SUSANTA

Change of Address: How to 301 Redirect http to https in Google Console

If you want to switch to a new domain name, a very common practice is to use 301-redirection method via .htaccess file.

The process is relatively simple and I have written a guide on that as well.

Usually the method is pretty straight forward if you’re permanently redirecting from an old http domain to a new http domain. However, if your old domain is non-secure and you’re 301-redirecting to a secure domain name, things might get a bit tricky, confusing and complicated.

Recently, I moved a non-secure old domain to a secure domain name and then encountered an error while complying to Change of Address (CoA) in Google Console.

The error message reads: “We couldn’t find any 301-redirect directives for your site. For more details, check the Fetch as Google tool.”

Change of Address Error

How I Fixed the Change of Address Error Message in Google Console

If you encounter such an error, try the following steps:

Create Properties of All Variations Your New Domain Name

Add four separate properties of your new domain name. For example, if your secure domain name is https://www.yournewdomain.com, you should create four different properties in Google Console such as:

https://www.yournewdomain.com (secure www variation)

https://yournewdomain.com (secure non-www variation)

http://www.yournewdomain.com (non-secure www variation)

http://yournewdomain.com (non-secure non-www variation)

Validate Your New Properties and Add Sitemap

Validate all your new properties in Google Console and add xml sitemap.

Retry Change of Address in Google Console

Once Google Console has accepted all your properties, you should try Change of Address tool for redirection. In my case, it worked pretty easily. However, if you still see the same old issues, give it some time; maybe, a day or two. Try again and it should work.

Change of Address_CoA_Google_Console_Successful

Hope this helps. Got any questions? Let me know in the comments below.

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How to Stream YouTube/Netflix 4K UHD Videos on MiTV

Xiaomi India promotes their MiTV’s on the basis of 4K UHD (Ultra High-Def) content. However, the truth is the 55-inch MiTV4 doesn’t automatically display your standard content in 4K quality.

4K YOUTUBE DOESN`T PLAY

If you’re subscribed to any DTH service such as Airtel HD or Tatasky HD, your experience won’t dramatically increase with the 55-inch MiTV4. You need to find 4K content sources first.

By 4K content sources, I mean the videos that have been shot in 4K UHD mode, i.e, 3840×2160 (Horizontal and Vertical Pixels).

Why You Can’t Watch 4K UHD Content on Your DTH Connection

There are around 7 DTH service providers in India and none of them offers 4K content. However, TATA Sky offers the most number (88) of HD channels in India.

In most case though, the actual quality of the HD channels don’t reach their optimum level, thanks to the technical issues most subscribers are up against all the time.

Speaking from my experience with Tata Sky, I have never seen the signal strength and quality going above 60 or 70, which severely affects the quality of HD channels I’m subscribed to.

Therefore, if you’re planning to watch 4K UHD content on your MiTV using your current DTH subscription, you’re only going to be disappointed.

As an aside, if you’re a little tech savvy, I’d encourage you to sideload and install the Jio TV app on your MiTV and watch most of the HD channels for free. If you have an unlimited fast internet connection (e.g, 8 Mbps or higher), you should be able to watch high-quality HD channels on your MiTV.

How to Watch YouTube 4K UHD Content on MiTV

Even as the MiTV ships with a built-in YouTube app, it’s far from acceptable. The native YouTube app doesn’t have the option to stream YouTube 4K UHD content at all.

So, basically, here’s what you need to watch YouTube 4K UHD content on your MiTV:

#1: A Fast Internet Connection: When I say “a fast internet connection”, I basically mean the speed at which 4K UHD videos will play without any buffering. According to Netflix, 4K UHD content needs an internet connection of about 25 megabits per second or higher. I am subscribed to an optical fiber plan which offers unlimited bandwidth at 30 megabits per second. Using your mobile data for 4K UHD streaming isn’t a good idea as it can consume around 5GB data per hour. Unless you’re on an unlimited mobile data plan, that’s going to cost you an arm and a leg, for sure.

