Friday, January 1, 2021

January Tips

 Happy New Year.  May the vaccines work and return life to being more normal

My New Year started in the middle of a month sub to WalkingOnlineWorkouts which does not have its own ROKU or mobile app so its videos will only stream from its website.  WOW casts well from my android phone Chrome browser to a Chromecast and the video can be controlled (paused) with the tv's remote.  Mirroring from my Windows10 laptop Chrome browser or desktop does not play as smoothly, even though all devices, including the router, are all near each other.  I can use the Chromecast without the WebVideo Caster app but some videos play better with it. Sadly, many streaming sites do not play audio well when casted to the Chromecast from a browser tab on my laptop.

Alternatively, I can use a HDmi cable to stream directly to the tv from the laptop but even then most online videos play and stream better with the phone than the laptop that is hardwired to the router. 

VLC does render video files nicely from the laptop (or the laptop USB) to the Chromecast but the Chromecast is not subtitle friendly.  I can get subtitles using a HDmi cable connection or by converting the files to have subtitles embedded.

On another TV, WOW streams well to the ROKU Express using the Web Video Caster app on the android phone.  WOW does not stream well when mirroring the phone screen to the ROKU.  ROKU Media Player can play Windows laptop video files nicely but can be tricky to get them recognized by the ROKU.  The ROKU phone app plays files stored on the phone very well. 

Feeling vertigo today (1-2) so chose to skip bouncing and bought the new Better5 Chair Cardio. The audio is disappointing with music too low so I used the Web Video Caster app to play the video on the ROKU while listening to Spotify on the same phone.  Better 5 has free samples of their older content on  https://www.better5.com/course-samples     I could have done a WOW while sitting but the chair cardio is on sale for just 3 days.

As the month continues, I will add more recommendations.

youtube channel SeniorShapeFitness  with Lauren   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkWYei5MULuRDhH7uxtZqqA/videos

Another good looking channel: Improved Health for Seniors   https://www.youtube.com/c/ImprovedHealthforSeniors/videos

We Keep Moving has Zumba Gold outdoors This is becoming a fast favorite!   https://www.youtube.com/c/WeKeepMoving/videos

Silver and Fit   https://www.youtube.com/user/silverandfit

Most of January I had been dong WOW and unfortunately went on pause just before I could try the newest video,  However, I did a great new one by Keoni  https://youtu.be/lnnU-CwiVmw

This Aqua Jade video is my current favorite with 60s music  https://youtu.be/-i4urIBgnfo 

Old School Fitness looks awesome too.   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSyRqBEyLfGlx4AAO-92HQ     https://youtu.be/AaNQAlhcT2c

good looking playlist from XTime Fitness   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2wPTHARAVw&list=PLEyJJdfKnMs2XDShCGChOp06d_OECRM3q

Bad news for me.  The Community Fitness channel on Vimeo is now private so I cannot use the ROKU Vimeo app to do them anymore.  Medora was a favorite of mine.  Wish I had done more of them when the channel was public.

I own way too many bungee rebounders but if I were to get a new one it would be the 48 inch Leaps and Rebounds since I prefer a larger mat..  However, Jumpsport has a reasonably priced 44 inch JumpSport 120 with a built in handlebar that may be a good choice too.