Tips to Maximize Internet Speed in Your Smart Home

Your Wi-Fi router might be slowing you down. It's among the key things you need to check if your smart home network is not up to speed.

Smart homes and connected devices have become a part of modern life for many—our homes can relay information to us ...

Science fiction meets science fact. Cinematic droid R2-D2 faces off with a Google Home Mini speaker and Google Assistant. Image: Digitized House Media.

Google Assistant Expands with Dialect Upgrades

10 July 2018

As technology progresses, so does the trek toward artificial intelligence (AI). One of the world's most popular AI tools is ...

Designed to replace standard toggle or rocker wall switches, the Eaton Aspire Preset Timer Switch works splendidly with bath fans. Image: Digitized House Media.

Control Bath Humidity with a Medium-tech Digital Fan Timer

by Tom Kolnowski

25 June 2018

As homes are designed and built to be more air tight, mechanical ventilation becomes a necessity. Once a bastion of ...

With the Fall 2018 release of macOS Mojave, the Apple Home app comes to the Mac desktop for the first time. Image: Apple.

Apple Home App Coming to macOS with Mojave Upgrade

by Tom Kolnowski

5 June 2018

It has been a long time in coming. The Apple Home app—the Cupertino company's elegant interface to Apple HomeKit smart ...

Hello, Google. Can you tell me how safe my connected home is? Image: Bence Boros.

6 Ways to Keep Your Connected Home Safe

by Kayla Matthews

2 June 2018

Not long ago, most people had barely heard of smart home gadgets. Now, they’re in households around the world. However, ...

Finally, some synergy with Apple HomeKit, Apple TV, and the Home app: With iOS 11.4 and tvOS 11.4, Apple TVs will appear in the Home app and can play AirPlay 2 audio. Image: Digitized House Media.

Your Apple TV Now an AirPlay 2 Speaker and HomeKit Sccessory

by Tom Kolnowski

31 May 2018

Since the launch of Apple iOS 10 and the Home app, Apple TV devices have been stealth-like participants in the ...

Nest Temperature Sensor (right) pictured with Nest Thermostat E. Image: Nest.

Nest Temperature Sensor enables Tailored HVAC Control

by Tom Kolnowski

18 April 2018

Filling a noticeable gap in their smart thermostat line, Nest Labs has announced the launch of the Nest Temperature Sensor, ...

Nest x Yale smart door lock. Image: Nest and Yale.

Nest and Yale begin Shipping Nest x Yale Smart Lock

by Tom Kolnowski

22 March 2018

Bringing the convenience of the Nest connected home ecosystem to your front door, the Nest x Yale lock is the ...

Automating your window shades is easier than ever. These Graber Mezzanine layered shades have onboard Z-Wave motors and work with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Image: Digitized House Media.

Automating Window Shades in the Connected Home Era: Part 2

by Tom Kolnowski

15 March 2018

As we wrote in Part 1 of this series, motorized shades and blinds are moving rapidly into the DIY connected ...

Graber Layered Shades with Virtual Cord Motorization. Image: Graber.

Automating Window Shades in the Connected Home Era: Part 1

by Tom Kolnowski

12 March 2018

Once a bastion of high-end home automation systems, motorized window shades are moving into the DIY connected home mainstream with ...

Moment Photo Case, Wide Lens, and Moment app for smartphones. Image: Digitized House.

Moment Photo Case and Wide Lens Review

by Tom Kolnowski

24 February 2018

The cameras on our smartphones keep gaining in resolution and flexibility, but there is only so much manufacturers can do ...

Philips Hue Cher ceiling fixture. Image: Philips.

Philips Hue Expands Smart Lighting with Cher Ceiling Fixtures

by Tom Kolnowski

21 February 2018

Moving beyond the smart LED bulbs that have been the hallmark product of the Philips Hue brand, the company has ...

First Alert Onelink Safe & Sound smoke alarm and speaker. Image: First Alert.

First Alert Onelink Safe & Sound Smoke Alarm Brings Speaker and Alexa to Ceilings

by Tom Kolnowski

13 February 2018

First it was our walls getting smarter with the addition of audio features, such as in the case of the ...

iDevices Instinct smart wall switch. Image: iDevices.

iDevices Instinct Smart Switch to Debut

by Tom Kolnowski

29 January 2018

Aiming to elevate the lowly light switch, connected home accessory company iDevices has announced their Instinct line—smart wall switches with ...

The Apple HomePod voce-activated speaker arrives in February 2018. Image: Apple.

Apple HomePod Set for February 2018 Debut

by Tom Kolnowski

25 January 2018

After creating buzz around the Apple HomePod speaker at their Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June of 2017, the Cupertino ...

U by Moen Digital Shower, controlled by Amazon Alexa or Apple HomeKit and Siri. Image: Moen.

Smart Water Futures Gain Steam at CES 2018

by Tom Kolnowski

14 January 2018

So, you ask, did CES® 2018 yield a watershed moment for the connected home? If the number of water-related devices ...

Apple AirPods Wireless Earbuds

by Tom Kolnowski

23 December 2017

It has been a year since Apple began shipping their AirPods—the Cupertino company’s first wireless earbuds—yet the product is still ...

Sonos speakers gain voice control through the Amazon Alexa assistant. Image: Digitized House.

Sonos and Amazon Alexa Make Beautiful Music Together

by Tom Kolnowski

24 November 2017

With the recent launch of Sonos One, an Amazon Alexa-enabled smart speaker, the company that built its reputation as one ...

Product Brief: Nest Thermostat E a Lower-Cost Alternative

by Tom Kolnowski

31 August 2017

Setting a high-water mark for residential thermostat retail pricing in 2011 with the launch of the original $249 Nest Learning ...

Product Brief: iDevices Dimmer Switch, Smart Home Switch Hitter

by Tom Kolnowski

19 August 2017

Designed to appeal to do-it-yourself homeowners as well as professional integrators and builders, smart-home device manufacturer iDevices has released the ...

Tag: consumer electronics