#2: A Supported 4K Streaming Device: In order to stream YouTube 4K UHD content, you will need to connect a supported device to your MiTV. While your options are many, I recommend buying a Chromecast Ultra device or Apple TV 4K. I recently bought the former from a friend of mine who purchased it from the US. Apple TV4K costs a bomb. Unless you’re planning to splurge a fortune on Apple TV4K, you might want to check this out on Amazon.

How to Watch Netflix 4K UHD Titles on MiTV

Of course, you will need a fast internet connection and a supported 4K streaming device as explained above. Needless to say, you will also need to subscribe to the highest plan on Netflix which costs around 800 rupees per month. Netflix doesn’t offer any 4K UHD titles on their lower plans.

So, as you can see in order to enjoy 4K content on your MiTV, you need to spend additionally. But, rest assured the experience is worth every penny, especially if you’re a movie buff.

What about Amazon Prime Video?

Although Prime Video doesn’t offer any 4K UHD titles in its plans for Indian consumers, the upscaled quality of the HD movies still looks pretty amazing on a larger MiTV, i.e, 55-inch MiTV4. At times, the quality is so good, it can be hard to differentiate between HD and 4K UHD content. Again, you should be subscribed to a high-speed, unlimited internet data plan to take advantage of this.

That’s all I have to share as of now, I will continue to update this post moving forward. If you have any questions about this post, please, let me know in the comments below.

Kitchen Cabinets Costs: 8 Strange Ways to Save Money on Kitchen Remodel

Kitchen remodeling is usually considered to be an expensive affair. A recent survey by Houzz estimated the average spend on minor remodel of a small kitchen (200+ sq. ft.) to be around $13,700. On the higher side, a major kitchen remodel can set you back by as much as $42, 000.

Interestingly, the study found that kitchen cabinets account for 31% of the entire kitchen remodel costs. Moreover, cabinet replacement (82%) was cited as a major component of the entire kitchen renovation.

cabinet replacement (82%) was cited as a major component of the entire kitchen renovation.

Indeed, for many homeowners, updating cabinets of their old kitchen is the first preference when it comes to kitchen remodeling.

If you’re looking for saving money on buying new kitchen cabinets, your options include buying stock (prefabricated) cabinets over custom cabinets, selecting cheaper wood species, and going for fewer drawers among others.

Here are some other money saving tips on how to lower your costs of buying kitchen cabinets.

Buy Kitchen Cabinets with Simpler Doors

The kitchen cabinet costs can vary greatly depending on the style you choose. In general, cabinets with simple door profile tend to cost lower than cabinets featuring decorative details.

Here are some of the popular kitchen cabinet door styles:

popular kitchen cabinet door styles

The following factors determine the cost of your kitchen cabinet doors:

#1 – Kitchen cabinet doors with lots of grooves and moldings will almost always cost more.

#2 – Fully overlay cabinet doors are more expensive than cabinet doors with a traditional overlay profile.

#3 – Kitchen cabinets with inset door style tend to cost higher than cabinets with overlay door style.

#4 – Cabinets with Shaker style doors are more expensive than slab door cabinets.

If you want to save money on buying kitchen cabinets, consider cabinets with a simple door profile.

Check Out Prices of Different Inset Cabinets Here.

Ditch Wall Cabinets for Open Shelving

The costs of your kitchen cabinet remodeling can go significantly up or down depending on the types of cabinets you choose to install in your kitchen. A typical kitchen renovation project will include both base cabinets and wall cabinets, meaning higher costs.

Ditch Wall Cabinets for Open Shelving
Photo by Design Shop Interiors

Credit: Photo by Design Shop Interiors

However, many homeowners opt for open shelving in order to save money. But it’s not just about reducing the kitchen renovation costs. Open shelving is a popular trend, thanks to the various benefits such as:

#1 – More open and airy kitchen ambiance.

