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…
Do you find yourself having to juggle multiple power strips so that you can keep all your tech devices charged while trying to accomplish your daily tasks? Now may be the opportune time to stow away the extension cords and consider an electrical system wiring…
With all the things that now connect to the Internet, you can easily get caught up in all the cool, new additions to your smart home and forget about the one thing that makes them all work—your internet connection. Specifically, how much internet speed does…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
In synchronization with product announcements from new parent company Amazon, smart doorbell pioneer Ring brought its own news to the day in the form of the new Ring Stick Up Cam. Available in wired, battery, and solar versions, Ring will offer consumers a smart camera…
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…
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…
The first visible fruits of ASSA ABLOY’s acquisition of Silicon Valley smart lock maker August Home in 2017 have reached market, in the form of a new line of locks branded as Yale Assure Locks - Connected by August. Yale, a long-time member of the…
The sweltering heat of another record-breaking summer is finally coming to an end. That means cooler temperatures, holiday travel, family gatherings, and plenty of time spent indoors getting cozy. If you want to go into fall with confidence, these smart tech investments can keep your…
Investing in a home security system may not seem like something you have the budget for, especially as a new homeowner. However, having a security system offers lots of benefits and financial perks. Residential security systems can save you some hassle when submitting insurance claims…
