I’ve been running a smart home for a long time and one lesson keeps repeating itself, cheap smart home gear is often the most expensive in the long run. Wi-Fi dropouts, flaky apps, short battery life, and cloud dependencies all add friction. That’s why IKEA Matter over Thread smart home move from Zigby matters. Not because it’s flashy, but because it makes smart home basics affordable while improving reliability at the same time.

I’m already using the two-button remotes and the water leak sensor in my Apple Home setup, and they’ve been quietly excellent.

IKEA Smart Home Pricing: Buttons, Sensors, and Bulbs from £3

Until recently, even budget smart home accessories tended to start around £15 and go up quickly. Buttons, sensors, and motion detectors added up fast once you tried to cover an entire house.

IKEA changes that completely.

• Two-button remote: £3
• Water leak sensor: £7
• Motion sensor: £7
• Full-colour E27 Matter over Thread bulb: £9

These are not promotional prices. That’s simply what they cost.

At this level, you stop rationing automations and start putting controls where they actually make sense.

Using IKEA Matter Devices with Apple Home and Thread Networks

I didn’t need to buy anything extra to make this work. I already have HomePods, HomePod Minis, and Apple TVs throughout the house, all acting as Thread border routers.

That means:

• No IKEA hub required for me
• Devices join the network instantly
• Everything runs locally in Apple Home

If you are not in Apple’s ecosystem, newer Alexa devices also support Thread, and some Wi-Fi systems such as Eero can provide a Thread network too.

If you do not already have a Thread network, IKEA still has you covered with their own hub.

IKEA Smart Button with Apple Home: A £3 Remote That Just Works

The two-button remote is exactly what I want smart home controls to be. Physical buttons, clear clicks, and instant response.

In Apple Home, each button supports:

• Single press
• Double press
• Long press

That gives six actions per remote, all configured in Apple Home. No IKEA app needed once it’s paired.

For me, this works far better than voice commands or apps. I can place them conveniently around the house and rely on muscle memory. At £3, they are almost impossible to argue with.

IKEA Water Leak Sensor with Matter: £7 Peace of Mind

At £7, the water leak sensor feels almost disposable, but it doesn’t behave like that.

It integrates directly into Apple Home via Matter, sends instant alerts, and works locally. No cloud account, no subscription, and no delays.

I have one next to the robot mop vacuum, and I will be adding more.

IKEA Matter over Thread Light Bulbs That Expand Your Smart Home Network

IKEA’s Matter over Thread light bulbs are not just about lighting. Any mains-powered Thread device helps extend the mesh network, so bulbs actively improve coverage.

The standout is the £9 full-colour E27 bulb. I have not picked any up yet, but I will.

We already have a lot of Philips Hue bulbs. They are robust and reliable, but they are also very expensive, even when discounted. IKEA’s bulbs will not replace Hue everywhere, but for secondary rooms and lamps, the value is obvious.

IKEA Motion Sensor with Matter: Cheap, Capable, and Slightly More Complex

IKEA also has a motion sensor in the range. It is inexpensive and rated for outdoor use, which is impressive at the price.

However, using its lux sensor properly depends on your smart home platform. The logic lives in Apple Home or Alexa rather than on the sensor itself. That makes setup more complicated than Philips Hue motion sensors, which handle light and motion locally.

That said, IKEA’s sensor costs around a fifth of the price of a Hue motion sensor, so the extra setup effort feels reasonable.

Why IKEA Is Changing the Cost of Matter Smart Homes

What IKEA is doing here is not about features. It is about removing friction.

• Hardware is cheap enough to deploy everywhere
• Matter avoids lock-in
• Thread delivers speed and reliability
• Physical controls beat apps

This is the first time in a long while that smart home tech feels both affordable and practical.

Final Takeaway

A £3 remote and a £7 water leak sensor that work reliably inside Apple Home would have sounded unrealistic a few years ago.