#2 – More accessible above-the-counter storage space.

#3 – More room for decoration and personalization.

On a different note, you might want to consider the cons of an open shelving style in your kitchen even as it helps you with your kitchen renovation on a budget.

Go for a Cheaper Wood Species

Much like the kitchen cabinet door styles, wood species can also hike up your kitchen cabinet costs. There are different types of wood species including oak, birch, maple, hickory, pine, MDF, cherry and bamboo.

While oak is considered an affordable wood species for cabinets, maple cabinets can increase the prices by as much as $1000.

Kitchen Cabinets Costs

According to Better Homes & Gardens, the starting cost of wood or wood-and-plywood cabinets is about $80 per linear foot, particularly in the stock or semi-custom category. When custom design and premium wood species are factored in, the cost can go well over $165 per linear foot.

Recommended Reading: Choosing The Right Cabinet Installation Company for Your Kitchen Remodeling Project

Choose Thermofoil or Laminate

While kitchen cabinets constructed from solid wood or wood veneer tend to be expensive, you can always opt for laminate or Thermofoil finishes which mimic wood, are durable and easy to clean. They are significantly more budget-friendly than cabinets crafted from solid wood. Both Thermofoil and laminate are essentially plastic finishes applied to MDF or engineered wood for protection and aesthetics. They also come in a wide range of colors and patterns to choose from.

Typically, laminates cost around $50 to $75 per linear foot for wall and base cabinets from a stock selection. Likewise, thermofoils can cost anything between $35 to $45 per linear foot.

No Soft-close Drawers or Full-extension Slides

Most kitchen cabinets feature soft-close drawers and full-extension slides for better functionality. For many, these are components that are worth the extra bucks and add a great deal of value to your cabinetry.

soft-close drawers and full-extension slides for better functionality

However, if you believe you can do without them, you can save quite a bit on your kitchen cabinet budget. If you’re concerned about the wear and tear, you could use door pulls to preserve the integrity of your door and drawer fronts.

Recommended Reading: How to Utilize Kitchen Base Corner Storage Space

Get Rid of Pull-outs

Just like soft-close drawers and full-extension glides, pull-outs also add a great deal of convenience and functionality to your kitchen cabinets.

However, when you are planning a kitchen renovation on a shoestring budget, it’s important to question whether the convenience is worth the extra money.

Since pull-outs are used in a variety of cabinetry such as trash bins, sliding shelves, and blind corners, you can save a great deal on kitchen cabinet budget by doing away with the pull-outs.

Use Fewer Accessories

Needless to say, you can bring down the cost of your kitchen remodeling by using fewer accessories and keeping it simple. Cabinet accessories such as end panels, crown moldings, corbels and decorative legs definitely add a great deal of aesthetics to your kitchen cabinetry. However, it also means your renovation bills go way beyond your budget. With less customization, you’re likely to save more on your kitchen remodeling.

Inset Cabinets from Nu Kitchen Designs

Give up Drawers

What if you really wanted to go with specific door style in the wood species of your choice, say inset Shaker cabinets crafted out of birchwood?

Sure, it will drive up the cost of your kitchen renovation, but you can still decide to offset the costs by going for fewer drawers in your cabinet design. As a matter of fact, kitchen cabinets with drawers tend to cost much higher than standard-base cabinets. Of course, it’s up to you whether giving up drawers in favor of door style and wood species of your choice.

Final Thoughts

Updating your kitchen doesn’t have to be super expensive if you know what you really want from your kitchen. By getting rid of the bells and whistles, you can strike the perfect balance between functionality and budget.

Recommended Read: Kitchen Remodel Costs: A Handy Guide to Budget Kitchen Renovations

User-authored JavaScript found on Page: Fix Google AMP Error

Recently, I got the following warning in Google Search Console:

User-authored JavaScript found on page (Critical)

Remove any custom JavaScript code from your page. AMP pages with custom JavaScript may appear in Google search results without AMP-specific display features.

