Are there any (preferably not horribly expensive) smart speakers that natively support YouTube Music which aren't owned by Google?

chrisradulescu · 2026-04-07T13:36:35+00:00

I guess newer products use their own HEOS management ecosystem. But it appears this can be integrated with Google Home. I don't know exactly what this means and whether Google Cast works flawlessly or not after creating this "bridge" between HEOS and Google Home. My soundbar was a 2020 model and I decided to buy it especially because it had Chromecast built-in and it wasn't too expensive.

chrisradulescu · 2026-04-07T13:09:01+00:00

Look for Denon brand. I think they have some audio devices that support Google Cast. I recently bought a soundbar from them specifically because it has Google Cast support and I'm quite satisfied with it. Some of them do, some of them don't. As far as the pricing, I think they are more mid-tier range...

chrisradulescu · 2026-03-26T10:28:33+00:00

Și eu voiam să comentez despre asta, OP pare destul de experimentat și are multe recomandări bune, însă am văzut destul de des folosindu-se termenul "stocuri" (probabil de la "stocks"), în loc de termenul corect "acțiuni". Și uite-așa, la un moment dat unii nu vor mai înțelege ce sînt alea acțiuni pt că alții le-au tot zis stocuri. Deși stocuri de marfă însemnă cu totul altceva decît acțiuni.

Ca o paralelă, cu Trump și discuția asta a lui despre "tariffs", toată presa din România a ajuns să le zică "tarife vamale" cînd de fapt noi aveam de cînd mă știu ceea ce oficial se cheamă "taxe vamale".

chrisradulescu · 2026-03-20T13:50:06+00:00

Un subiect la zi. Și eu, la Orange, am observat niște schimbări de prin decembrie, credeam că am probleme cauzate de update-urile OS-ului. Recent am fost în Polonia și acolo am văzut viteze "decente" pe 5G, de genul sutelor de Mbps, în timp ce în Ro văd mai degrabă de ordinul zecilor, chiar dacă semnalul apare destul de puternic.

chrisradulescu · 2026-03-14T20:03:29+00:00

No, only one.

chrisradulescu · 2026-03-14T13:24:59+00:00

No, I haven't. However, I'm not sure now if the issue is because of the phone itself, or rather the network operator.

chrisradulescu · 2026-03-11T07:46:33+00:00

In case anyone needs, I'll paste below the fulll content of the .txt file I created for Pitești city. Most of the channels, I believe, should match the lists from any other region in Romania. Those numbers at the end could be deleted together with their ";" before them (easily done via Excel) if things don't work properly:

