10 Tips to help you build your best Magic Mirror

[@nicolehatcher]

This video has been so helpful and approachable. You explain things very well!

[@geektoolkit]

Thankyou!!! That made my day! I really appreciate that :)

[@blakeXYZ]

Wonderful insight and really helpful info. Especially as a new comer to the Raspberry Pi / Magic Mirror world; you've helped me wrap my head around it all and provided a great foundation to leap off of

[@geektoolkit]

Thankyou! I'm glad this video helped! I wanted to discuss it in a different way as other videos, and so I kinda took a shot at a video that would provide some value and hoped it worked. So it makes my day when I find out it helped someone!

[@Mark-pc4ks]

Very articulate presentation with excellent points and information. Extremely helpful, thank you.

[@geektoolkit]

Thankyou! I appreciate the kind feedback, inspires me to make more videos. I want to do a followup to this of building one, but I'm considering writing my own software for it as well. We'll see!

[@mandih1114]

Great tips. Thanks. What's the Map and Traffic modules you used. I had Google Maps-Traffic module configured but the map will show for a second then it gives java error. Lots of people having the same issue. Thanks again

[@geektoolkit]

I used an for the local traffic service in washington. I also wasn't able to use the other modules that people provided. I live in washington state and we have a DOT site (www.wsdot.com/traffic/). I'd see if your area has something similar, and then try to get that page to load, right click on it to get the image url, and then try to put that in an . That's what worked for me, and it's been reliable (well as reliable as the site). The nice thing is that since DOT for wa is the 'source' for google/bing/etc from what I understand, if it's down it's not like there's a better option. I hope that helps!

[@VinceThyng]

Thanks Joe! This has me excited about building my own. Is there a minimum resolution on the monitor you suggest or what resolution is yours?

[@geektoolkit]

Mines running 1280x1024. I'd recommend at least 1000 lines of horizontal resolution to display the most info. However, you can also use modules to auto cycle each module and still get the data to refresh, or to use 'pages'. So 1000 lines ideally, but you're not stuck if you go below that

[@treuldesilver928]

Hello Eden my name is stephen, am currently new to programming, however I got interested in building a smart mirror. Now here is a problem am failing to enable the PIR sensor module to work with my mirror and I can’t find any video on KZbin to guide me through. Kindly help me with a tutorial for turning on the monitor only when motion is detected. Regards Stephen

[@nietactiefnietactief3686]

Nice video! I'am new to this project and am very enthusiastic. especially about the PIR sensor. I've downloaded this module but I can't seem to get it running. It shows on my monitor that the module is active, but there is no communication beween the sensor and the monitor. Have run updates on everything, but to no effect. How is your configuration? thnx

[@geektoolkit]

Hi, thankyou, I don't have that mirror up anymore, so I don't know the config. I'm looking at writing my own magic mirror software simply because i haven't found the existing software flexible enough for my needs. If I build my own i'll document it and note how I do the PIR module

[@samramsey672]

What is that medical status module called? I'd love to get some cool themed modules like that on my mirror project.

[@geektoolkit]

Do you mean the one showing the stats for the raspberry pi? I've not been able to find it, and my mirror crashed, but it's simply a raspberry pi information one..I did choose it because it added a cool look. I have an idea for my next mirror build (well rebuilding my crashed mirror) to make it very techy and cool, but I have to figure out some stuff. For instance...I'd like to play some youtube visualizations...but I want them to play from local storage as video files. I've not found a way to do this using magic mirror, but I believe I can using home assistant as the backend. I could then use Grafana (I show in another video how to get grafana graphs into magic mirror) and that can spruce up your mirror as well

[@skylerrobbins4063]

this was extremely helpful. Thank you!

[@geektoolkit]

Glad it helped, and if you're doing a build I hope it goes awesome!

[@RichardT123456789]

Hi great video. Would you do a video on how to add the 3 party modules , change the news feed to local news and the phone remote , step by step and zoom in on the screen so we can see. There several MM videos, but a lot skip past , or key how to . Also, do you have a list of the basic commands to use in the pi.( start, stop, reboot, etc..) Thanks

[@geektoolkit]

I have a few videos in the queue I need to finish but that’s a good idea and I definitely can go over that. You’re right it’s not very well explained by most videos out there so I will definitely do that. It’ll help the community greatly

[@fourbyfour4]

Thank you, very helpful.

[@geektoolkit]

Cool! I need to revisit I this

[@number1pappy]

You can buy one nowadays for around $300 dollars and come with anti fog and lights as well. Crazy how a little time changes everything

[@geektoolkit]

Yeah for sure!!! It’s exciting to see how much stuff is happening and how fast nowadays. It seems like any trend that takes off china is there to make a product and run with it!

[@omarjanudin]

thanks for the elaboration on MM..

[@ZeNex74]

Is this plugged into the mains or using some sort of power bank?