When you’re on the Google Console Dashboard, the screenshot might look some like this:

Fix errors on your AMP pages

AND, Here’s a screenshot of the warning.

AMP JavaScript Warning in Google Search Console

When I clicked on one of the affected AMP pages, I could see the following window with details of the error message.

How to Remove any custom JavaScript code from your page

Although I could have easily ignored this warning but I hate seeing errors. So, I decided to dig in to figure out what might have triggered the errors.

If you are seeing similar issues, read on to know how to fix it.

Run AMP Validator

Although the warning already says your AMP page has some custom JavaScript, you need to run the AMP validator to establish the details of the issue and where exactly it appears in your page source.

Therefore, you need to go to the AMP Validator tool and enter the URL of the AMP page and hit on the “Validate” button.

Note: The AMP Validator is different from AMP Test tool which also tests if your AMP page is valid. It’s important to keep this in mind because the AMP test tool will still say your page is valid (because you’ve used AMP markup) while the AMP validator tool won’t (due to the user authored javascript).

The validator tool showed me the following error on the 27th line.

<script>if (document.location.protocol != “https:”) {document.location = document.URL.replace(/^http:/i, “https:”);}</script><script type=’text/javascript’ src=’https://cdn.ampproject.org/v0.js’ async></script>

Please, note that the user authored javascript issue could be different for different websites. Therefore, you may not see this exact code in your validation test. However, if you did, you’re in luck because I’m going to tell you how to fix it.

In my case, I wasn’t sure where to find such javascript snippet to fix the error.

A couple of random searches led me to get suspicious about plugins. But how would I know which plugin was responsible? Another thread blamed it on the custom javascript in the footer. But, I found no javascript in my footer.

Therefore, I turned to Google Search to find the solution.

I used this search phrase to see if anybody has faced a similar issue: “document.location.protocol + AMP”

Luckily, I found this thread in WordPress Support.

Uncheck Javascript Redirection in SSL Plugin

I’ve been using Really Simple SSL plugin ever since I configured my site with SSL certificate. The plugin never really created any issues early on or maybe, I never noticed it.

The document.location.protocol you see in the AMP Validator tool is triggered by this SSL plugin. Therefore, you need to go to the settings and uncheck javascript redirection as shown in the screenshot below.

User-authored JavaScript found on page

Click on the save button and you’re done!

Go back to the AMP Validator tool and revalidate the affected page(s) and you should no longer any error.

That’s it!

Just wait for a couple of days until Google bots recrawl and reindex your AMP pages.

Update:

Here’s an updated report appearing on the 19th June, 2018, just 9 days after I fixed the errors. As you can see, the number of affected pages has automatically gone down from 41 to 23. At this rate, I’m assuming it might take one more week for Google Search to index to rest of the pages.

AMP Issues in Google Search Console (Resolved)

Hope you find this post helpful!

Xiaomi Mi TV 4 Review: What You Need to Know Before Buying It

So, finally, I bought the Mi TV 4 from Flipkart in a flash sale. It’s the 4K Smart TV from Xiaomi a lot of folks have been talking about since its launch earlier this year.

I’ve read a couple of reviews on the products already. I’ve also watched reviews on YouTube, especially reviews by Technical Gurujee and Geeky Ranjit.

However, I found they left out a couple of things such as DTH picture quality, IR Cable and so on.

So, here’s my review.

Xiaomi Mi TV 4 Specifications

If you’ve read or watched reviews on this smart TV, chances are you already know the general specs of Mi TV 4.

However, for the uninitiated, I will simply highlight the main specs that you should know about Mi TV 4.

Design and Appearance

The Mi TV 4 has a futuristic design.

What does that mean?

Xiaomi claims, with its 4.9mm ultra-thin panel, the Mi TV 4 is World’s thinnest LED TV.

And, it probably is.

So, how thin is a 4.9mm panel?