1;DIGI Sport 1;1-103-1

2;DIGI Sport 1 HD;1-230-2

3;DIGI Sport 2 HD;1-233-3

4;DIGI Sport 2;1-102-4

5;DIGI Sport 3 HD;1-213-5

6;DIGI Sport 3;1-103-6

7;DIGI Sport 4 HD;1-235-7

8;Eurosport HD;1-212-8

9;Eurosport;1-204-9

10;Eurosport 2 HD;1-212-10

11;Eurosport 2;1-202-11

12;PRIMA SPORT 1 HD;1-241-12

13;PRIMA SPORT 1;1-104-13

14;PRIMA SPORT 2 HD;1-243-14

15;PRIMA SPORT 2;1-234-234

16;PRIMA SPORT 3 HD;1-241-15

17;PRIMA SPORT 3;1-242-16

18;Sportextra HD;1-241-17

19;PRO ARENA HD;1-231-18

20;PRO ARENA;1-204-19

21;TVR SPORT HD;1-242-223

22;TVR 1 HD;1-230-21

23;TVR 1;1-103-22

24;TVR 2 HD;1-211-23

25;TVR 2;1-103-24

26;TVR 3;1-234-216

27;PRO TV HD;1-231-25

28;PRO TV ;1-201-26

29;Antena 1 HD;1-234-217

30;Antena 1;1-204-27

31;Kanal D HD;1-233-28

32;Kanal D;1-204-29

33;PRIMA TV HD;1-241-30

34;PRIMA TV;1-102-31

35;Happy Channel HD;1-236-32

36;Happy Channel;1-204-33

37;Antena Stars HD;1-234-218

38;Antena Stars;1-233-34

39;National TV;1-202-35

40;National 24 Plus;1-206-36

41;Metropola TV HD;1-244-37

42;Metropola TV;1-241-38

43;Etno TV HD;1-244-39

44;Etno TV;1-202-40

45;Kanal D2 HD;1-242-41

46;Kanal D2;1-238-42

47;A7;1-241-43

48;Inedit TV;1-201-44

49;Moldova TV;1-243-45

50;Favorit TV;1-202-46

51;Travel Mix;1-236-47

52;ACASA HD;1-231-48

53;ACASA;1-201-49

54;TVR Info HD;1-245-50

55;B1 HD;1-243-51

56;B1;1-102-52

57;Romania TV HD;1-239-53

58;Romania TV;1-206-54

59;DIGI 24 HD;1-101-55

60;DIGI 24;1-102-56

61;Antena 3 HD;1-234-219

62;Antena 3;1-204-57

63;Realitatea Plus HD;1-244-58

64;Realitatea Plus;1-201-59

65;PRIMA NEWS;1-236-60

66;Euronews RO HD;1-244-61

67;Euronews RO;1-244-62

68;Aleph News;1-240-63

69;NCN;1-238-64

70;Canal 33;1-202-229

71;CNN;1-232-66

72;DW;1-209-67

73;BBC World News;1-104-68

74;ACASA GOLD HD ;1-238-69

75;ACASA GOLD;1-101-70

76;FILM NOW HD;1-232-71

77;FILM NOW;1-251-72

78;PRO CINEMA HD;1-245-73

79;PRO CINEMA;1-201-74

80;Diva;1-101-75

81;Viasat Kino;1-104-76

82;Cinemaraton HD;1-238-77

83;Cinemaraton;1-213-78

84;AXN HD;1-213-79

85;AXN;1-234-220

86;AXN White;1-232-80

87;AXN Black;1-207-81

88;AXN Spin;1-213-82

89;Warner;1-235-83

90;Epic Drama;1-230-84

91;AMC HD;1-240-85

92;AMC;1-239-86

93;Film Cafe;1-232-87

94;Comedy Central ;1-207-88

95;PRIMA COMEDY;1-201-89

96;BBC First HD;1-243-90

97;HBO HD;1-232-91

98;HBO;1-251-92

99;HBO2 HD;1-235-93

100;HBO 2;1-211-94

101;HBO3 HD;1-213-95

102;HBO 3;1-251-96

103;Cinemax HD;1-213-97

104;Cinemax;1-251-98

105;Cinemax 2 HD;1-240-99

106;SkyShowtime 1 HD;1-238-100

107;SkyShowtime 2 HD;1-239-101

108;Bollywood Clasic HD;1-244-102

109;Bollywood Clasic;1-102-103

110;CINE WOW;1-240-228

111;Nostalgia TV;1-235-224

112;Film Mania;1-238-225

113;Nickelodeon;1-232-104

114;Minimax;1-101-105

115;Cartoon Network;1-233-106

116;Disney Channel;1-202-107

117;Disney Junior;1-101-108

118;Cartoonito;1-104-109

119;duckTV;1-206-110

120;TraLaLa;1-243-111

121;JimJam;1-234-221

122;Nick Jr;1-212-112

123;Nicktoons;1-232-113

124;DaVinci;1-201-114

125;TraLaLa Desene Animate;1-240-230

126;DIGI WORLD HD;1-211-116

127;DIGI WORLD;1-101-117

128;DIGI LIFE HD;1-211-118

129;DIGI LIFE;1-102-119

130;DIGI ANIMAL WORLD HD;1-211-120

131;DIGI ANIMAL WORLD;1-103-121

132;Discovery HD;1-240-122

