Amazon cuts prices on Echo Dot, Ring security, Fire Tablets, and more for Easter
Amazon slashed prices with deals on Echo Dot, Ring video doorbell and security systems, and Fire Tablets. Some of the best deals are for multiple-unit purchases. Most Ring deals include a free Amazon Echo Dot in addition to healthy price cuts. There's no announced end date, but Easter isn't until next Sunday.
Get a deduction on SimpliSafe prices for Tax Day, free camera on security systems
SimpliSafe took big deductions off SimpliSafe home security systems for income Tax Day. Today only, SimpliSafe will take 15% off the usual price of all SimpliSafe security systems and add a $99 SimpliCam HD video security cam with built-in motion and sound detection for free. The sale ends at midnight.
Amazon slashes prices on Ecovacs Deebot robot vacuums for one day only
Amazon made huge price cuts on two Ecovacs Deebot robot vacuums for Deals of the Day. In the past two years, robot vacuums have convinced millions of the value of the household helpers, including me. I bought an Ecovacs Deebot as a family Christmas gift, and after a couple of weeks my wife said, "Best gift ever."
No nukes! Nine foods you should never put in the microwave
Microwave ovens are super convenient for making popcorn or reheating coffee, but nuking food isn't always a good idea. Warming up leftovers is often OK, but microwaving many popular food items destroys their taste and texture in a hot minute. Here are nine foods you should never cook in a microwave oven.
The Instant Pot Max has a ton of features, and one major flaw
The Instant Pot Max has more cooking functions and features than the Duo and most other Instant Pot models. It's appears to be a more efficient, quality, and luxury Instant Pot. But, is the Max worth the higher price tag? After 80 hours of testing, here are some of the great -- and not-so-great, things about it.
Best Buy slashes prices on Ring, Arlo, and Blink XT home security systems
If you’re looking to secure your pad without the contracts and fees that come with traditional home security services, now is the perfect time. Best Buy has just slashed prices on a number of smart home security systems, with discounts that can save you as much as $160.
Amazon workers listening to Alexa recordings isn’t a big deal. Here’s why
Thousands of Amazon workers are reportedly listening to recorded conversations between Alexa and voice assistant speaker owners. The idea that humans are listening to our conversations is an outrage and unacceptable. Or is it? This author doesn’t think it’s such a big deal.
Amazon slashes the price of the Ecovacs Deebot 901 robot vacuum for one day
Amazon took a dramatic price cut for its Deal of the Day on the Alexa-compatible Ecovacs Deebot 901 robot vacuum. The Deebot N79S, also on sale, doesn't have the 9o1's mapping and virtual boundaries, but the N79S responds to Amazon Alexa voice commands and the Ecovacs app.
Amazon drops pre-order prices for Alexa-compatible Ring Smart Light starter kit
Amazon dropped the prices for Ring Smart Light Starter Kit bundles a week before the lights start shipping. Smart security cameras and lights turn on automatically and alert homeowners to visitors or intruders. You can pre-order Ring Smart Light Starter Kits today and save $30 when Ring releases the Smart Lights.
Use this tool to see where your smart home devices are sending data
Your smart home devices may only work inside your home, but they might be sending data your data all over the world. A tool developed by researchers at Princeton University can help you track the data being sent from your smart home devices to see where it is being sent and who is using it.
Amazon’s checkout-free stores are planning to accept customers’ cash
Shoppers at Amazon’s cashier-free stores may soon be squeezing past customers waiting in line to pay by cash. Following criticism that such stores discriminate against those without a bank account or smartphone, Amazon Go is reportedly making plans to accept cash payments.
Uber Eats’ redesigned app lets you track your order with cute graphics
Uber Eats is launching a redesign of its app that uses cute graphics to offer detailed information on the progress of your order. It also brings new features to better handle delays, and offers more ways to contact your courier. The new-look app will land first in 16 cities, with all users offered access soon.
Amazon reportedly has thousands of workers listening to Alexa chats
Amazon says it sometimes uses your spoken requests to help it improve the accuracy of its Alexa digital assistant, but did you know that teams of humans around the world are reportedly doing some of the listening? A report on Wednesday claimed thousands of people are employed by Amazon to carry out such work.
Need to check your blood sugar results or see a doctor? Just ask Alexa
Alexa is capable of a lot of things and saving your life might be next on the list. The intelligent digital assistant has recently acquired a bunch of new skills related to the HIPAA Act of 1996. Commands include the ability to schedule an urgent care appointment or check blood sugar results.
Wayfair’s Way Day sale drops prices on appliances, robot vacuums, and more
Wayfair has extendeditsr annual Way Day sale to 36 hours. It officially starts today, April 10 and ends on April 11 at 11:59n.p. E.T. Shop steep savings of up to 80% off can be found across Wayfair's kitchen appliances, vacuums, mattresses, furniture, and more plus free shipping.
Walmart chops the price of the Instant Pot LUX60 black stainless steel 6-in-1
Walmart cut more than a third off the price on the 6-quart Instant Pot LUX60 6-in-1 multi-use programmable cooker. The perfect size for families, the LUX60 is a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, saute, steamer, and warmer. The Instant Pot's popularity continues without ebb for these multi-talented appliances.