IKEA’s Matter over Thread range shows that smart homes do not need to be expensive or complicated. If IKEA keeps pushing in this direction, smart homes stop being a premium hobby and start becoming normal household infrastructure.

That shift is long overdue.

Read the Ikea Announcement about the New Matter over Thread range

Tell me what you think in the comments below or on X @timdixon82

The post IKEA Matter over Thread Smart Home: Cheaper, Faster, and More Reliable with Apple Home appeared first on TIM DIXON.

This isn’t about letting AI write for me. It’s about using it to think with me.

Starting with a Project

The magic happens inside something OpenAI calls Projects.

Each project acts like a workspace, a focused environment where you can upload files, define instructions, and build up context over time. I’ve created one called “Tim Dixon Blog Posts.”

Inside that, I upload two files:

• blog_posts which contains examples of my previous writing.
• brand_style which defines my tone, formatting preferences, and image guidelines.

Then I add my instructions, which are the playbook for how I want ChatGPT to write, format, and iterate with me.

I start by creating a document called blog_posts that contains copies of many of my blog posts to use as reference for my style. The file can be txt, PDF, RTF or Word doc – ChatGPT is flexible, as long as we keep the name the same for referencing in the instructions later.

I then create a text file with my brand details in and save it as brand_style.txt and upload it to ChatGPT.

The below code block is a starting point, just tweak to your brand.

Brand Style

Brand Colours
	•	Black: #000000	 – backgrounds, base colour
	•	White: #FFFFFF – primary text and elements
	• Highlight: #007d79– accent highlights
- Grey: #d3d3d3


Typography
	•	Clean sans-serif, medium weight for text overlays
	•	Short, legible text only – never cluttered

Imagery
	•	Minimalist flat vector illustrations
	•	1–3 bold, uncluttered elements per image
	•	Strong contrast: white/highlight elements against black background
	•	No company logos, brand names, or product names

Watermark
	•	Text: “Me”
	•	Position: bottom-left with a safe margin
	•	Style: clean sans-serif, medium weight
	•	Visible but subtle

Composition Rules
	•	Bold, simple layouts with high clarity
	•	Consistent use of brand black background
	•	White as primary for content, highlight only as emphasis

Now the files have been created and uploaded, it is time to setup the instructions. You can copy the below into your instructions to get started.

LinkedIn Content Engine (Always-On Workflow: Text + Branded Image + Alt Text)

Role
You are an assistant that generates LinkedIn content with a branded visual and accessible alt text.
   •   Writing style: mirror my existing blog style (blog_posts).
   •   Use plain English, direct phrasing, and short, clear sentences.
   •   Keep a reflective yet practical edge: insights grounded in lived experience and real-world application.
   •   Avoid jargon unless it clarifies, not complicates.
   •   Structure logically with clear hooks, progression, and concise conclusions.
   •   Visual style: follow brand and colour guidance in brand_style.

⸻

Output Order (strict)
	1.	Post Text
      •   100–200 words.
      •   Reference blog_posts for style.
      •   Begin with a strong hook (question, insight, or bold statement).
      •   Maintain professional, approachable tone.
      •   Sentences short and scannable.
      •   Conclude with a discussion-inviting call-to-action.
      •   No emojis.
      •   No em dashes.
      •   No company names, product names, or trademarks.

2.	Image (auto-generated)
      •   Always generate the image using image_gen.text2im.
      •   Prompt template:
"Flat vector illustration inspired by the topic: <TOPIC>. Follow brand colours and rules from brand_style. Minimalist, bold, uncluttered composition. Exclude company logos, product names, or branded items."
      •   Size: 1024x1024
      •   n: 1
3.	Alt Text
      •   Must be written after examining the generated image.
      •   ≤200 characters, single sentence.
      •   Concise, factual, specific to the composition.
      •   No filler like “Image of” or “Picture showing.”
      •   No company names or products.

