Vivint’s Car Guard keeps tabs on your vehicle when you’re not in it
Home security isn't limited to just what it is in your home. Vivint is reflecting that notion with the addition of the Vivint Car Guard. A simple plug-in that you can place in just about any vehicle, this service will automatically detect if your car is bumped, towed, or stolen and will alert you to it.
The best smart home fitness tech
Looking for devices that can improve your workouts and help you find the most effective exercises for your fitness goals? These smart devices get sweaty right along with you as they monitor your biometrics and form, and records to help you keep track and improve. Check out the top devices and what fitness goals they serve.
Amazon slashes $77 off the iRobot Roomba 690 multisurface robot vacuum
Smart vacuums can be scheduled to do all their cleaning while you’re at work so that you never even see it happening. And right now, Amazon has dropped the price of the iRobot Roomba 690 to $298, a $77 discount for only a limited time.
Sony’s Aibo robot dog can now patrol your home for persons of interest
Sony released the all-new Aibo in the U.S. about nine months ago, and since then the robot dog has (hopefully) been melting owners' hearts with its cute looks and clever tricks. A new software update released this week gives the computer-powered pet a new feature called Aibo Patrol.
Viral porch pirate videos freak people out, cause unrealistic concern
Viral porch pirate videos convince others crime is more prevalent than facts indicate. According to polls, even though FBI reports show property crime rates are at historic lows, more people worry about crime today than ever before. Millennials are the most common home burglary victims and security tech purchasers.
Traeger’s latest wood-pellet grills are smoky, smart, and spacious
Traeger has been manufacturing its signature pellet grills for more than a quarter-century now but the innovative grill manufacturer is expanding with three new brands of its heavy-duty outdoor barbecue grills that are also equipped with smart home technology controls.
Amazon and Kia team up to simplify EV home-charging station installs
Kia Motors announced a new program with Amazon for electric vehicles. Customers planning to purchase a new Kia EV or PHEV can check out recommended Level 2 240-volt home charging stations and arrange installation in their homes. Customers can have home chargers installed before they take delivery of their new cars.
Lutron’s Fan Control makes ceiling fans smart, but has some turnoffs
Is your goal in life to tell your ceiling fan to start while you lay in your bed? Lutron recently came out with a new smart switch that controls ceiling fans, the Lutron Caseta Fan Speed Control Switch. How does it stack up? Here's a first-hand review of the Lutron Fan Control switch.
Whatever happened to those dumb smart products we wrote about in 2017?
As manufacturers rush to get the next new smart gadgets out there, we wonder if all these inventions are necessary. We compiled this list of 10 of the quirkiest smart home products available in 2017 and decided to return to them in 2019 to see if they're still in existence. Here's what we found.
Ikea isn’t throwing shade with the delayed release of its smart blinds
Ikea planned to release is Tradfri-compatible smart blinds in the U.S. in April 2019, but the products have been delayed until later in the year for a firmware update that promises better functionality. Rumors put the new release date of the Kadrilj blinds sometime in August or later.
Sign up for Amazon’s Prime Book Box and get an Echo Dot Kids Edition for $1
Do your kids like books? Start a new subscription to Amazon's Prime Book Box for kids through March 26 and you can get an Echo Dot Kids Edition for just $0.99. The Prime Book Box includes two hardcover or four board books, depending on the age range you choose. New books are delivered every one, two, or three months.
Smeg Dolce and Gabbana small appliances make an art gallery of your kitchen
Spice up your kitchen with color and design with Smeg's Dolce and Gabbana-styled Sicily Is My Love countertop collection. Following its earlier introduction of Sicilian-themed major appliances, the Italian collaborators announced this line of designer countertop devices finished with traditional icons and images.
Amazon knocks down the price on the second-generation Echo smart speaker
Amazon just knocked down the price of the second-generation Echo smart speaker with Alexa by 25 percent. The Echo answers questions on just about anything via Alexa, and can also control a houseful of smart home devices, fill a room with music with integrated Dolby speakers, make calls, and leave messages.
Thermomix introduces a small appliance that can do it all
Need an appliance that can do just about everything without requiring tons of counter space? The Thermomix TM6 just might be what you're looking for. This all-in-one appliance can perform 20 unique tasks that will cut down on the work of meal preparation and will help you cook just about anything.
Get a week’s worth of phone power with the SuperTank high-speed charger
If you're looking for the best high-capacity, high-speed portable charger available, then the new SuperTank power bank might be it. This charger provides a week's worth of power and can juice up your devices in an hour or less, and you can save $50 on it right now.
Obsbot Tail camera uses A.I. to follow the action (or a pet) for you
Want to capture more epic action selfies -- or see what your pet is doing while you're gone? The Obsbot Tail is a camera-gimbal combo that uses artificial intelligence to follow the action. Using a handful of different modes, the camera works to keep the action in the frame -- and can even go mobile with a wheeled accessory.
Think Alexa’s voice is too binary? Meet Q, a gender-neutral voice assistant
Voice assistants have alternative voices, but they are typically female by default. That can reinforce sexist stereotypes. Most voice assistants also don't have a gender-neutral option. Q aims to change that. The gender-neutral voice was developed to urge tech companies to rethink their A.I. voices.