To put this in perspective, the panel is thinner than most of the thinnest Android smartphones out there.

Only the VIVO X5 Max (4.75mm) and OPPO R5 (4.85mm) are thinner than the Mi TV 4. But then, it’s a Smart TV.

When the eKart delivery staff delivered the TV to my apartment, they unboxed it to show me the product was clean and undamaged. The ultra-thin panel doesn’t allow any margin of error and they were very careful about handling it.

The ultra-thin design makes the Mi TV 4 a visual delight even when it’s turned off, thanks to it’s aesthetically design and stable pair of legs that hold the panel steadily on the surface.

You still need to be extra careful about handling the TV whether you’re unboxing it and moving it around in your room. In fact, Xiaomi has specific instructions on how to hold it. Strangely, the eKart staff didn’t know about it.

Screen Size and Resolution

The Mi TV 4 features a breathtaking 55-inch LED screen with 4K resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels) and HDR support.

It sports HDR 10 capabilities and a 10-bit VA panel made by Samsung.

So, what does this really mean?

Let me explain.

If you’re planning to buy a 4K TV, you should aim for one that has a larger screen size, preferably 53-inch or larger panel.

This is because watching high definition content on a smaller panel may not give you all the best experience.

The 10-bit VA panel by Samsung means you’re getting an amazing deal for the price.

For your information, HDR10 is the standard form of HDR (High Dynamic Range) which essentially means your screen can produce the blackest blacks and whitest whites, bringing out clarity you would only see in real life.

With the Mi TV 4, I’m getting much better and richer visual experience with some HD channels (I’m on Tata Sky HD subscription).

My experience with YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, and Netflix is also pretty exciting.

But the real value of a 4K is visible is when you play some 4K HDR content.

I downloaded some 4K HDR samples from YouTube 4K HDR channel with the help of AceThinker app. When you play 4K HDR content on a 53-inch 4K panel, it’s a sight to behold.

Screen Size and Resolution

However, the Mi TV 4 was unable to play two of the downloaded samples for lack of format support. I’m not sure why this error occurred — I need to speak their tech support to find out.

Update: I shared my concerns with the Twitter team. Please, follow this link to see what they say.

Screen Refresh Rate and Viewing Angle

The Mi TV 4 has a 60Hz screen refresh rate and the panel can be viewed at an angle of 178-degrees.

So, what do these stats mean to a buyer?

Screen Refresh Rate (aka Frame Rate) is how many times a panel refreshes (or changes the image) per second. It’s a spec which enables a TV to produce better video in general, especially when you’re watching dynamic and action-oriented visuals such sports and Hollywood action movies.

According to CNet, if a smart TV panel has 60Hz refresh rate, the visual experience should be good enough although having a higher refresh rate is simply a nice-to-have feature.

The point is, as the article says, the refresh rate is perceptible only a trained eye.

In short, the Mi TV 4 has a reasonable refresh rate.

Similarly, the viewing angle is just fine. The point is why would anyone sit at that angle anyway?

Processor

The Mi TV 4 boasts of a 64-bit quad-core Amlogic Cortex-A54 SoC processor, and Mali-T830 graphics processor.

These specs are decent for a 4K smart TV. Perhaps that’s why I didn’t see any lag while browsing the content on PatchWall.

I haven’t played any games on the Mi TV 4 but as per the Digit.in review, the gaming experience was fantastic.

RAM and Storage

The Mi TV 4 has a 2GB RAM and an 8GB built-in storage.

Again, the 2GB RAM should be good enough for general operations in a TV like this. Likewise, 8GB of built-in memory storage offers ample space for any future OS updates and apps you may add from time to time.

Connectivity Ports

The Mi TV 4 hosts a variety of ports which include:

  • 1 Ethernet port
  • 2 USB ports
  • 3 HDMI 2.0 ports

It also supports dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) Wi-Fi 802.11ac and has Bluetooth 4.0 as well. Both work pretty well.

The only problem is the position of these ports.

