Making a home's built-in lights controllable from a phone or voice assistant is a big part of creating a smart home. For me, the time has come. I'm going all-in, and I'm doing it all at once. Here goes nothing!
Robot vacuums with mops have largely evolved into a homogenous product category. The Matic, however, switches things up. It looks, maps, and cleans a bit differently. I found it to be a cleaning assistant that’s just a little more fun and thoughtful in its approach.
I long thought of smart lights as an extravagant and wasteful gimmick. Being able to change the color of a bulb or turn a light on with my voice seems unnecessary and not worth the price of entry. Then the time came when there were problems in my life that, I realized, smart lights could solve—and they have!
Tech devices that may still be in working order often become obsolete once they stop being able to run the latest operating systems. My old second-generation iPad, for example, still works perfectly, but it's impossible to install most current apps on it as the version of iOS that it runs is so out of date. However, with a little bit of effort, I managed to get it working as a smart home control panel running my Home Assistant dashboard.
Are you looking at picking up a HomeKit Secure Video camera? Here are a few things I wish I knew before setting up my first HomeKit Secure Video camera, and the things I'll keep in mind as I continue to outfit my home with security cameras.
The Amazon Echo Spot smart speaker is currently at its best price of the year, dropping to $59.99 on Amazon. This is a 25% discount from its usual $79.99 price and beats any other price this year. It is a great deal for anyone looking for a useful smart alarm clock.
Eve recently updated its smart wall switch with Matter compatibility and a dimming function. Delivering compatibility with both one and three-way lighting setups, and working with all major smart home platforms, the $50 Eve Dimmer Switch is a fantastic buy, and one I want more of in my house.
Building the perfect smart home isn’t cheap. It’s a process you want to get right first-time, since sinking a lot of money into an imperfect solution will require even more expense to put right later.
After testing many a robovac, the Ecovacs Deetbot T80 Omni has shown me that when a consistent, high-quality clean is available without flagship frills, you won’t miss competitors’ bells and whistles. That said, you might miss their obstacle-avoidance techniques.
Eve is well-known in the HomeKit accessory space, which made me very excited to try its Outdoor Cam, the brand's floodlight camera. However, after spending time with this HomeKit-exclusive camera, it left me wanting more, and I'm not sure if it's worth the lofty asking price.
Home Assistant, the self-hosted smart home platform, is dropping support for two installation methods and three legacy CPU architectures. If your device is affected, you have a few months to migrate your setup before official updates end.
Many prioritize indoor smart lights, but outdoor lights are also important, and you can also make those smart, just like you would put a smart outdoor camera by your doorstep. Govee's latest outdoor smart lights might be a good choice if you've been considering getting some to keep the lights on at night.
If you’ve been searching for the right kind of Wi-Fi-connected smart light for your yard but have come up short, the Govee Outdoor Lamp Post Light might just have you covered. It's a big, bright way to light an outside space. Plus, its motion and brightness sensors are neat. The Lamp Post lighting effects aren't unique within Govee's crowded lineup, but it's another solid form factor.
Are you planning your upcoming summer vacation? Be sure your smart home is ready before you depart. From checking your security cameras to changing the batteries on your smart lock, here's how to get your smart home ready before you leave on vacation.
Eufy continues to redefine what a robot vacuum should be. Along with a high-quality vacuum and mop component, the Eufy Omni E28 Robot Vacuum also sports a portable spot cleaner for carpets, furniture, and even more. It’s versatile, works well, and should be on the top of your buying list.
If you're gearing up to travel this summer or want to clean up your desk with a better charging system, we have you covered. The Anker 525 (7-in-1) charging station can charge phones and power laptops, has USB-C and AC outlets, doubles as an extension cord, and is on sale for just $30.
SwitchBot’s Adjustable Roller Shades aren’t the pinnacle of smart home convenience and installation can be a bit tricky depending on the window size. However, once installed, it’s a delightful and easy-to-use luxury you’ll want to add to every available window in your home.
TVs are no longer the plug-and-play devices they once were. Even the cheapest options have smart features, most notably streaming service apps. However, they also come bundled with pesky ads and security concerns. This has left many to yearn for simpler times, but is dumber really better?
I've used Home Assistant for years to control my smart home devices and run automations. The software is packed with features, including the ability to send notifications to your phone. I have multiple automations that send me notifications about my smart home devices.
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