Tom's Tek Stop

Product Reviews, Experiences, and Technical Insights from Thomas J. Hesley

How to Turn OFF Sony XE 300

We explain three ways for how to turn off the Sony XE 300 portable BT speaker here. Now most speakers have a Power button that Sony prominently places on the unit so it’s easy to locate. Indeed, this speaker is no exception to this pattern, as we find its Power button near the bottom in…
CBS COM Streaming Videos Fail to Play in Internet Explorer

Covers ways of solving when CBS.COM Streaming Videos Fail to Play in Internet Explorer below. The Problem: CBS.COM Streaming Videos Fail to Play in Internet Explorer CBS streaming video on the CBS web site fails to play in Internet Explorer 11. E.g. Clicking on an episode, instead of playing it, invites you to install Flash…
Can You Change Alexas Name

Can you change Alexas name? You can indeed change the name that the Amazon Alexa enabled speakers respond to when you say it. So the current choices are, “Alexa…,” “Amazon…,” “Computer…,” “Ziggy…,” and “Echo…” You say this name when you want the voice assistant to run a command or answer a question. It’s how you…
Can Alexa Play Spotify Playlists

Here, we answer the question of Can Alexa play Spotify playlists. In short, yes. And here, we give direction on how to do that. First, you can ask an Amazon smart speaker to play any public playlist on Spotify no matter which account hosts it, as well as playlists that you’ve created in your own…
Apple Lightning Cable Replacement Belkin

This Belkin Apple lightning cable replacement for charge & sync (part number 8830bt15381 Rev B01 ) for Apple devices, at just several dollars per cord online is a steal. It’s among the cheapest cables we’ve bought. Yet this lightning cable carries the Belkin name brand, which means high quality. Yet this cable still charges even…
Amazon Echo Dot Buttons

The Amazon Echo Dot speaker features several buttons and a light ring . Here though, we give the Amazon Echo Dot buttons meaning. Find also a brief description of the input and output ports. We also show where each one is on the speaker. Then we discuss what each button / plug is for, and…
Amazon Echo Dot Action Button

The Amazon Echo Dot Action Button gives access to some key assistant functions. For example, you can reset the device with it. Plus, you can summon the speaker as well as stop ringing alarms from the speaker. Quite the useful multi-function button, for sure. So here, we define this button, and explain how it works,…
Amazon Echo Best Features List

The Amazon Echo speakers, including the Tap, Dot, and the original Echo and its 2nd generation incarnation, are jam packed with an ever-growing list of helpful Alexa features and skills. Further, all of these features help make our hectic days a little less hectic. Some of the best most useful Amazon Echo features we list…
Amazon Echo Action Button

The Amazon Echo Action Button gives access to some key assistant functions. For example, you can reset the device with it. Plus, you can summon the speaker as well as stop ringing alarms from the speaker. Quite the useful multi-function button, for sure. So here, we define this button, and explain how it works, and…
Amazon Dot Action Button

The Amazon Dot Action Button gives access to some key assistant functions. For example, you can reset the device with it. Plus, you can summon the speaker as well as stop ringing alarms from the speaker. Quite the useful multi-function button, for sure. So here, we define this button, and explain how it works, and…