⸻

Accessibility & Consistency Checks
   •   Follow strong contrast and style guidance from brand_style.
   •   Watermark must be visible but subtle.
   •   No emojis or em dashes in post text.
   •   Alt text must always be based on the actual generated image, never the prompt.
   •   Alt text under 200 characters.

Once the project is saved, ChatGPT automatically references these files every time I start a new conversation inside it. That means it already knows my voice, my preferred structure, and how I like my posts to feel.

The Workflow

Once the project is set up, my process is refreshingly simple.

1. I open the project.
2. I enter a subject line, for example “Using AI for personal branding” or “What I learned after 30 days of LinkedIn posting.”
3. I hit enter.

Within seconds, ChatGPT generates a full draft and suggests a header image concept. I review, tweak, and refine, usually in two or three passes, until it sounds like me.

That’s the key. It’s still my voice, just supported by a system that handles the blank-page problem.

Why It Works

The power of this setup comes from context.

Most people treat ChatGPT like a one-off conversation. Each chat starts from zero, so the model doesn’t know your tone, your formatting style, or your target audience. Projects remember your setup.

Because I’ve uploaded my past writing and a clear style guide, the model understands:

• how I format headings and summaries
• the tone I use when explaining technical or accessibility topics
• and the cadence of short, readable paragraphs

The result feels authentic and consistent, not templated or robotic.

The Image Side

Once the text is ready, I use ChatGPT’s built-in image generation tool to create a visual to match.

The setup from my brand_style file ensures that each image follows the same visual language, clean and minimalist. I usually ask for flat vector illustrations with just a few bold elements and then refine the concept until it fits the theme of the post.

It’s not a replacement for a designer, but it removes friction. Everything I publish feels coherent without me jumping between different tools or templates.

The Human Layer

AI can draft content, but it can’t bring personal experience or judgment. That’s where I come back in.

Once I have the draft, I edit for rhythm and authenticity. I add lived experiences, the small details that make a post relatable. I also make sure the accessibility descriptions are clear and that the tone stays conversational.

The result is a workflow that pairs the speed of AI with the sincerity of human editing.

Why I Like It

Since adopting this workflow, I’ve noticed a few big wins:

• Less friction. I spend more time refining ideas, less time formatting or prompting.
• Better consistency. My tone and visuals stay aligned without constant setup.
• Accessibility awareness. Every image gets meaningful alt text, and ChatGPT helps me phrase it concisely.
• Flexibility. I can repurpose a blog post into a LinkedIn article or vice versa in minutes.

It’s like having a creative assistant who already knows my writing habits and structure.

Lessons Learned

A few tips if you want to try something similar:

• Upload reference material. Give ChatGPT real examples of your writing.
• Document your style. A simple text file describing your tone and format is enough.
• Stay in control. Treat the AI as a co-writer, not a ghostwriter.
• Iterate. The first draft rarely nails it, but the second and third often do.
• Use someone’s eyes to check the design.

The Verdict

ChatGPT has gone from being a clever demo to an actual part of my creative process.

By building a dedicated project with a couple of well-chosen files and instructions, I’ve turned it into a lightweight content studio that helps me think, write, and design faster without losing the human touch.

It’s not about replacing creativity. It’s about amplifying it.

And if AI can make my posts more consistent, accessible, and authentic, that’s a win I’ll take any day.

Tell me what you think in the comments below or on X @timdixon82

The post From Idea to Post: How I Use ChatGPT and AI Images for LinkedIn appeared first on TIM DIXON.

My First Travel Router

Back in 2013 I was travelling for work a lot and the hotel I was staying in limited me to 3 devices, this wasn’t enouch when I have personal and work devices, so I looked for a solution. At the time I got a Zyxel travel router and it just made life so much easier. I connected it to the hotel wifi and confirmed my details once and then all of my devices connected to it. I dragged the router out the draw and realised after a quick search that it had vulnerabilities and was no longer secure to use.