Google rewards One subscribers with a free Google Home Mini
Google continues its steady march toward smart home domination this month by rewarding select Google One cloud storage service subscribers with a free Google Home Mini through April 21 and the technology giant will even cover shipping to send along your own smart speaker.
Who should fix Internet of Things cybersecurity? Congress takes a crack at it
While the U.S. government has held a tight rein on security for networked devices like computers and cellphones, a bipartisan groups of legislators is now taking on the issue of cybersecurity for Internet of Things (IoT) devices by introducing a bill that would set new security standards.
Sonic Soak and its 50,000 cleaning vibrations make a big splash at launch
Cleaning delicate or rare items or finding a decent cleaner while traveling can be a big pain but a new portable cleaning device called the Sonic Soak, is smaller than an iPhone and cleans using 50,000 ultrasonic vibrations per second to knock out stains and odors.
How to clean a cast-iron skillet
Durable, affordable, and almost impossible to mess up, a cast-iron skillet is the workhorse of the American kitchen. There are a wide variety of ways to clean and maintain a cast iron skillet, which can be one of the most useful tools in your kitchen. Here's how to take care of your most treasured cooking device.
Amazon slashes price of Eero Home Wi-Fi System mesh network just for today
Amazon temporarily slashed the price of the Eero Home Wi-Fi System by $100. For today only you can pick up fast, reliable mesh network hardware suitable for a two to four bedroom home. When we reviewed the Eero system we found it easy to set up and manage. This sale ends tonight at midnight Pacific Time.
Switzerland’s 3D-printed, robot-built DFAB House is open for research
The DFAB House at ETH Zurich university is using digital construction, 3D printing, and robot assembly units to transform how homes are built, test new building technologies, and make construction smarter and more sustainable.
Amazon drops price of newest Echo Dot with Sengled two-bulb smart light kit
Amazon just dropped the price of a new third-generation Echo Dot bundled with the Element Classic by Sengled Starter Kit with two smart light bulbs and a Sengled controller. Connect the lights with Alexa via your smartphone to turn individual lights or whole rooms on and off using Alexa voice commands.
Smart speakers now help the U.K. to calculate the cost of living
Smart speakers have become so popular in the U.K. that the device has now been added to the nation’s ”inflation basket.” The basket contains commonly bought items and is used to calculate the cost of living. Reflecting current shopping habits, the electric toothbrush has also been added, while the humble hi-fi is out.
Fans of the fellowship can buy this hobbit-style home for under $200K
No pressure to destroy the one ring here: Just stay home. This "hobbit house" in River Falls, Wisconsin is not only airy, energy-efficient and solidly-built, it's also for sale at a bargain price of $190,000, down nearly $100,000 from its original listing price.
Smart home technology may help senior citizens remain independent
Smart home technology has offered a wide variety of benefits to homeowners from security to child care to entertainment but a new survey from the Consumer Technology Association finds that elderly citizens may be more willing to adopt the technology in order to remain independent.
Ring Stick-Up Cam Battery review
Doesn’t it feel good to be detached from the wires in your life? You can be with Ring’s Stick Up Cam Battery, a smart home security camera that you can put literally plop anywhere. We got the chance to review the device, and it helped us catch some strange activity in our yard.
Take $50 off the all-new Alexa-enabled Lenovo Smart Tab with Smart Dock
Android tablets have struggled to compete with Apple's iconic iPad, but the new Alexa-enabled Lenovo Smart Tab is a clear exception. From now through Sunday, March 17, a 20-percent discount knocks $50 off the price, letting you score the Smart Tab with Smart Dock for just $200.
How to make cold brew coffee at home
Sweet, sweet coffee -- some of us depend on it to survive the work day, and others even consider ourselves connoisseurs. This easy guide shows you how to make cold brew coffee at home, and it only takes about 10 minutes of work. The only hard part is the waiting, and you'll never have bad coffee again.
Home Depot chops prices on Samsung and LG French door refrigerators
The Home Depot chopped home appliance prices, with especially good deals on Samsung and LG French door refrigerators. The sale lasts until March 20, 2019, and includes free delivery. Some of the best deals on refrigerators are in the spring when new models launch and retailers want to move last year's.
Alexa may be everywhere, but it’s Google’s Assistant I want in my home. Here’s why
The Amazon Alexa may have the Google Home beat in numbers of skills and compatibility with other products, but does that really matter when her voice falls flat for day-to-day conversation? Google Home sounds more natural, is easy to speak to, and its responses don't quite hint at a hostile robot uprising.
Bark commands at Alexa and your Roku will respond, unless you want Netflix
Current-generation Roku streaming devices and Roku TVs can now be controlled by Amazon's Alexa, if you have a compatible Alexa device, like the Echo or Dot. Google Assistant was added to the platform in 2018. Unfortunately for Netflix fans, neither A.I. can directly access Netflix content on a Roku.
Alexa can now give you a heads-up on what song is next in the queue
Wondering what song is playing and who the artist is? Alexa has you covered. Amazon rolled out a new feature for Alexa called Song ID. When enabled, it will tell you the name of the artist and song on upcoming music while you're listening to playlists and streaming radio stations.