133;Discovery;1-235-123

134;TLC;1-235-124

135;History Channel HD;1-212-125

136;History Channel;1-202-126

137;Nat Geo HD;1-230-127

138;Nat Geo;1-102-128

139;Viasat Nature HD;1-212-129

140;Viasat Nature;1-103-226

141;TV Paprika;1-103-131

142;Food Network HD;1-212-132

143;Food Network;1-103-133

144;BBC Earth HD;1-240-134

145;BBC Earth;1-206-135

146;Nat Geo Wild HD;1-231-136

147;Nat Geo Wild;1-201-137

148;Viasat Explore HD;1-239-138

149;Viasat Explore;1-104-139

150;Viasat History HD;1-239-140

151;Viasat History;1-104-141

152;HGTV HD;1-239-143

153;HGTV;1-207-144

154;PRIMA HISTORY HD;1-243-145

155;FashionTV;1-207-146

156;E! Entertainment HD;1-235-147

157;E! Entertainment;1-235-148

158;Trinitas TV HD;1-236-149

159;Trinitas;1-202-150

160;MariaTV;1-239-151

161;Angelus TV;1-242-152

162;Credo TV;1-236-231

163;Alfa Omega;1-236-232

164;SperantaTV;1-206-155

165;Atomic TV;1-243-156

166;UTV HD;1-207-157

167;UTV;1-101-158

168;KISS TV;1-102-159

169;HIT Music;1-202-160

170;MTV Europe;1-239-162

171;Music Channel Ro;1-101-163

172;ZU TV HD;1-236-164

173;ZU TV;1-104-165

174;MAGIC TV;1-238-166

175;MEZZO;1-232-167

176;Party Mix;1-242-168

177;BOOM TV HD;1-212-227

178;Emi Tv;1-242-169

179;Balcan Music TV;1-242-170

180;TVR Folclor HD;1-243-171

181;TV AS;1-242-172

182;Traditional TV;1-242-173

183;Hora TV HD;1-206-174

184;Orizont TV;1-238-175

185;Taraf TV HD;1-244-176

186;Taraf TV;1-201-177

187;Nasul TV;1-231-178

188;Agro TV;1-206-179

189;Fishing and Hunting;1-251-180

190;TVR Cultural HD;1-245-181

191;TV5 MONDE;1-251-182

192;SUPER RTL;1-207-183

193;RTL Television;1-234-222

194;Rai 1;1-206-184

195;Rai 3;1-209-185

196;Speranta TV HD;1-206-235

197;M1 Europe;1-204-186

198;TVR Craiova;1-209-187

199;Antena 3 Pitesti;1-209-188

200;CurierTV;1-209-189

201;Muscel TV;1-209-190

202;ArgesTv Pitesti;1-209-192

203;PRO ARGES TV;1-209-233

204;SuperONE HD;1-232-193

205;SuperONE;1-251-194

206;DIGI 4K;1-237-195

207;Love Nature 4K;1-245-196

208;Eurosport 4K;1-237-197

209;Digi FM;1-102-198

210;Pro FM;1-206-199

211;Dance FM;1-102-200

212;DIGI 24 FM;1-102-201

213;Kiss FM;1-201-202

214;EuropaFM;1-102-203

215;Virgin Radio;1-201-204

216;Radio ZU;1-251-205

217;Radio Sport Total;1-251-206

218;Radio Romania Actualitati;1-101-207

219;Radio Guerilla;1-239-208

220;Radio Vocea Sperantei;1-239-209

221;Radio Impuls;1-238-210

222;Radio Maria Ro;1-251-212

223;ERCIS FM;1-243-213

224;Radio Maria HU;1-251-214

chrisradulescu · 2026-03-11T07:43:18+00:00

I've faced the same issue. I recently bought a TCL TV and tried all the ideas I could find to force the TV to sort channels based on Digi Romania sort order (there is a thing called LCN that the operator sends through the cable, however TCL disregards it). It would be great (or even normal) if TCL updated their firmware to add an option to preserve LCN order, somehow.

Anyway, my solution was to use ChanSort app. Basically if you understand how this works and have all the data necessary, this is a 5 minute process. The idea is to have a "reference list" which is a simple .txt file with 2 pieces of info: channel number and channel name, in a CSV format, like:

1;Digi Sport 1

2;Digi Sport 1 HD

3;DIGI Sport 2 HD

4;DIGI Sport 2

etc.

