Brent Gervais, a home server and NAS expert, returns to share his latest NAS building adventures, revealing insights and hiccups along the way. The conversation takes a deep dive into optimizing media centers, tackling sound management, and creating efficient family computing setups. They explore the merits of Jellyfin for media management and discuss the secure connections enabled by Tailscale. Plus, Brent offers tips on choosing encrypted chat apps to enhance digital privacy. Expect tech tips and engaging banter throughout!
The podcast discusses the versatility of the UV Beast flashlight, highlighting its applications in medical use and detecting hidden messes like pet stains.
Brent shares insights on building a NAS system using the Odroid H4 Plus, focusing on enhanced data security and efficient backup solutions.
The dialogue emphasizes the transition to encrypted messaging apps for improved digital security within families, recommending platforms like Signal and NextCloud.
Deep dives
Innovative Uses for a UV Flashlight
A portable UV flashlight, known as the UV Beast, was highlighted for its unique capabilities and practical applications. Unlike typical UV lights that dim, this model maintains brightness and features a USB-C charging port, facilitating rapid recharging. Its utility spans various fields, including medical uses, detecting secret messages, and even finding pet stains like cat urine. One notable application discussed was using the flashlight to trace oil leaks in car projects, demonstrating its versatility and appeal for both DIY enthusiasts and everyday users.
Building a Family NAS with Odroid H4 Plus
The construction of a Network Attached Storage (NAS) system was discussed, centering on the use of the Odroid H4 Plus board. This decision stemmed from the need to upgrade an outdated, noisy system at a family member's home, which relied heavily on several USB drives connected to an old laptop. The goal is to create a streamlined, efficient backup system that mirrors data locally, enhancing data security and accessibility. This dual NAS approach also allows for convenient off-site data backup for both parties, strengthening data redundancy.
Odroid H4 Plus Specifications and Benefits
The Odroid H4 Plus was praised for its specifications and design, striking a balance between performance and ease of use for home NAS setups. With a power-efficient N97 processor and several SATA ports, it allows for extensive storage options while maintaining a low power footprint. The hardware's compatibility with existing storage gear was also emphasized, making it a suitable choice for users wanting to expand their systems without starting from scratch. Furthermore, the device's design supports future RAM upgrades, ensuring longevity and adaptability for various tasks.
Media Server Considerations with Jellyfin
The transition to using Jellyfin for media streaming was extensively covered, showcasing its benefits over other platforms such as Plex. Jellyfin offers features like syncing watch states across multiple servers, enhancing user convenience. The discussion also included ideas for managing holiday-specific content to avoid overwhelming family members with an extensive library at all times. This emphasis on tailored media experiences highlights Jellyfin's flexibility for different user needs and preferences.
Exploring Secure Communication Solutions
The conversation shifted to the rising need for secure messaging solutions in light of recent cybersecurity incidents. The discussion pointed out the importance of switching family members from traditional SMS to encrypted communication apps, promoting safety in digital interactions. Various platforms were suggested, including Signal and NextCloud for private sharing solutions. The dialogue emphasized an opportunity to educate relatives on digital security, advocating for more secure communication practices within the family.
Brent joins to share part two of his NAS build adventure, and things take a tiny turn. Plus, picking the right encrypted chat app and Chris stacks a few Jellyfin wins.
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uvBeast New V3 365nm Mini - Black Light UV Flashlight β UV On A Different Level Entirely. Same high octane yet low contamination uvBeast UV as the V3 365nm. The viewing quality will really impress you. Filtered 365nm UV is considered as the gold standard sweet spot for UV users. uvBeast optimized 365nm UV is in a different league, with little visible light leak, which is exactly what you want in a UV light
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maid: Be lazy. Let Maid clean up after you. β Maid keeps files from sitting around too long, untouched. Many of the downloads and temporary files you collect can easily be categorized and handled appropriately by rules you define. Let the maid in your computer take care of the easy stuff, so you can spend more of your time on what matters.
organize: The file management automation tool. β Your desktop is a mess? You cannot find anything in your downloads and documents? Sorting and renaming all these files by hand is too tedious? Time to automate it once and benefit from it forever.
TagStudio: A User-Focused Photo & File Management System β TagStudio is a photo & file organization application with an underlying tag-based system that focuses on giving freedom and flexibility to the user. No proprietary programs or formats, no sea of sidecar files, and no complete upheaval of your filesystem structure.