Samsung SmartThings

Beyond the predominance of the Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant connected home ecosystems, Samsung SmartThings has shaken out as a reasonable alternative. So it was with high expectations...

August Home, as a pioneer in the smart door lock genre, continues to add versatility and diversity to their connected home platform. We have been testing the 3rd generation of the August...

The August Smart Lock and Smart Lock Pro have gained new direct, software-based integration with Samsung SmartThings, without the need for Z-Wave. While SmartThings integration has been available previously with...

Are you ready to bring your home into the 21st century? With automation products like lights, outlets, security systems, lamps, humidity sensors, and more, you can control your entire home...

Filling a gap in the Apple HomeKit home automation ecosystem, Rachio has added HomeKit compatibility to their latest smart irrigation controller, the Rachio 3. The Colorado-based company says this is...

There are a variety of watchOS apps that enable you to control your smart home accessories from Apple Watch. Variances in functionality and interface make evaluating each app a prudent...

If you’re just starting to entertain the idea of installing smart security devices in your home, remember that these devices can sometimes carry a hefty up-front cost. It’s helpful to...

As we wrote in Part 1 of this series, motorized shades and blinds are moving rapidly into the DIY connected home mainstream. You may no longer need to hire a...

Once a bastion of high-end home automation systems, motorized window shades are moving into the DIY connected home mainstream with product offerings from a number of major window covering manufacturers...

With the introduction of the Yale Assure Lock SL, the company adds a slimmer alternative to its line of Yale Real Living smart locks. Featuring a much smaller and thinner...

The front door on today’s connected home has taken a turn for the better. By replacing the ubiquitous deadbolt with a key-free Yale Assure Lock with Bluetooth, consumers can simply...

As one of first wireless LED lighting systems, Philips Hue has been at the forefront of elevating residential illumination technology from the mundane to the sophisticated. For example, their Hue...

In the powers-that-be battle for dominance on the evolving smart home automation front, electronics giant Samsung took its opening shot across the driveway in August of 2014 with its acquisition of...