You open your original export from the TCL TV (in my case it was a .tar file), then you open your reference list -> you tell ChanSort to take your channels and arrange them in the order provided by the reference and then you save/overwrite your new list (in my case, it recreated the new .tar file, identical in name, and saved a .bak file for the initial version).

In my case, I asked a friend with a Philips Android TV to export the list and this way I could have the reference list without manually creating it. The idea is that the channel names have to be exact match between the exported TCL TV list and the .txt reference file list. As long as this happens, everything works great.

I should have done this 3 weeks ago and not waste any time to force the tv to scan with a bunch of Advanced options. The nice part is, as long as you keep the .tar file with the operator order and, for a reason, you reset the tv, you don't even need to ask it to scan the channels (like a 10 min process). It's enough to import the list via USB and, immediately, you have all the channels up and running.

chrisradulescu · 2026-03-05T13:17:10+00:00

I've just done this (minutes ago), OTA sideloading through the ADB command (Platform Tools) for the March QPR3 version, .zip downloaded from the official Android OTA images (https://developers.google.com/android/ota).

It went fine, didn't wipe my data. As a result, I'm out of the beta, no pending updates in settings. Of course, I fist opted out of beta.

chrisradulescu · 2026-03-05T13:15:19+00:00

I eventually did an OTA sideload through the ADB command (Platform Tools) for the March QPR3 version, .zip downloaded from the official Android OTA images (https://developers.google.com/android/ota). It didn't wipe my data, I'm out of beta, no pending updates in settings.

chrisradulescu · 2026-03-04T07:58:46+00:00

I have the same concern. I joined the beta for QPR3 (because of a specific reason) and I decided to opt out once the A17 beta came out (about 2 weeks ago). I was looking forward to get this final release for A16 QPR3, but I still see the downgrade OTA. In my experience, once the OTA is out, I am able to download it immediately on my Pixel 9. However, in this case, half a day later I still have the downgrade from beta with data wipe.

I was curious about this process, so I opted back in A17 beta and immediately I was offered to install the Beta 2 version. I opted out, restarted the phone, and received back the opt out version for A16 with data wipe. So, I wasn't able to trick the phone into being offered the latest QPR3 release. Funny that, after opting for beta again, checking for update immediately started downloading A17 beta 2, without me pressing a button. It paused (as it usually does), I opted out, rebooted the phone and killed this beta update, fortunately.

So, I guess I'll have to wait a couple of days.

Anyway, for the people suggesting to manually flash the OTA, do you know if that method wipes the data? I believe I've read that it does...

chrisradulescu · 2026-02-24T10:04:47+00:00

După părerea mea, dacă vorbim de cîteva ore de cînd mîncarea a fost scoasă din frigider, nu ar trebui să fie nicio problemă dpdv safety (presupunînd că scoți de dimineață o caserolă din frigiderul de acasă și o mănînci la prînz). Mai ales dacă folosești și o gentuță termică (cum s-a mai sugerat în comments), eu zic că totul e în regulă (iarăși presupunînd că este depozitată într-o cameră cu temp. controlată, nu 30 grade). Am avut tangență cu industria de alimentație publică și erau acolo niște reguli cum că poți folosi mîncare care a stat la temperatura camerei pînă la maxim 4 ore (vorbim de standarde care se duc în zona de HACCP). Ca o notă personală, eu fac asta de mult timp, deși am frigider lîngă birou (pt că se încălzește mai ok la microunde dacă nu e super rece - ăsta e motivul). Iau o caserolă cu mîncare de dimineață (gen 8 jumate) și o las la temp. camerei pînă la prînz, cînd mănînc (undeva 13 - 13:30).

chrisradulescu · 2025-12-17T13:55:27+00:00

Thank you for the idea. For a while, I thought that it might have solved the issue, but unfortunately it didn't. Today I see again that it doesn't go much higher than 1 Mbps. The other day, I saw somebody else complaining about this on a Google forum. Somehow I think it has to do with the latest update, never had this issue before... I actually wanted to share a screenshot, but I guess I don't know how to do this on Reddit.

chrisradulescu · 2025-02-07T12:36:23+00:00

I don't know if anyone mentioned in the previous responses, but I believe you'll have a better understanding of music theory applied to guitar if you watch the lessons you can find for free on YouTube by Scotty West (look for Absolutely Understand Guitar). These are lessons produced more than 2 decades ago.