Mi TV Ports

 

They are at the back of the panel, which means they’re very hard to access if you decide to mount it on your wall. You will need a port extender handy for easy access.

The ports are so close to one another, I couldn’t find enough room around the HDMI ports to plug in the Chromecast-1 device. Again, you will need a port extender to get around this issue.

Sound Quality

The Mi TV 4 supports Dolby+DTS Cinema Audio Quality.

However, these specs offer no additional value in terms of sound quality. It’s not a downright deal breaker either.

Since the upper panel is very thin, the speakers are located below the panel which is thicker at the base.

As for the sound quality, I watched a couple of movies and the sound was loud and clear.

I’d never rely on a TV’s built-in speakers anyway. I’d go for a sound bar (which is becoming a popular TV accessory these days) to amplify the quality of sound.

The Mi TV 4 has AV and S/PDIF connection options. Unfortunately, I don’t have a music system compatible with these connection options.

The downside is the Mi TV 4 doesn’t support any standard 3.5mm audio jack which could allow users like me to connect their music system via an aux cable. For example, I have a Bose Sound Dock but I’ve not been able to connect it to my TV.

Someone on Twitter mentioned many folks are facing issues with regards to audio connectivity to their home theatre and soundbar via Bluetooth.

I’m planning to add an external Bluetooth device to it and see how it works. I will update this section once I’m done testing it.

Remote Control Device

The Mi TV 4 comes with a minimalist remote control device that looks awfully similar to that of my Apple TV.

It’s sleek and light, helping you navigate the PatchWall interface with ease. However, the TV’s remote device doesn’t have a mute button, which means you can’t put it on mute – you need to use the volume button to decrease the sound.

I got the Mi IR Cable Set-top box (STB) Controller with the TV for free. While the accessory is meant to double up as your DTH remote device, I found it hard to make it work properly.

Update: The IR Cable wasn’t working properly. But their service engineer came over and fix a configuration issue. Now, it works seamlessly. Go to the FAQs section of this post to learn how to configure it properly.

Interface and Content

The Mi TV 4 has been advertised as a game changer because of its PatchWall interface and content designed keeping Indian users in mind.

It looks great right out of the box and requires you to connect to your Wi-Fi network for the OS update.

You can see loads of content (worth 500,000+ hours) once you’re connected to the Internet. It has a universal search option and personalized recommendations based on your viewing patterns.

I tested the YouTube app (not official) and found a couple of issues:

  • It has a poor UX, which made browsing videos a hassle
  • The interface is pretty ordinary
  • The YouTube videos don’t have 4K options and the highest resolution is only 1080p

I haven’t used the built-in apps (such as Voot) yet and I’m planning to write a separate review in a few days.

It might sound like I’m nitpicking, but the TV’s screensavers don’t look as sleek as the ones on my Apple TV.

All in all, the PatchWall UI looks unfinished and can use a couple of updates for improvement.

FAQs about Mi TV 4

Those who have already bought the Mi TV 4 or are planning to buy it, consider the following information about the model.

What’s the OS of Mi TV 4?

The Mi TV 4 runs on MIUI TV with a PatchWall interface which is crafted out of Android. The PatchWall looks different from Android TVs from other brands.

It’s intuitive and can help you browser content seamlessly.

I’m hoping it will get even better after future updates.

What Streaming Services Does Mi TV 4 Support Right Now?

The Mi TV 4 currently supports Hungama Play and YouTube (through a browser). As explained above, the YouTube doesn’t have a good UX. The company is expected to roll out updates to bring more content in future.

Does Mi TV 4 Support Netflix and Amazon Prime Video?

Answer: No, not at the moment. However, I think Mi will release a software update in the near future, which will hopefully bring these popular apps to its PatchWall interface.

I haven’t tested it myself yet, but according to iGyaan, Netflix or Google Play store didn’t work via sideload.

They also warned that sideloading apps like Google Play store may also break the functionality of the TV. So, be careful!