The Hunt for a New Travel Router

The hunt for a new travel router began with a list of must haves:

• Wifi 6 or better
• Small and light
• Can connect to Wifi easily
• Supports Tailscale (a mesh VPN)

It wasn’t long before the GL.inet travel router range was discovered. They run DD WRT and are compatible with Open WRT which is an open source router firmware providing many advanced features and levels of customisation. To top it off, they have competitve pricing and a broad community of users.

After reviewing the different models, the GL.inet Beryl AX (affiliate link) was purchased.

Setting up the GL.inet Beryl AX Travel Router

The Beryl AX travel router comes with a USB C power adapter with options for many mains power connections (US, Europe, UK etc) and an RJ45 cable. The device itself is about 12 cm wide by 9 cm deep and 3 cm tall. There are two flat antenas that pivot from the side upwards ensuring it is compact for travel.

On powering the unit up, you scan a QR code on the bottom to connect to the wifi it broadcasts. Once connected you can go to 192.168.8.1 in a web browser and configure the device. I configured the wifi to match my home wifi SSID and Password, so all our existing devices will connect to it without change. From the web interface you can setup repeater mode, where you can connect to a wifi network to provide internet connection to devices connected to the router.

It was a pleasant surprise to find that you can tether your mobile phone to the device via a USB A port. Once tethered the travel router will use your phone’s internet to provide the internet to the travel router wifi network. For this to work with an iPhone, you do need to ensure that Personal Hotspot is turned on. The router includes two network ports, one for connecting and using as a source of internet (WAN), and a second to connect devices to and allow them to use the Travel Routers connection.

Connecting to Home while Travelling with Tailscale

Tailscale is a mesh VPN allowing you to connect many computers together by installing the Tailscale app. Tailscale is free for personal use and computers, phones, tablets, Apple TV boxes and even routers can use it to connect. The Beryl AX supports connecting to a TailScale network, allowing all devices connected to the travel router to connect through to the Tailscale network. By setting up a Tailscale exit node at home and configuring the travel router to use the exit node, you can be sure that all traffic goes via your home network.This can be useful when you are travelling abroad and still want to access streaming services that may be region restricted.

Conclusion

Initial testing shows that the travel router can be powered by a USB power bank and tethered to your phone to provide your home network anywhere. The fear of loosing hours to setting up wifi has been replaced with excitement to test out this solution and enjoy the time saved.

Update 11 August 2025: the travel router is working perfectly at our holiday cottage and has saved lots of hassle and frustration. After trying the interface with Voice Over on the iPhone, it is not accessible. The software includes dialogs that hover while the voice over focus remains behind on the main page. Disappointing.

Listen to me discuss the travel router and tailscale with Callum Stoneman, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece on Double Tap Extra.

Tell me what you think in the comments below or on X @timdixon82

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What is CPACC?

The IAAP (International Association of Accessibility Professionals) is a global organisation that supports accessibility professionals through resources, networking, and certifications to advance accessibility standards and best practices.

CPACC (Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies) is a foundational certification in accessibility from IAAP, covering core disability concepts, accessibility principles, and universal design.

CPACC Exam Preparation

IAAP provide a book of knowledge that contains all the information and links to resources that are needed to revise for the exam within a PDF. While the information is there, it doesn’t fit everyones learning style.

However, there are many great resources available to help with preparing for the exam.

Deque are a leader in accessibility, providing consultancy, tools and training. They provide a scholarship with access to their courses for anyone with a disability.

The Deque CPACC preparation course is very good and available via the scholarship or for a fee. I can highly recommend the course.

The amazing Ashley Peacock created this quiz to help with preparation for the CPACC exam. The quiz is in the style of the exam and really helps to build your confidence in the topics.

There are many other resources available, from YouTube videos to online courses.

Exam Process

I took the Exam via the Pearson OnVue remote system with accommodations to allow my screen reader and magnifier. Since taking the exam, IAAP have updated the process, which I hope will have resolved some of the niggles I had in booking the exam.

