucher of your choice once your install has been completed...

I love my heat pump because my home is consistently warm throughout and I can run it from my solar & batteries - can't do that with gas! #heatpumplove @octopus.energy join in sharing the love this week to win a year of free electricity!

Let me walk you around some of my highlights from this year's Solar and Storage Live show taking place at the NEC in Birmingham. 00:00 Can I find the event? 02:28 GivEnergy 05:54 @NicolasRaimo and… Solar and Storage Live 2025: Show Highlights

I visited the Solar & Storage Live 2025 show at the NEC this week, check out my highlights in this video:
youtu.be/S-cAeZurpoc

#GivEnergy #SAJ #ElevenEnergy #AnkerSolix #BYD #LTEnergy #MidsummerWholesale #Sigenergy #SolarStorageLive

All the seals look ok and there's no sign of any water coming in over them or dripping down anywhere. I can only think it's coming in behind the lining. I've put a passive dehumidifier in there after going out every few hours to soak up the water I can see. Boot is full though, can't empty it!

I noticed my car smelling quite cheesy and discovered a lot of water in the footwells and the boot. Let's take it back to the Tesla service centre to get fixed. Again. Thinking of buying a Tesla?… My Tesla is Wet and Smelly - Water leak?!

My Tesla Model 3 is stinking! I've discovered a lot of water building up inside - check it out in this video: youtu.be/it3lBfBQOzI

#Tesla #EV #Waterleak #Model3 #TeslaModel3 #ElectricCar #ElectricVehicle

When your daughter leaves home for university and you replace her with a toggle switch in Home Assistant @home-assistant.io

Just a quick introduction to the £59 TechWoven case for the Apple iPhone 17 Pro (also available for iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Max). Is it worth the £59 price tag? Buy from Amazon UK: … Apple TechWoven Case for iPhone 17 Pro. Too expensive?!

Is Apple's £59 TechWoven case for the iPhone 17 / 17 Pro / 17 Pro Max worth the money? Let's have a quick look at it in this video:
youtu.be/Il5wkI5ziVQ

#Apple #TechWoven #iPhone17Pro #iPhone17 #iPhoneCase

I finally get to review a mopping robot! Thanks to SwitchBot for sending me their new S20 - I decided to put its through its paces not really understanding what mopping robot vacuum limitations are.… Robot Mop Torture Test: SwitchBot S20 vs Ketchup

New Video! Robot Mop vs Ketchup! SwitchBot S20 EXTREME test!
youtu.be/RXSXRvvWs5E
I put SwitchBot's new S20 floor cleaning robot through its paces, and keep watching to find out its all important name.

#smarthome #homeautomation #robotvacuum #robotmop #smartvacuum #moppingrobot

The weather’s so rubbish that even my camera’s solar panel has given up hope

If you updated while it was mid automation then possibly! I have a simpler blueprint now for common scenarios which I will publish in a few weeks. That might simplify things for you potentially

That's how it's designed, set the time to charge as all of the time when the Dispatching sensor toggles on, and off again after. Perhaps there was an issue with the Octopus integration not toggling dispatching off?

On a different note, finding and filling this massive hole in my bathroom wall that I discovered under my bath should help with the heating costs this winter.

My 2021 LR AWD Model 3 which I only picked up in July has gone a bit faulty. It's (mostly) refusing to shift into drive or reverse. @tesla Buy me a coffee: 💚… My Tesla Has Broken Down! Stuck in the middle of the road

My Tesla has broken down - stuck in the middle of the road :( Find out what happened here:
youtu.be/FHCnDJYq9V8
(click the link above to view on YouTube)

#Tesla #EVbroken #ElectricCar #ElectricVehicle #EV #breakdown

It might have taken me months of dedication and I had to buy a car to achieve it in the end, but I have finally managed a negative energy bill month! The weather was in my favour and combined with… Octopus Energy Owe Me Money! NEGATIVE energy bill thanks to solar and batteries

New Video! Octopus Energy Owe Me Money! I've finally managed a NEGATIVE energy bill thanks to solar and batteries
youtu.be/R7N8hYxK_XU

@octopus.energy #solarpanels #solarpv #homebattery #solarpower #energybill

Just recorded a short interview with the BBC Radio 4 programme You and Yours about our air conditioning system. Should be part of the episode broadcasting on Monday 15th. It'll only be a couple of minutes long but I'm curious to see what the reaction to it is. #greentech

Haha sorry about that! You did send it to me for testing though so #notmyfault :)

I've just had the brand new "Octopus Charge" EV charger from Octopus Energy installed - check out the installation process and see it in action for the first time in the real world! Sign up to… Octopus Energy NEW EV CHARGER Unboxed and Installed - Meet the Octopus Charge

I've just had the brand new Octopus Charge installed, Octopus Energy's own-brand EV charger designed to work with Intelligent Octopus Go
youtu.be/JwkBWmSYiJM

@octopus.energy #EVcharger #OctopusCharge #ElectricCar #ElectricVehicle

See my new @octopus.energy Octopus Charge EV charger being installed - video released on my YouTube channel at 9am tomorrow (Saturday) morning! Make sure you're subscribed so as you don't miss it youtube.com/speaktothege... #OctopusCharge

Did you know the basic spec MG4 EV has its own built-in Tesla Autopilot-style cruise control? Called MG Pilot TJA (Traffic Jam Assist) it will keep the car a set distance from the vehicles in front… MG Pilot Demo in an MG4 SE Electric Vehicle

New Video!
MG4 Electric - can it self-drive with MG Pilot?
youtu.be/gZ4-PA0I_eM

#ACC #CruiseControl #ElectricCar #EV #ElectricVehicle #TJA #Autopilot #MGMotor

Oh wow, it’s no secret that food packaging imagery is staged but using AI adds a whole new level of untrustworthiness to what might actually be inside!