Why Isn’t the IR Cable Working Properly?

During the TV installation and settings configuration, ask the service engineer to check if the IR Cable is working properly.

If this doesn’t work properly, change the settings of the DTH remote in your TV.

Does PatchWall Support All Set Top Boxes?

Mi TV is compatible with about 3500 DTH and set-top box service providers in India. When the DTH box is integrated, the channels and the content available on those channels are seamlessly integrated into the OS. You might want to get in touch with your DTH service provider to learn if their STB is supported by Mi TV. Here’s a thread on Twitter to learn more.

Why Can’t My MiTV Play YouTube 4K Videos?

Xiaomi India promotes their MiTV’s on the basis of 4K UHD (Ultra High-Def) content. However, the truth is the 55-inch MiTV4 doesn’t automatically display your standard content in 4K quality. Here’s how to stream YouTube 4K videos on your MiTV.

Some Xiaomi Mi TV Tips and Tricks to Get the Most Out of it

The Mi TV 4 is an awesome device. However, to get the most out of it, you should know how to unlock the hidden features of the TV. Here are some tips and tricks to use the Mi TV like a pro.

Use Your Phone as a Remote

The Mi TV 4 comes with a Bluetooth-enabled remote control device already. However, I’ve found two major issues with it.

  • 1st Problem: It doesn’t have a MUTE button.
  • 2nd Problem: A handful of buttons hamper browsing experience.
  • 3rd Problem: To control DTH channels, it depends on IR blaster.

The good news is the Mi Remote Controller app on Google Play Store can help you get rid of these problems.

Take Screenshots on Android TV

The Mi Remote Controller app also has a feature to let you take a screenshot of your TV screen, which is a fun way to share great TV moments with your friends on social media.

Sideload a Third Party App Store

The MiTV doesn’t currently have any app store; it has a limited number of apps to choose from.

That’s right — currently, it doesn’t have popular apps like Netflix or VLC player.

Therefore, if you want to install any third-party apps, you can the common technique — sideload a third-party app store.

My choice is Aptoide TV.

However, before you download the Aptoide TV apk and sideload it, you should complete this one important step — enable the ‘Allow unknown sources’ setting on your MiTV.

It’s located right here: Settings > Security

Once you’ve done that, simply sideload the Aptoide TV apk and install it.

Go to the apps section of your MiTV, click open the Aptoide TV app and download the popular apps of your choice.

Note: Since Aptoide app is not an official method, you may experience minor issues. But the benefits sure surpass these small issues.

Cast Your Phone Screen with LocalCast

The Mi TV doesn’t have Chromecast built-in support, which is a real bummer!

While it ships with the Miracast app, it doesn’t offer the same freedom as does the Chromecast built-in service.

If you want to cast your phone’s content to your Mi TV screen, download the LocalCast for Chromecast app from Google Play Store.

Be sure to enable the DLNA service on the Mi TV by navigating to Settings > Security and then turn on the DLNA service toggle.

On your Android device, launch the LocalCast for Chromecast app, open the Discovery options and enable the option for DLNA Renderers.

Once you’ve done that, it will start searching for the active devices. Choose your Mi TV and you’re done!

Now, play any video on your Android device to cast it directly to your Mi TV screen.

Final Thoughts

Just one thing to keep in mind — Netflix doesn’t offer 4K support for Mi TV 4 yet. I watched a couple of movies on Netflix as well as Prime Video using Apple TV, and I found the picture quality on Netflix is very rich. So, as of now, the only way to watch 4K content on Mi TV 4 is to connect a device that provides 4K input, e.g, STB, Apple TV 4K, Chromecast 4K and so on. Additionally, you can download 4K movies and play them via USB port.

Have you bought the Mi TV 4 yet? What’s your take on it?

Please, let me know if you want me to review any particular feature on the TV.