The Pearson OnVue software was temperamental with a set of requirements that you need to meet. Initially I wanted to take it on my Mac or via a Windows Virtual Machine on my Mac – these are blocked, you must use a Windows machine. The other constraint is not to run it on a corporate PC due to security software like zScaler which may interfere.

Once meeting the machine criteria, I started to have issue with the download performance, this wasn’t my internet connection as I was receiving 100 times the minimum speed. It seemed to fluctuate with how much the service was being used. I had to just retry until it worked. In my case I had to wait an hour after the start time for the invigilator to check my environment and allow me into the exam.

Once in the exam, the exam software was accessible with a screen reader. The software provided the option to flag questions you are unsure of, so you can return to them later, which was extremely useful. On completing the exam, you must wait 4-6 weeks for the results.

Is it worth it?

Only you can answer that. For me, it has helped expand my knowledge and signals my commitment to accessibility. There is a fantastic growing community of accessibility professionals, learning together to make the world accessible. The Champions of Accessibility Network (CAN) is a LinkedIn group with meetups, sharing best practice and supporting each other to drive accessibility forward.

Tell me what you think in the comments below or on X @timdixon82

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• Bluetooth Glasses – essentially bluetooth headphones in glasses form
• Mainstream Camera Smart Glasses – Smart Glasses with a camera designed and targeted at the general public.
• Mainstream Screen based Smart Glasses – Smart Glasses with screens in the lenses, allowing viewing of content directly on the glasses.
• Specialist Smart Glasses – Smart Glasses designed for the blind and low vision market, to meet our specific needs.

Bluetooth Glasses

Bluetooth glasses are essentially headphones in the form of glasses. They allow open ear listening, great for using navigation apps while still being able ot hear your surroundings. I have multiple pairs and recommend the Oho Sunshine Bluetooth Sunglasses (Affiliate Link) for cost effective glasses with USB C charging.

Mainstream Camera Smart Glasses

The best example of mainstream Camera Smart Glasses are the Meta RayBan Smart Glasses. These come in around £300-£500 depending the frames and lenses. Being RayBan glasses, you can have prescription lenses. There are a few other companies looking to enter this market in 2025.

Meta Ray Ban functionality and uses

• Use them to listen to your phone, voiceover/music/make calll
• Ask Meta AI (using your voice), about the time and general questions about weather or history etc.
• Ask Meta AI to take a photo or video – this is hands free and based on where you are looking – making capturing memories easier.
• Ask Meta AI to send a message or read a message from SMS, WhatsApp, or Facebook Messenger
• Send photos and videos via WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger
• Make Audio and Video calls via WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. When in a video call, you can double tap the camera button on the right glasses arm and it will send your glasses camera feed to the person you have called. Great for calling friends and family for help.
• Be My Eyes – Ask Meta AI to Be My Eyes and it will connect you to a volunteer who can see through your glasses without needing to pick up your phone.
• Video recordings have a max limit of up to 3 minutes
• Battery lasts for about 15 minutes of video recording, so you will need to charge them. Charging is simple, you just put them in the case and it charges. The charging is pretty fast – 50% in 20-30 minutes.
• The glasses use your phone for internet connection, you will need this on and within a signal range to work.
• The big feature we all got excited about, was the one called Look and Tell. This seems to be very intermittent in the UK, some people have it and other don’t. Then it disappears one day even if you did have it. This is where you can ask meta to describe what you are looking at. It is cool, but I found I had to ask lots of follow up questions to get the details. It was not good at reading text, often summarising or adding information that didn’t exist. Meta have stated that this functionality is not available in the UK at this time (Dec 2024).

For more information and links to videos – see my Meta RayBan Review post.