Wink Hub has been out of stock almost everywhere for the past few months
The Wink Hub is one of the best reviewed smart home hubs around. There's just one problem: It hasn't been available for months. The Wink website lists the Wink Hub and other products as out of stock and no new product integrations have been added, leaving some to wonder if the company is still operating.
Amazon knocks half off the price of Shark ION F80 lightweight cordless stick vac
Amazon sliced its price for the Shark ION F80 lightweight cordless stick vacuum. An Amazon Deal of the Day, the Shark ION F80 includes two rechargeable batteries and charger. Act today to get the Shark ION F80 for under half list price. Amazon also chopped the price of the Greenworks 40V Cordless String Trimmer.
Alexa becomes more of a newscaster by giving you more in-depth information
Amazon wants Alexa to be your own personal newscaster right in your home. A new report suggests Alexa will soon be able to read long-form news stories to you from major publications including CNN, NPR, Bloomberg, and others. The in-depth reporting will be available in audio and video form.
Police respond to 911 burglary call, discover suspect is a trapped Roomba
Definitely an instance where smart home technology was misidentified as human, deputies in Oregon pushed into a bathroom with guns drawn only to discover the reported burglary suspect was a Roomba wandering around the room, cleaning the floors and bumping into the walls.
Steeped Coffee aims to solve the K-Cup problem with java in a tea bag
Keurig has been king of the single-serve coffee market for years, but an upstart in Santa Cruz, California is upending the coffee market with a new way to brew coffee instantly. Steeped Coffee looks like a tea bag, has a long shelf life, and is more environmentally friendly than K-Cups.
Bosch plans to harness the power of Blockchain for its next refrigerator
Here's a gimmick: a refrigerator powered by blockchain. German electronics company Bosch is teaming up with Austrian energy firm Wien Energie to create a refrigerator that runs on blockchain. The appliance will give users more control over where their power comes from and how much their fridge consumes.
Woot and NewEgg blow the doors off Google Home Hub pricing
Woot and Newegg slashed their prices for the Google Home Hub smart display. Other merchants are holding to the $150 list price, but if you've been waiting for a good deal on this digital display assistant with visual as well as audio interaction, jump for it before the sale ends. Put Google to work in your home.
What to do if your video doorbell is stolen
It's pretty scary to think a thief would be brazen enough to walk right up and steal a device that can capture them in the act on camera. But video doorbell thefts are still occurring in several areas across the country. Here's what you should do in the event that your video doorbell is stolen.
Best Buy tears down prices on Arlo Pro indoor/outdoor security cameras
Best Buy ripped up its price sheets for two generations of Arlo Pro wire-free home security cameras. The Arlo Pro 720p HD video security cameras and Arlo Pro 2 1080 full HD cameras are two of the most feature-packed systems for people who want to add video security to their smart home configurations.
August View review
The wireless August View smart doorbell offers a step up in class from wireless competitors like Ring, but other than neat integration with the company’s range of smart locks, there’s little to differentiate it from the pack. We tested the device to see how it measures up.
Across the U.S., popular video doorbells are recording their own thefts
Video doorbells are supposed to keep your house safe and let you see who is at your front door. But what happens if someone swipes the whole device, camera and all? There has been an uptick in instances of video doorbells being stolen right from people's houses, leaving homeowners looking for answers.
Leaked pics suggest Ecobee is adding a smart home security camera to its lineup
Leaked pictures of a sleek black-and-silver, conical Ecobee-branded camera turned up on Zatz Not Funny this week. Okay, it’s not exactly a surprise, but more like an inevitable addition to Ecobee’s lineup that nearly everyone in the smart home technology market has expected for some time.
Amazon slashes prices on Blink XT outdoor home security camera systems
Amazon slashed prices on Blink XT outdoor home security camera bundles and add-on camera. Security is a major reason people set up smart home configurations. We're fans of Amazon's own-brand Blink Home Security cameras because they save video clips to the cloud for free with no required subscription.
Wolf, Sub-Zero, and Cove have new luxury appliances for your home
If you're in the market for some new kitchen appliances, you're in luck. Sub-Zero and Wolf have a whole new line of kitchen appliances planned for this year. Sub-Zero has a new refrigerator, Wolf has two different ovens for kitchens of any size, and new brand Cove has a premium dishwasher available.
Thor Kitchen promises affordability with its new pro-style induction cooktops
Cooktops have all sorts of benefits over standard gas or electric stoves. They are energy-efficient, won't heat up your whole house, and warm up quickly so you can get right to cooking. Thor Kitchen is promising its new line of pro-style induction cooktops will be one-third the price of premium brands.
How to use a voice assistant speaker as a smart home hub
Your voice assistant speaker - whether Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri - has the ability to control smart devices around your home. Here's how to use a voice assistant speaker as a smart home hub and how to set them up properly with each voice assistant for full smart home control.
Airbnb’s latest wild contest: Drink, dance, and sleep at the Louvre
Sure, why not? The Mona Lisa in the living room, right in front of the bar cart. The Venus de Milo smiling slyly during dinner. A little dance in the roccoco salon of Napoleon III right before bed. That's the newest hook from Airbnb, which is offering the wild prize in a new contest.
Class-action lawsuit claims LG refrigerators fail after just a few years
Do you ever get the feeling that your refrigerator isn't lasting as long as it should? You aren't alone. A class-action lawsuit filed against LG claims that many of the company's refrigerators only last a few years. The issue appears to stem from an issue with compressors, which can be costly to replace.