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Smart Home Features

Rise garden is like a living sofa table

I didn’t think I could grow veggies at home, but a smart garden showed me how

Rise gardens is an indoor hydroponic garden with Wi-Fi and built-in LED lights that lets you grow anything, anywhere.
LIFX Mini Color bulb installed in ceiling

Weather alerts may be the smartest use of smart lights. They can save your life

Tie the National Weather Service RSS feed to your smart lights for a visual weather alert system.
The SimpliSafe SimpliCam on a table.

Why privacy shutters on security cameras make all the difference

Privacy shutters provide assurance that your camera is not watching you, but not all privacy shutters are created equal. Some types have clear advantages.
Hex Home Wi-Fi Motion Sensor

Hex Home gives us a glimpse of how Wi-Fi is used for motion detection

Security cameras can be invasive inside of the home, which is why Home Hex offers an intriguing alternative with motion detection through Wi-Fi.
Wyze Cam microSD update

Here’s why it’s beneficial to use local storage with your security camera

Local storage offers benefits that cloud storage does not, including lower cost, better data security, and the potential for better-quality video recordings.
The Coway Airmega purifier.

Should you continue to buy air purifiers to protect you from the coronavirus?

The coronavirus (COVID-19) is still a global health concern, even with a vaccine. Should you still continue to buy air purifiers for protection?
Apple HomePod mini in hand

You shouldn’t be shocked that the HomePod Mini has a hidden sensor

The Apple HomePod Mini was recently discovered to have a temperature and humidity sensor. It might shock you, but hidden sensors are more common than you think.
Guardline Driveway Alarm

Secure your property with this top-rated driveway alarm from Amazon

Secure your home, garage, and property with the easy to set up Guardline Wireless Driveway Alarm Kit from Amazon.
Roborock S7 robot vacuum and mop cleaning carpet.

New Roborock S7 Robot Vacuum is coming to Amazon this month

The Roborock S7 robot vacuum is a top-of-the-line mopping-vacuum hybrid and goes on sale at Amazon this month.
Xandar Kardian Radar Technology

Google Nest Hub teases radar tech as the future of smart home privacy

Radar tech can measure the number of occupants in a space with more accuracy than motion sensors and has the potential to be the future of the smart home.
walmart slashes prices on all original google nest home devices hub 2

Everything we know about the next Google Nest Hub

Here is everything we know about the rumored new Google Nest Hub smart display, including potential features, price, and release window.
Roomba on floor with dog.

Are robot mops safe when children and pets are present?

Robot mops are convenient, but do they leave behind harmful chemicals that might put children and pets at risk?
5G mobile network

5G’s arrival has great implications for the smart home’s growth

The speed and low latency of 5G networks holds a lot of potential for improving smart home devices and giving users better control overall.
new irobot roomba 694 robot vacuum roomba694 cleaning living room

The new iRobot Roomba 694 is the robot vacuum you want to buy in 2021

The new iRobot Roomba 694 is an affordable entry-level robot vacuum and it ships for free!

Are your kids choosing video games over homework? Smart home tech can help

Video games are big distractions with remote learning, so here are some way smart home tech can help to make sure they're doing homework.
Marie Van Brittan Brown Ring Composite

A Black woman invented home security systems. Big Tech gave them racial bias

Marie Van Brittan Brown was a nurse who began the home security revolution that directly led to the current and somewhat troubled ecosystem.
Amazon Echo dressed up for Valentine's Day

5 ways a smart home can help you prepare for Valentine’s Day

Your smart home can help you prepare for the perfect Valentine's Day date by setting the mood, music, and more.
siri alexa feminist reboot amazon

You might not think typing to Alexa is practical, but you’d be surprised

Type with Alexa allows you to command your smart assistant with text, not voice. It's still in early access, but already shows a lot of promise.
Nest Hub Max, using the touchscreen.

5 ways to make your smart home display more useful while working from home

A smart display can control your smart home, host Zoom meetings, and read your schedule. All combined, it can make your work from home experience better.
Bartesian

The true cost of connected cocktail and beer machines

Thinking about buying one of those fancy cocktail or beer machines to enjoy some of alcoholic beverages at home? There's more to them than just their cost.
teacher leading a remote classroom

Remote work isn’t the future. And that may be for the best

Don't let our current pandemic-driven remote work situation fool you: Working exclusively from home probably won't be the norm in the future.
data shows increase in household energy use 2020 sense home monitor feature 625x417 c

Household electrical usage increased in 2020. Here’s how a smart home can help

Due to heatwaves, the pandemic, and wildfires across much of the country, energy usage increased nationwide for an increase of $1.21 billion in costs.
mila smart air purifiers carbon monoxide protection feature purifier 7 of 8

Your air purifier isn’t protecting you from this silent killer. It should be

Air purifiers help filter the air inside homes. While many do this, very few of them can actually detect an invisible gas that can be fatal.
A finger touching the Arlo Video Doorbell, mounted on a house wall.

5 smart home tech trends we saw at CES 2021

CES 2021 saw a number of emerging trends in the smart home industry, such as improved security and an increased focus on health-based technology.
moley robotics kitchen future ces 2021 moley1

The future of cooking: How a robotic chef is cooking up a crazy new kitchen

Today, our kitchens have things like ovens, fridges, stovetops, toasters, and microwaves. Tomorrow, they might just have built-in robotic sous chefs.
Top Tech of CES 2021 Awards Feature

Digital Trends Top Tech of CES 2021 Awards

The first all-digital CES brought challenges, but also a world-changing slate of amazing gadgets and devices. We picked the best of the best.
iRobot Braava Jet

Will robot vacuums make the leap into disinfecting at CES 2021?

Robot vacuums will no doubt be seen at CES 2021, but the biggest opportunity for them now is the ability to disinfect surfaces. Will we finally see it?
logitech circle view news specs price release security camera

All eyes on improved privacy for indoor cameras as CES 2021 approaches

Security cameras have evolved with their technological advances, but one area that's continually neglected is privacy. Hopefully that all changes at CES 2021.
Google Assistant Smart Display New Features

Our confinement spurred the smart home’s increased growth in 2020

Most people found themselves becoming much more acquainted with their homes in 2020 thanks to lockdowns. Here's how the cultural changes drove industry growth.
peloton

The biggest trends we saw in the smart home in 2020

There wasn't a single trend that defined the smart home in 2020, but several that showed its adaptability in a challenging year for all.
Twinkly smart lights set up around Christmas tree.

Do you really need a smart Christmas tree? Here’s how much it’ll cost you

A smart Christmas tree can streamline your decorating, but is it strictly necessary?
homepod mini comparison homepod google home amazon dot 2

5 useful smart speaker features for virtual learning at home

Learning from home can be challenging, but here are some helpful tips that can turn your smart speakers into learning machines.
Google Assistant Smart Display New Features

Five Google Assistant-powered smart display features worth checking out

Google Assistant smart displays like the Nest Hub recently got an updated, more intuitive user interface that makes the devices more functional than before.
Hum by Colgate Smart Toothbrush in bathroom

Ditch the manual toothbrush, smart toothbrushes under $50 are better buys

A smart toothbrush can help you track how often you brush, improve your technique, and even reward you for good hygiene habits.