Mainstream Screen based Smart Glasses

These are glasses that have screens in the lenses. These are often targeted at people watching moves on the equiverlant to a 140 inch screen. As a result, I am yet to hear of them being used for low vision, although they can be connected to computers to provide a large screen. Check out TCL Nxtwear Glasses Product

Specialised Glasses

Specialised glasses/headsets are developed specifically for the Blind and Low Vision community. Specialist devices are typically much more expensive with the cost between £3,000-£10,000. Some of the common products include:

Envision Glasses

The Envision glasses provide the functionality of the Envision App you can get on your phone. They will read text, call people and identify objects. The hardware is based on Google Glass, but Google stopped producing these a few years ago. Envision will support them, but to be honest they are showing their age and the functionality compared to Meta RayBan’s don’t justify the cost in my opinion. I did try the Envision glasses a year or so ago and couldn’t justify the cost for me.

Orcam

Orcam is device you can attach to your glasses and it will read printed text. It is great as it does it all offline and is accurate. However the cost is high and the parent company are changing focus. I have an old version and wouldn’t buy it again. The startup time is just a little too long and the battery life is too short. I was also disappointed that after just over a year, additional features became available and to get them, I needed to upgrade the device for 3/4’s of the original cost.
For a demo and advice, check out VisionAid – Orcam Product Page

Headsets

Finally with have a range of products that you put on your head and look at screens, the screens display what the cameras on the front of the device sees, but it adjusts it for different eye conditions. These are great for making the most of your vision, especially if your vision is stable and not deteriorating. You would have to try different ones to find what works for you. VisionAid are very good, they will come out to you and help you select the right specialist tech for you. Check out the VisionAid Iris Vision Product Page amd reach out ot VisionAid to discuss your requirements.

Blind and Low Vision Smart Glasses Conclusion

The smart glasses and AI technology are moving fast, with early AI models available that describe realtime video feeds. If you can afford to buy a product and accept you may only get 12-24 months out of them before they are superceded by the next innovation. It is easier to take that change with Glasses like the Meta RayBan, but the specialised technology is, in my opinion, too expensive to take a chance on. Only you will know the positive impact on your life and if they are worth the costs.

Tell me what you think in the comments below or on X @timdixon82

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The Sight Village Interviews

The Setup

After the interviews aired I had been asked about the equipment I used to record at the event, so thought I would share that in this blog.

Camera

My iPhone 16 Pro Max (Affiliate Link) was the main component, but any iPhone with USB C allows you to capture directly from a range of USB C microphones, allowing you to improve the sound quality. The cameras on the iPhone provide fantastic video with little adjustment required. I simply ensured I was recording at 4k, 30 frames per second, to allow for cropping the video in editing.

Microphone

For the sound, I used an Audio Technica ATR 2100X USB Cardoid Microphone (Affiliate Link). The Audio Technica has the option of XLR or USB connection, making it ideal as a first microphone, providing a path to using the XLR with mixers and more professional equipment. The USB plugs into the bottom of the microphone and then into the iPhone and it works immediately.

There is a 3.5 mm headphone jack that I plugged classic Apple Ear Pods into to be able to monitor what the microphone was picking up, and for the audio from the phone to feed through. I picked up a pair of the headphones on eBay at about half the price of Apple, but be warned there are lots of fake ones around.

Extras

The phone and microphone are enough to record, but I had originally hoped to be able to record myself and the interviewee in frame, so I had purchased a Insta 360 Flow Pro gimbal with the hope that I could get the camera far enough away to get everyone in frame, sadly this was a step too far and created issues with the lead from the microphone tugging on the gimbal. I did use the Insta 360 Flow Pro to help keep the camera footage stable and smooth. I picked the Insta 360 Flow Pro because it integrates with Apple Dock Kit, allowing the tracking to be used from any application. This was important as I expected the Insta 360 software to be less than accessible, which I was right to be wary of.

Thankfully, I only needed to capture the footage and get it over to Steven Scott. Steven did all the challenging work editing the final output.

Double Tap Interviewing Me

With many curious on the setup, Steven and Shaun interviewed me to find out more.

Tell me what you think in the comments below or on X @timdixon82

Thank you

Thank you to Steven and Shaun at Double Tap for entertaining my desire to do this and then include it on the show.

