Should Elon bring Vine back?

Vine. That amazing world of 6-second video genius. At the height of its glory it was purchased by Twitter and almost immediately killed off. The reasoning given for the unceremonious destruction of this incredibly creative platform? There was no way to make it profitable. Let's tell that to ByteDance (TikTok) who saw $18.3 billion in revenue during the first three months of 2022. It would appear that the issue was not in the product, it was in the management. 

Now that Elon Musk has purchased Twitter, why not re-launch Vine? The world of short video could use some healthy competition outside of the Meta universe. I guess YouTube shorts is out there, but having a focused short video app like Vine, based in the US instead of China, could be a real game changer. Let's make this happen!

Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike pauses workout

 We have a Schwinn 270 recumbent bike that is pausing the workout as if we've stopped peddling. My first thought was that the sensor, or the magnet that the sensor reads, had come loose. I was able to remove the shroud on the front of the exercise bike without removing the peddle, but to actually replace the sensor, the shroud needed to come off. 

Since the bike was still fairly new, Schwinn sent us the replacement kit so we could take care of this repair ourselves. The kit included the new sensor, as well as the tool used to remove the peddle from the axle. After removing the peddle, I was able to remove the left shroud and access the sensor. Fishing the wire for the sensor up and down behind the zip ties was probably the hardest part of the whole operation, and even that wasn't very difficult. The old sensor came out, the new one went in, and we were back in business! The entire process probably took 15 min or so. 

Streaming devices

Introduction

You may be asking, "Why would I buy a separate streaming device? I just got this fancy new smart TV!" In my experience, the interfaces (the way you navigate on your TV) on most smart TVs are clunky, slow, and poorly built. In most cases, you're better off using the TV to display the content, and a separate device to stream it. So if you're looking for a streaming device for your television but aren't sure where to start, we've got some options for you.

Apple TV

Apple TV is a set-top box that allows you to stream content from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to your TV, as well as streaming content directly via installed apps. You can also use it to play games, listen to music, and work out with Apple Fitness+.

The Apple TV has its own remote so it can be used without another smart device but if you have an iOS device like an iPhone or iPad then you can use them as a remote as well! Since the Apple TV does not mount behind your TV like the other devices we've listed, you'll need to set it beside the TV or run a cable to the TV from wherever you set the box.

Chromecast

Chromecast is a small device that plugs into your TV's HDMI port. It connects to the internet and allows you to stream content from your phone, tablet or computer to your TV. The Chromecast has no internal storage and does not come with a remote control, so you must use a separate smart device to stream to the Chromecast.

Roku

Roku is another streaming device that you can plug into your TV. It's still relatively inexpensive and has a lot of features.

Another downside to Roku is that the interface feels slow and clunky. Compared to the Apple TV interface (which is smooth and quick) Roku falls far short.

Firestick

The Firestick is the Amazon streaming device that is about the size of a flash drive. It comes with a remote, it ties into your Amazon account, and works with Alexa.

This device can be used to stream content from Netflix, Hulu, HBO GO and more—but it also has other functions like playing music or videos on demand through Prime Music or Showtime Anytime. It does come with a remote, so no need for a separate smart device to use it.

Conclusion

We hope this article has helped you decide on which streaming device is right for you. There are many options out there, and it can be a challenge to choose one that fits your needs. But if you know the basics about each of these devices, then finding the best one should be easier than ever!

---Written poorly by AI, edited poorly by typicalthrill