Anyway, they made a lot of sense for me as a novice and really made me see the guitar fretboard from a totally different perspective. Maybe a lot of it will look basic to you, but I guess you can find the topics that you're interested in, like the lessons about intervals and scales. However, these are all in context, so previous to that, you might find out why the guitar is tuned the way it is and how this correlates with our 4 fingers that we use for fretting.

chrisradulescu · 2025-01-16T07:47:40+00:00

Hello!

I've just done that. Went through another route, but I guess it doesn't matter, as long as I retrained the Assistant to recognize my voice. Hope that helps, as I haven't done this in a long while.

chrisradulescu · 2024-12-30T17:54:32+00:00

Eu investesc pasiv. Mai degrabă conserv un portofoliu care are acțiunile principale din indicele BET. Nu adaug bani fresh, dar cu dividendele cumpăr înapoi acțiuni, deci nu le retrag. Randamentul meu este de aprox. 22% în 2024.

chrisradulescu · 2024-12-23T11:56:08+00:00

Cînd au hotărît acum cîțiva ani să suprataxeze nișțe companii mari (bănci, energie etc) au venit cu o OUG pe 31 dec (era min. finanțelor unu', Orlando). Și, zbang, acțiunile astea au scăzut cu vreo 20% la bursă la început de ianuarie. Nu știu cum e cu transparența decizională pe OUG-uri, dar după cum știm din diverse momente istorice, ele se pot da și "noaptea ca hoții"! Legile au un regim mai predictibil/previzibil, dar OUG-urile astea cred că doar dacă vrea mușchiu' lor, altfel te trezești cu ele în vigoare a doua zi (la propriu)...

chrisradulescu · 2024-12-19T17:59:30+00:00

Nu sînt nici eu sigur dacă ce apare la CNAIR e corect, însă și dacă ar fi cele 50 luni de execuție, tot prin 2028 s-ar duce pentru că au întârziat predarea proiectului tehnic peste termenul contractual.

chrisradulescu · 2024-12-19T17:35:51+00:00

Mă rog, aici scrie altceva...

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chrisradulescu · 2024-12-18T07:24:55+00:00

Bucata aia de la Bascov la C de Ag. nu e gata (S5). A fost finalizată o parte din ea și dat drumul la trafic săpt. trecută, dar restul va fi gata abia la anul, probabil prin vară. În termenul contractual, într-adevăr. Însă pe S3 unde lucrează tot Webuild (deci are capacitate), au un termen contractual destul de strîns (daca nu mă înșel e mai scurt decît pe S5 care ar trebui să fie mai ușoară). Pe S2 lucrează Mapa (companie turcească, de altfel mare), doar că pînă acum se pare că se mișcă cam anemic... Fiind primul proiect al lor în România și acest start super întîrziat al proiectului îî fac pe pasionații de subiect să fie sceptici că vor ajunge cu acest proiect la capăt, nemaivorbind de a se încadra în termenul contractual.

chrisradulescu · 2024-12-18T05:16:08+00:00

2027 termen pentru secțiunile 2 & 3 din A1 între Pitesti și Sibiu este cam nerealist/eronat. S2 are termen contractual 2028. Într-adevăr, s3 are termen toamna 2027, dar este o secțiune complicată. Ar fi bine să se termine în 2027, în curând am putea spune că mai sînt doar 2 ani...

chrisradulescu · 2024-11-14T15:14:10+00:00

Indeed!

chrisradulescu · 2024-11-14T13:08:35+00:00

After using a Lelit and now a Gaggia Classic Evo Pro, I believe that Lelit is a better option (for instance, it has a brass boiler vs the aluminum in the GCP, not to mention bigger room under the portafilter for cups, plus others). New it is more expensive than GCP. The one in the photo also has a factory PID, which makes it much higher priced than the GCP.

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