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LIVE Suites startingfrom the mid$800s 80% SOLDOUT 1-833-ROYAL-51 info@royalport.ca Royally ON THE SHORES Of pORT dALHOuSiE Advertorial Connected appliances: How to smarten up your home (NC) Today, we are seeing more Wi-Fi-enabled appliances that connect to your home network and operate through an app on your smartphone. Your smartphone functions as a remote control for your home, and because your appliances are connected to your home network, you'll be able to access certain controls and functions remotely. But what are the tangible benefits? For one, these appliances continue to grow and advance with your home. Just like your smartphone, these devices introduce frequent software updates that continue to improve the experi- ence and adjust your settings as your family's needs change. Remote access to your appliances can help you monitor en- ergy consumption when you're on vacation or not spending as much time at home. You can also receive notifications that let you speed up the process of washing dishes or doing laundry. If anything goes wrong with your appliance, you can troubleshoot the error codes right from your phone. Having connected appliances can change the way you live, cook and function. Imagine enjoying your morning coffee while ordering groceries from a screen on your fridge. There are so many ways you can optimize your home with connected appliances, and with so many options you have the benefit of selecting one that fits your specific needs. Best Buy is a great resource to learn about the different appliances and their connected functionality. Visit your local store to learn more. Make any room a home theatre (NC) Winter is made for curling up inside to watch a good movie or tv show. And when you're in hibernation mode, it's nice to have a dedicated place for binge-watching. Here are some tips to create your very own theatre at home: Minimize ambient disruptions You don't need to do a major remodel, but a few changes can help cut out distract-but a few changes can help cut out distract-but a few changes can help cut out distract ing sounds and light. Try choosing a space that's naturally darker like your basement, or you can fake it with room-darkening or blackout blinds. When it comes to eliminat-blackout blinds. When it comes to eliminat-blackout blinds. When it comes to eliminat ing noise, softer materials can make a big difference - add an area rug, throw pillows and lush curtains. Plan for proper viewing For a comfortable experience, consider some rules of thumb for viewing and seat-some rules of thumb for viewing and seat-some rules of thumb for viewing and seat ing distances. The distance from your tv should be 1.5 to 2.5 times the diagonal width of the screen, and it's best to have the centre of the screen at eye level. If you're buying a new tv, use this formula to see how big you can go before it starts to get overwhelming. Get the right media stand You don't want a multitude of cables clut-You don't want a multitude of cables clut-You don't want a multitude of cables clut tering up your home theatre, so look for a cabinet that has space for cable manage- ment. If you still have a Blu-ray or DVD player, make sure there's space for it too. If most of your content comes via the inter-If most of your content comes via the inter-If most of your content comes via the inter net, plan for your Wi-Fi router to be nearby. It's also important that your electronics are well ventilated, as they can heat up when in use. A power strip with built-in surge protec- tion can be a cost effective way to protect your high-tech toys. Streamline your content Many of us are cutting the cord nowa- days, replacing traditional television with online subscription services. But if you still want to enjoy a cable-like experience, con- sider TiVo Edge for antenna, a live tv, DVR and streaming player that lets you easily find and watch the content you love. It inte- grates popular apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, as well as live-to-air television, and has handy features that let you search across content partners, record shows and skip commercials. Find more information at tivo.com/ca. in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, D ec em be r 26 ,2 01 9 | 28 Angie Tsopelas (McKinnon) B.Comm Broker Merry Christma s Cell 416-670-4777 Aboutowne Realty Corp, Brokerage Independently owned and operated Platinum, Lifetime Achievement joyeux Noëlκαλά χριστούγεν να ABOUTOWNE Realty Corp., Brokerage. Independently Owned and Operated.