Whenever Apple announces a new operating system, people immediately start assessing which features are the most important and which might be mere hype. iOS 13, slated for release in September, is no different. Here's a rundown of some of the offerings that seem to be…
Aiming to offer voice-controllable LED smart lamps at an affordable price point, Aoycocr has launched a line of lighting that brings broad compatibility with the Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant ecosystems, while also enabling Apple Siri Shortcuts control. These RGBW color lamps have been designed…
Smart devices are collecting more personal information than ever before, from what you do on the internet to where you use your phone. It’s not just smartphones, either—that smart device in your kitchen and the smartwatch on your wrist may be collecting information, too. But…
It seems Amazon Alexa- and Google Assistant-compatible accessories steal the connected home headlines these days, yet products with Apple HomeKit compatibility are still widely popular and new HomeKit accessories continue to hit the market. But to get maximum return on your HomeKit investments, a HomeKit…
We won't take the time here to beat around the forsythia bush. So just how intelligent is a Zilker smart water timer? Let's do some Q & A to find out. Can it alert you to possible leaks? Check. Adjust itself based on the weather?…
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…
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…
Adding to a repertoire of voice commands for its smart door locks, August Home has added a smart unlock feature for the Google Assistant. Designed to work with the August Smart Lock and Smart Lock Pro, the new integration pairs a voice command with a…
Making a wager on the existence of connected home life beyond pure voice activation, Google has announced Google Home Hub, a 7-in. touchscreen tabletop display with the Google Assistant built in. As part of the growing Google Home speaker family, the device dutifully processes voice…
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 the first smart irrigation controller with onboard HomeKit firmware. The integration facilitates control with the…
If you were asked where and how you’re reading this article, what would you say? It’s likely that many of you could have—or did—stumble upon this article while browsing the internet on your smartphone. Like a lot of people, you’ve probably had moments where you…
Smart home technology is among the best things to come out of Silicon Valley in recent years. The ability to control your home from your smartphone or with your voice, even when you’re not there, can be quite compelling. Summer can be the perfect time…
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 endeavor, especially if you're seeking a premiere app that lets you get the most out…
There are smart door locks and intelligent room lights and thermostats, so why not smart garage door controllers, too? As it turns out, you can buy those and there are a growing number to choose from. Here are five of the best ones. [1] Chamberlain…
According to recent research by consultancy IFSEC Global, more than 90 percent of security system installers view home automation as a significant growth market. Verisure, Europe’s leading alarm monitoring company, offers more than just protection against intruders. Its growing smart security solution includes climate control,…
Do you often wonder why you sneeze a lot indoors or find your allergies flaring up? It could be because there’s room for improvement regarding your home’s interior air quality. There are smart home accessories for almost everything, including those that monitor air quality. Here are…
So you’ve invested in some Nest-branded smart home products and want to make your abode even more connected. Fortunately, you don’t have to break the bank to meet your goal. Get started with this helpful list of 10 budget-friendly gadgets from various companies that offer…
It has been a long time in coming. The Apple Home app—the Cupertino company's elegant interface to Apple HomeKit smart home accessories—is finally coming to the desktop of the Mac with the upcoming Fall 2018 release of macOS Mojave. Until now, the Home app was…
Not long ago, most people had barely heard of smart home gadgets. Now, they’re in households around the world. However, any high-tech accessory—even an extremely intelligent one—is at risk of infiltration by hackers. You can keep your gadgets and your abode safer with some simple,…
Since the launch of Apple iOS 10 and the Home app, Apple TV devices have been stealth-like participants in the Apple HomeKit ecosystem as HomeKit hubs, but have never made an appearance in the Apple Home app itself. That all changed with the release this…
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