Welcome back to the blog! After a short summer break, we’re back with a packed tech discussion featuring Gary and Ian. From smart home automation using budget ESPHome devices to updates in Windows 11, CR-78 drum machine recreations, and the latest in EV charging policy — this week’s episode covers a lot of ground!

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Topics Discussed

00:00 – Back from Holiday
Ian shares his recent trip to Italy, bringing along his Surface Go and capturing ambient seaside sounds for future music projects.

02:01 – £8 Smart Home AI Assistant?
Gary dives into his latest home automation experiment using a Xiao AI speaker flashed with ESPHome, now integrated with Google Gemini and a local large language model for voice-controlled automation.

05:01 – Smart Home Voice Demo
Live demos include turning on studio lights and opening blinds using voice commands — all processed locally.

07:04 – Wake Words, Custom Voices & LLMs
Gary explains how to use Micro Wake Word for custom wake phrases and how his AI assistant mimics natural conversation for smarter automation.

10:02 – Natural Language Automation
From “It’s dull in here” to “The sun’s in my eyes,” discover how context-aware voice commands are changing the game.

14:02 – AI vs. True Intelligence
We explore the limitations of large language models, the risks of overreliance, and the importance of human expertise.

19:04 – AI-Powered Visual Detection
No gate sensors? No problem. Gary explains how AI models trained on camera feeds can detect open/closed states for smart triggers.

25:15 – Windows 11 Updates & Canary Features
Mini icons, machine recovery, and the future of Windows — are we heading toward Windows 12?

28:24 – MIDI 2.0 & Audio Tech in Windows
Ian discusses upcoming changes to the Windows media stack, including MIDI 2.0 support.

29:18 – Music Tech Round-Up
New CR-78 pattern recreations (including Japan and Dollar), Modwave patch tutorials (D-50 hybrid, analog pads, sync leads), and a new ring modulation demo on the Korg Multi/Poly.

31:09 – New Album Incoming
Ian previews his finished instrumental album with retro ’70s–’80s synth vibes (think Jan Hammer, Tangerine Dream, Vangelis).

32:02 – Blink Cameras & Battery Life Hacks
Extended battery packs, integration with Home Assistant, and smart camera chaining — it’s all here.

36:02 – EV Updates
New government EV grants, proper road signage, and solid-state battery tech just around the corner.

43:04 – Future of Cooling Tech
From nano-tech air conditioning to Peltier-based solutions that cool your room and heat your water — material science is heating up.

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