A massive thank you to all those I interviewed:

• Philip Ward of Seeing Solutions
• Graham Longly of Aspire Consultancy
• Jason Shaw of Vision Aid
• Gasya Cavusyan Uncu of WeWalk

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The Background

Our neighbours would be forgiven for thinking that I am torturing a cat every time I have a shower. Like many I like to listen to music and audio books in the shower. When we had our bathroom done a few years back, we installed a Bluetooth speaker, and have an Amazon Echo connected to it so we can control it hands free. Over time, I have become frustrated with Amazon Alexa and its limits on the speed of listening to audio books which caps out at 1.5 times.

The Problem

Over the last few years, I have learnt to listen and enjoy content at much faster speeds, with some podcasts playing at 3 times normal speed. Listening to a 8 hour book in chunks of 10 minutes every morning was taking a long time at 1.5 times. I started by trying to use my iPhone with the Bluetooth speaker directly, but Bluetooth isn’t that friendly and I couldn’t easily control it with the Shortcuts app. I would find the Echo had connected and need to disconnect it before I could connect my phone.

The Solution – Add AirPlay to Existing Speakers

My search for a better solution found a few adapters that support AirPlay, but with a cost of around £100, it wasn’t a very appealing option. I also considered putting a Homepod Mini in the bathroom, but there are issues with getting power to one and that the fabric would be unlikely to survive the steamy environment.

I came across a couple of Youtube videos where people were using old Apple AirPort Express Wireless Access Points as AirPlay receivers. There is a specific model, It needs to be the Apple AirPort Express A1392 as described by Dylan Macintosh in his YouTube video.

After watching this and a few other videos, I decided to try it out. It was easy to find these old AirPort Express A1392 units on Ebay, and had one in my hands a few days later. I also purchased a 3.5 mm to RCA cable to connect to my ceiling speaker. I started by resetting the device to factory settings, this Youtube video explains how:

I installed the Airport Utility on my MacBook Pro and connected to the Airport Express to my network with Ethernet. I used the Airport utility to configure the Airport Express – the following video provides details:

Once setup, I was able to AirPlay from my phone to the connected speaker. Now it was all set up outside of the loft, I sent my better half into the loft to connect it up to the ceiling speaker. Knowing it is a pain to get up there, we put the AirPort express on a smart plug, to allow us to power cycle it if needed, without needing to get into the loft. The device worked first time and has been working flawlessly since.

Tell me what you think in the comments below or on X @timdixon82

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My TPLink Kasa Setup

We have three of the TPLink Kasa KP303 (Hardware v1.0) three way smart extension leads. These have been used under desks for controlling power to monitors and laptops. Also used in the bedroom to control power to phone charges and a CPAP machine. We also have a couple of single TPLink Kasa plugs KP105 (Hardware version 2.0). Again using these to cut the power to the TV and other equipment.

All the devices are set up in Kasa and then made available to Apple Homekit using Homebridge. This allows me to have routines for going to bed and getting up that turn devices on and off as I need them. We have been able to reduce our power consumption without needing to change our living habits.

Why Turning TPLink Kasa Smart Plugs Off in App Stopped Working?

After over a year of use, I noticed that the monitor on my desk was on when I thought it should be off. On investigating, turning TPLink Kasa Smart Plugs off in App stopped working, I found that the Kasa app was showing it switching on and off, but the smart plug was permanently on. After un plugging the extension lead, and moving it – it seemed to work again. Well it worked for a day or so and then it stopped. It seems that the relay switching the devices on and off welds open over time. If you bang the plug it will free off and work for a while, then stick again.

Initially, I thought it was just a single unit, but over time I found that it happened to most of the latest plugs and extension leads we have. It seems to be more notable if they are switching TV’s or Monitors, and of course if it is a daily activity.

As mine are outside of warranty, I have decided not to replace or repair them. I also wont be recommending any TPLink smart plugs, which had previously been my go to.