Recommend Article: How to Stream YouTube/Netflix 4K UHD Videos on MiTV

How to Track Ad blockers on Google Analytics: A Handy Guide

With the increasing use of ad blockers these days, it’s important for online publishers to determine how (and to what extent) their website is affected.

This is a crucial step because you need to decide the next course of action based on your findings. If most of your visitors use ad blockers and your ad revenues are taking a dip, you should find an alternative revenue model for your site.

While you can simply install one of those anti-ad blocking plugins on your site, it might slow down your site and affect the user experience as well. The point is why use anti-ad blocking plugin without even knowing if your visitors are using one to begin with?

In this guide, I will share with you an easy way to set up a custom dimension, create a new segment and custom report in your Google Analytics to determine the approximate number of site visitors using ad blockers.

Step #1: Add Javascript Code to Your Site’s Header
Step #2: Set up a Custom Dimension in Google Analytics
Step #3: Create an Advanced Segment
Step #4: Create a Custom Report for users with Ad Blockers

How Does it Work?

We’re essentially going to create a code snippet which will create an HTML element named “AdSense”. Then we add the code snippet to the header section of our website. If a visitor to the site has some kind of Ad Blocker enabled on their browser, the HTML element will not be visible. Moreover, we will create a new segment to categorize those visitors separately to give your a fair idea about the volume of traffic that are unable to see your Google AdSense ads.

Note: In order to create and install this code, you need to have admin privilege of the site as well as Google Analytics.

Add Tracking Code to Your Site

The following javascript is designed to capture the visitors who have a ad blocker installed and enabled on their browser.

Copy and paste the following code snippet to the header section of your website.

Don’t forget to replace UA-XXXXX-Y with your Analytics ID.

Click save when you’re done.

Setup Custom Dimension in Google Analytics

A custom dimension essentially helps you record additional data in Google Analytics. The standard dimensions such as source, medium, city, browser give you an diverse insights about your visitors and their behaviours. For our purpose, we will create a custom dimension, i.e, Blocked Ads so we can compare the data for future actions.

Even as the above code snippet captures the data related to ad blockers, it will not reflect on Google Analytics on its own. For that to happen, we need to set up a custom dimension and an Advanced Segment for Blocked Ads in Google Analytics.

Follow the steps below to setup a custom dimension in Google Analytics:

  • Log into your Google Analytics
  • Click on the Admin Icon at the bottom on the left hand sidebar
  • Click on “Custom Definitions” under Property pane
  • Then click on custom definitions
  • Click on the red button named New Custom Definition
  • Enter “Ads Blocked” in the Name and Click on Create button below
  • In the next step, click on the SAVE button and your custom dimension is created

Create a New Segment in Google Analytics

  • Go to Home > Audience > Overview
  • Click on Add Segment
  • Then Click on the red button named “New Segment”
  • On the left-hand sidebar, you will see conditions under Advanced menu
  • Click on the conditions
  • On the Conditions panel, click on the “Ad Content” filter
  • It will display a drop-down menu with search box on top
  • If you type in “ads” it will show you the name of your custom dimension you created previously ie. Ads Blocked
  • Click on it

Note: If you have limited access and are prohibited from searching, you can also scroll to the Custom Dimensions category and choose from there.

  • In the next filter (under Include) choose “exactly matches” and in the box next to it, type in 1
  • Give the segment a name, e.g, Ads Blocked and click on the save button next to it.

That’s it! You’re done configuring your advanced segment

Give it a week or so and you should be able to see the data

Create a Custom Report for users with Ad Blockers

If you want to create a custom report, e.g, All users vs Ads Blocked, simply create a custom report in the following way:

  • Go to Home > Acquisitions > All Traffic > Source/Medium
  • To add a segment, ie. Ads Blocked or All Traffic, click on the + sign and then choose a segment name and click on Apply button.

Here’s what a custom report looks like.

Track Ad blockers on Google Analytics

That’s it!

I hope you find this guide useful. If you have any questions, leave a comment below.