[@geektoolkit]

ZeNex74 Good question! Mine is plugged into mains via a standard plug. The wire has a plastic cover over it to hide it and make it more pleasing

[@ZeNex74]

@@geektoolkit wondering how via a power bank screen and pi

[@geektoolkit]

ZeNex74 you’d want to look at possibly an attiny hooked to the motion sensor, and when triggered you’d want it to wake the pi up. That’s save you a bunch of power usage. You’d want the pi to sleep after. I don’t have examples, but I think if you research solar panel based projects for a pi for remote monitoring you may find some other tutorials

[@parshverma7855]

Can you please send me the link of the Mirror you got??? Great video.....😀😀😃😃

[@geektoolkit]

Thanks!!! I actually got it custom cut from TAP plastics...I just gave them the dimensions and told them I wanted a two way mirror

[@parshverma7855]

oh ok so can I just contact them and tell them what dimensions I want?? Or is there a a page on the website where I can put the dimensions in and order it???

[@geektoolkit]

I went into a store here in Washington I’m not sure how the online system works. But I’d check to see if you have a local source of two way mirrors first. Otherwise I’d try their online. I paid very little for mine though so hoping you can source them cheap

[@parshverma7855]

Oh ok Thank you for the fast reply Love your videos.....😀😀

[@222kitkit]

Very helpful thank you!

[@AngeloSomers]

super helpful video

[@geektoolkit]

Glad it was helpful! I wanted to do a different mirror video so glad this was useful.

[@tazo1jd]

I need help with MM , after Install modules I get errors

[@geektoolkit]

I’d try the forums. Let them know the module and error names and they should be able to get you help. I’m not great with MM to be of much help sadly but the forums have been great for me

[@blaz8396]

i have a question if i use foil, i need classic glass or some special glass with foil?

[@geektoolkit]

Blaž if you use the correct foil you’d apply it to classic glass. The trick is to get foil that is meant to create a two way mirror effect.

[@blaz8396]

@@geektoolkit Thank you so much for the fast reply. Liked/Subscribed

[@alomar.]

Thank you so much pleas can you explain how its work QR Code with MMM-Remote-Control

[@geektoolkit]

MMM-Remote-Control requires entering an ip address and then /remote as a URL. Take that URL, put it into a QRCode app to generate the qrcode, then use the MMM module to show the QR code. Then scanning it will take you right to MMM-Remote on your phone. It's pretty basic in execution, but when you use it as an experience it really elevates the experience overall

[@doubledogdrone]

@@geektoolkit What is used to scan the QR Code? Does MMM-Remote do this natively?

[@geektoolkit]

Double Dog Drone kinda. MMM-Remote just is a webpage served off of the mirror. So if you show a QR code and point it to that IP, then most cell phones will natively let you scan a QR code and go to a web address. That means that you end up on the MMM Remote page and can then control things via your phone. I hope that makes sense

[@doubledogdrone]

@@geektoolkit Thanks for the reply. I use an android phone and I am not aware of a preloaded app that scans QR codes. Which one do you use ?

[@geektoolkit]

@@doubledogdrone Oh I stand corrected, apparently android phones don't do this built in. There's a barcode scanner app that can help, and should be plenty of QR code scanners in the app store. I didn't expect though...iphones and I THINK my old windows phones integrated into the camera app.

[@kimberlyjacobsen4148]

I Will use mine with a ir-frame as a touch input. And then controlle and show my home assistant data and controls my home

[@geektoolkit]

That should be awesome! I've thought about using Home assistant instead of magic mirror software on my next one.

[@kimberlyjacobsen4148]

@@geektoolkit Update Bought a 40” Sharp UHD HDR LED Tv. The pi is not powerfull enough for 4K😓 go im going with a M1 Mac mini . And i get HDR support . Yay 🥳 But the price is getting a bit out of hand 😜 Ohh well I wanted resolution ☺️ and a big mirror

[@geektoolkit]

@@kimberlyjacobsen4148 oh no! That sounds like one of those projects where it got a bit out of hand, but also...sounds like one of those projects that'll be epics when it's complete and working! I think you'll be MUCH happier with the performance of a mac mini over a pi.

[@mr_shobuj3587]

👍👍👍

[@samudragupt473]

Agree with ur question, do u need a mirror ? I was quite inclined to build one, but later questioned my self , after all its expensive showpiece only

[@geektoolkit]

Right. I've found mine to be a great showpiece, almost like digital art, it's fun to show people that come by. I made a video about hanging a tablet on the wall for home automation...I find that MUCH more useful...it was less expensive, I can use it for touch, and if you use some of the removable ideas, you can take it off the wall, sit down, and use it. It really depends on how you want to use your time/resources, but if you're questioning, that's great, it means if you build one you'll choose something that you're more likely to be happy with. And if not, my video saved you time and money! Both wins :)

[@macstewart5703]

2022 a Raspberry Pi is $150 😭

[@geektoolkit]

I know! :( this was filmed pre pandemic. I’m trying to find alternatives but everything’s either bigger or even more!

[@fishspecial7886]

thx from a Wuhan citizen

[@geektoolkit]

fish special You’re very welcome. Our hearts and thoughts are with you and your neighbors. I’m sorry to hear about the tragic loss of life from the virus and hope that a vaccine is found sooner than later

[@jonjohnson102]

:eyes: