Semicromulent Rambling

In this post, I'll delve into how to use the local RESTful API for reduced latency and enhanced reliability when controlling lights in Home Assistant with Nature Remo. Background IR-controlled lights are ubiquitous in Japan, even with the emergence of newer "smart" models that often rely on proprietary protocols and apps. Home Assistant offers various ways to control IR lights, with   Broadlink  transmitters and the  SmartIR integration  being a popular choice. While this setup worked well for lights, controlling AC was less reliable due to the IR code complexity. Commercial AC controllers, such as those from Sensibo and Nature Remo, offered superior AC control reliability. However, Sensibo's focus on climate control and the limitations of the  Nature Remo integration  at the time meant that controlling both lights and AC required two IR blasters per room—a redundancy I wanted to eliminate. Nature Remo integration (cloud polling) My initial attempt inv...

It's 1994 all over again, but instead of the Windows key, Microsoft is pushing the Copilot key onto our keyboards, regardless of our AI preferences. While Microsoft believes Copilot enhances Windows PCs with features like " Recall ", many, myself included, prefer a cleaner OS experience, rendering the Copilot button unnecessary. Microsoft's limited customization options for the button is a frustration, further hindered for those who disable Copilot. Thankfully, reassigning the button is a simple workaround. I'll demonstrate how to reassign it to Google Gemini using AutoHotkey or MS PowerToys. 1. Install the Gemini app Navigate to gemini.google.com in a Chrome-based browser Click the three vertical dots (kebab menu) and select Cast, save, and share . Choose Install page as app... and click Install in the popup that appears. 2. Find the app target (app ID) Search for "Gemini" in the Windows Start menu. Right-click the Gemini shortcut and select Open file...