The very concept of a home TV den (or man cave, if you must) seems somewhat old fashioned. It may call to mind worn-in recliners, oversized televisions, sports paraphernalia on the walls, and so on. But the truth is that this image isn’t just old…
Although there are some days where it sounds nice to spend the day in bed, that's obviously not feasible for people who have work, school, and family obligations. For most of us, alarm clocks are typically bedroom staples for getting going after a long night…
As March Madness rolls into its final days, the drudgery of work can get in the way. But seriously, what's more important than NCAA hoops this time of the year, particularly when your alma mater is still in the mix? Solve that dilemma by asking…
A cottage industry of app development around the Philips Hue family of smart LED lighting has produced a nice collection of software that runs on the popular Apple TV platform. Certainly, the native Hue smartphone app is always an option for lighting control, and remains…
Installing a virtual reality gaming system in your home is no longer the stuff of science fiction or tech billionaires. With an estimated 6.3 million VR headsets sold in 2016, the age of accessible virtual reality is officially here. For roughly the price of a…
On the heels of its deal with Apple to make iPhones and iPads available for sale on Amazon, the online juggernaut has announced it will make the Apple Music service available across the range of Echo audio devices. Beginning on December 17, paid subscribers to…
So you missed out on the best Black Friday deals. No big deal. Just sit back and tap away at these Cyber Week deals on smart home products from Amazon we have tested, purchased, and continue to use each and every day. You can't go…
The entertainment room is truly a special place in a modern household. Designed to bring families together and inspire parents and children to bond, spend quality time together, and create long-lasting memories, this space is sort of a secluded oasis of peace and positivity every…
While Google Translate may have a bad and sometimes hilarious reputation for mistranslated text, that doesn't mean Google Assistant won't understand you when speaking another language. The new Google Multilingual AI upgrade for the Google virtual assistant is adding three new Spanish dialects, and earlier…
Moving beyond the original chalk, charcoal, and coral versions, the popular Google Home Mini voice-activated speaker has taken a cue from mid-century modern design with a new aqua version. Clad in the same soft fabric as its sister products released last year, the aqua version…
A smart home can be uniquely positioned to create a welcoming atmosphere for guests. Smart home capabilities provide homeowners with the ability to select from a variety of products, all of which can contribute to a fantastic source of entertainment for guests. These products range…
Today’s children have the luxury of technology at their fingertips. In an instant, they can download a favorite song or catch up on a friend’s day. The digital world is a huge privilege for them—but it comes with some risks. Internet bullying, identity theft, and…
Summer is a time filled with celebrations, such as birthday parties, weddings, and family reunions. If you’re hosting such an event, you may feel the stress of all the responsibility resting on your shoulders. You want everything to run smoothly, but you aren’t quite sure…
Putting a sharper point on the Works with Alexa mantra, shelves in the new Austin, Texas, Amazon Books store go well beyond books to offer a wide variety of third-party connected home products compatible with the Amazon Alexa digital assistant, making it easier than ever…
Designed in 4 configurations to replace single- or multiple-gang wall switches, the Brilliant Control packs a broad range of smart-home capabilities into a slickly designed wall plate that combines lighting control with accessibility to an expanding array of additional connected home devices. Fitted with a…
It has been a year since Apple began shipping their AirPods—the Cupertino company’s first wireless earbuds—yet the product is still on a back-order delivery schedule. As we write this just a few days before Christmas 2017, Apple is showing a January 10, 2018 delivery date…
A common downside to the hi-tech accessories in our connected homes is their insatiable appetite for plug-in electrical power. And of course, wall outlets are never located where they are most needed, so extension cords, power strips, and surge protectors are the standard, often-inelegant solution.…
Maybe we have spent far too much time frequenting the pâtisseries of Paris; every time we see an image of the Google Home Mini voice-activated speaker in coral—a color exclusively available from the Google online store—we instantly crave a strawberry macaron. The at-a-glance resemblance to…
We have used the Sonos multi-room audio system for years, and have continuously enjoyed its high audio fidelity and the expansive set of audio and music services available through a few taps in the Sonos app. But until recently, the system did not have voice…
With the recent launch of Sonos One, an Amazon Alexa-enabled smart speaker, the company that built its reputation as one of the preeminent multi-room home audio providers took a definitive step to add long-awaited voice-activation services to its system. But almost lost among the Sonos…
Send this to a friend