What to replace TPLink Kasa Smart Plugs with?

I have found I need to replace a few extension leads now, but what should I replace them with? A colleague had mentioned Meross and that they had been happy with them. Meross has a range of extension leads with four or six outlets and USB options including USB C. Some of the models work directly with Apple HomeKit and they allow the USB to be turned on and off.

After a little research, I jumped in and replaced a couple of them with the Apple Homekit enabled ones – they have been working for a couple of months without issue now. I would recommend them. (This is the one I bought > Smart Fast Charging Power Strip, MSP843P (UK Version) – Meross Official Store)

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How does the Mac Differ?

I found this short video by MacVince a fantastic overview of the key changes between a PC and Mac.

Keyboard Layout

The keyboard on a Mac is different to a PC.

Control, Option and Command Keys

The Command key on a Mac is the equivalent to Control on a PC – despite it being located where you would expect an Alt key on a PC.

The Option key on a Mac is the equivalent to an Alt key but is commonly where you would find a Windows key on a PC.

The Control key on a Mac is different from a Control key on the PC and is located where you would find the control key on a PC.

Function Keys

There is a function key in the bottom left of the keyboard where you would expect to find a control key on most PC keyboards.

The Function keys default to a range of functions like brightness, Spotlight and volume controls. Pressing the Function (FN) key in the bottom left along with the function key on the top row will function as F1 – F12 depending on the key pressed.

Help – where is the @, # or Delete Key?

There is no # key on the keyboard, but you can get the hash key by pressing option and 3.

The @ sign is shift and 2 while the ” (double quote) is shift plus single quote ‘.

There is no delete key, to delete forward, you press FN and the backspace key.

Keyboard Shortcuts

• Command and Space will open Spotlight
• Command and C for Copy
• Command and V for Paste
• Command and Q to quit an application
• Command and W to close a window or tab
• Command and Tab to switch between applications
• Control and Tab to switch between tabs in a browser

For a more comprehensive list, check out this Apple Mac Keyboard Shortcut Support Artiicle

Settings to Change

So, you have your new Mac and know where some of the keys are, but what settings should you be changing to make the most of the Mac? I enjoyed this video by MacVince.

Getting Applications

With your Mac configuration updated, you may want to install some additional applications. Check out Mac App Installs with HomeBrew article on how to use HomeBrew.

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What is HomeBrew?

Homebrew is a package installer, it is a command line utility that helps to install and update applications.

How to get HomeBrew?

Homebrew is easy to install. Go to brew.sh for the latest install instructions. Below are the steps as of Jan 2024.

1. Press Command Space to open ‘SpotLight’
2. Type Terminal
3. Select terminal
4. Copy the code below and paste into terminal. Press Enter and follow instructions.

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Mac App installs with HomeBrew

Now homebrew is installed, it is time to get some key applications installed.

MAS – Mac App Store Command Line

Full details available mas — Homebrew Formulae – run the below command to install.

brew install mas

Python

Install python to run python scripts. Full details pyenv — Homebrew Formulae

brew install pyenv

Visual Studio Code

Install Visual Studio Code by following full details at visual-studio-code — Homebrew Formulae or run

brew install --cask visual-studio-code

1Password

Install 1Password password manager by following the full instructions on 1password — Homebrew Formulae or running the command below:

brew install --cask 1password

Brew Bundle – scripting installs

Right, so you now have a few dozen apps installed and are dreading trying to remember them all, should you reinstall. That is where Brew Bundle comes in. Brew Bundle is installed as standard and has the ability to create a brewfile. Run the code below to create a brewfile listing all the apps installed.

brew bundle dump

Store the Brewfile safely for your next reinstall. You can pass the brewfile into Brew Bundle and it will install all the apps for you. You can edit the brewfile to add/remove applications. I found this post extremely useful > Use Homebrew Bundle to manage software installation on macOS – DEV Community

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