Haiku Home fans and lights just got smarter. These high-end products from the home division of Big Ass Fans have been uplifted by new integrations with Google Assistant and the Google Home ecosystem. We just tried out the new voice-activation features with the Haiku L…
Whether you already use smart devices in your home or not, a smart smoke detector is one of the best purchases to make. According to the National Fire Protection Agency, nearly 1,500 fire deaths occur each year due to missing, broken, or dead smoke alarms.…
Americans spend an average of 90% of their time inside, where pollutants can be up to five times more concentrated than they are outside, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These pollutants, such as mold or carbon monoxide (CO), pose health risks ranging…
Does the connected home market need yet another smart home hub and ecosystem? The team at Universal Electronics thinks so, and to prove the point has launched a collection of new home automation and security kits powered by the Nevo Butler, a smart home hub…
Getting enough natural sunlight in your living space is vital if you wish to feel good and stay healthy, and focusing on the blinds is the easiest way to do that. Controlling blinds through motorization might not be on the top of your list of…
In synch with CES 2019 in Las Vegas, Phyn has announced that Phyn Plus—a smart water assistant, leak detector, and automated shut-off valve—has gained Amazon Alexa voice control. Furthermore, Phyn Plus will be soon be expanding beyond the shores of the U.S. to include wide…
The value of a home in the real estate market is determined by supply and demand; if your property has attractive features for potential buyers, you can sell it for a premium price. This is important even if you have no immediate plans to sell…
What does electric vehicle and energy innovator Tesla have in common with smart lighting pioneer Nanoleaf? As it turns out, both companies seemingly want to cover major surfaces of your home with state-of-the-art technology products. In the Tesla case, they intend to reinvent your roof…
Smart home devices aren't just for when you're actually at home. They can be just as useful when you're away, and are a sure-fire way to contribute to a stress-free vacation. Here are eight gadgets for your connected home that will help you check in…
Given the rapid advancement and broad accessibility to smart home technology, it is becoming inextricably woven into our dwellings and lifestyles. But did you realize that the underpinnings of the technology is also influencing technology spheres far beyond the home, including those in business, science,…
Home security is getting more intelligent: that’s one conclusion of a new report by consultancy IFSEC Global and door opening solutions provider ASSA ABLOY, which examines results from a specially-commissioned smart home customer survey. This comprehensive report—entitled “Smart Door Locks Report 2018”—is available as a…
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…
With the recent launch of macOS Mojave, Apple has finally brought the Apple Home app and HomeKit accessory control to the Mac. The integration also enables Siri voice activation control for HomeKit on the Mac ecosystem for the first time, which may be a bigger…
For centuries, physical locks have been the first line of defense for our properties, keeping them safe from break-ins and unauthorized access. But beyond that, they are a way to assign and revoke access to our rental properties. Like most aspects of properties today, locks…
In a play to make its audio gear more relevant in today’s connected home, Bose has launched new smart speakers and soundbars with the Amazon Alexa voice assistant built in. New products from the company include the Home Speaker 500, Soundbar 500, and Soundbar 700,…
Anyone who has ever lived with a cat knows that you don't own them—they own you. We love our felines. They're affectionate but independent. Best of all for busy owners, they’re fairly low maintenance. But what if you could make pet care even easier? There…
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…
Putting a new face on the social network, Facebook has announced its Portal line of countertop video displays and cameras, designed to enable video calling with Facebook friends or Messenger contacts. Clearly ideated to embrace the video-everywhere mantra of the Menlo Park company, the two-way…
You walk into the kitchen and stare at your countertop. It looks so empty and lonely there. Your trusty old coffee pot brews some bitter muck that helps you get through the morning, but you wouldn't call it smart. Sometimes, when you go shopping, you…
When the concept of a smart home is mentioned, we tend to visualize a household where all appliances and accessories are connected through a Wi-Fi network and managed automatically with smartphone apps. However, wireless communication is not necessarily mandatory for a smart home, and wired…
