One company is giving away tiny homes if they’re used as an Airbnb rental
A well-known manufacturer of RVs that double as tiny homes is giving away the miniature domiciles to entrepreneurs who are willing to outfit them for Airbnb rentals and share 60 percent of the revenue with Wisconsin-based Escape, the manufacturer of these tiny homes.
How long does it take for eggnog to go bad? It’s all about the booze
Eggnog is a beloved holiday beverage for some and reviled one for others, but it might actually be safer to drink a few weeks after you make it. If you find yourself with leftovers this holiday season, when should you throw it out? The answer is all in the booze content (hint: the boozier the better!).
Samsung may already be working on a second Galaxy Home smart speaker
Samsung hasn't even released its first smart speaker yet and there's already talk of it prepping a second, more affordable one. Its Galaxy Home speaker seems like an Apple HomePod competitor, but reports suggest the second device will offer fewer features.
Amazon reportedly planning major Whole Foods expansion with Prime Now delivery
Amazon is reported to be exploring sites for new Whole Foods stores across the U.S., partly as a route to expanding Prime Now, the company's speedy delivery service for Prime members. The news comes 18 months after Amazon acquired the Whole Foods grocery business for $13.7 billion in 2017
How to clean a dishwasher in a few easy steps
Believe it or not, it's important to clean a dishwasher from time to time. With all the dirty dishes that go into it, your dishwasher can start to collect food particles. Luckily, cleaning the dishwasher is an easy process. Here's how to do it well, in just a few easy-to-follow steps.
Don’t kick it to the curb: 13 ways to recycle your Christmas tree
The holidays are over, and now you've got a sad looking Christmas tree sitting in your living room. Think all you can do with your spruce or pine is wait for the garbage truck? From making mulch to replanting (yes, actually replanting!), here are some creative ways to recycle the evergreen.
Fake Alexa setup app for iOS taken down but could still be dangerous
A fake iOS setup app for Amazon Alexa was taken down from the iTunes store, but not until many users downloaded it. If you downloaded One World Software's "Setup for Amazon Alexa," the best course of action is to delete it. The app didn't work but it collected IP addresses and device IDs.
Amazon isn’t alone; Philips Hue has been experiencing holiday outages
There were tons of smart home devices given as gifts this holiday season, and there's nothing people wanted to do more than plug them in and start using them. Unfortunately, new owners of Philips Hue smart lights were hit by an outage that kept them from being able to enjoy their new connected lights.
Doomba uses your Roomba data to build new ‘Doom’ maps. You’re welcome
Enterprising game developer Rich Whitehouse recently decided to repurpose his Roomba vacuum's mapping data to create custom levels of the classic first-person shooter Doom. Because why the heck not? Here's his story, and how you can have a go at doing the same thing yourself.
Amazon says it’s broken its holiday sales record … again
Amazon has broken its holiday sales record again, with more items ordered via its online shopping site than ever before. Popular tech items included its Echo speaker and the Ring Video Doorbell 2. It added that that "tens of millions of people worldwide" signed up to Prime for a free trial or began paid memberships.
‘Alexa, are you OK?’ Amazon’s smart assistant crashes on Christmas
It seems that it all got a bit too much for Alexa on Christmas Day. Amazon's digital assistant temporarily stopped working for a number of users across Europe on December 25, possibly overwhelmed by the sudden uptick in new users playing with their Alexa-powered Echo speaker.
Walmart and Best Buy slash prices on Google Home devices after Christmas
The holidays have come and gone but you can still save big on a Google Home, Google Home Mini, and Google Home Hub devices. If you were thinking of taking the plunge and getting yourself a Google Home product or an additional one, check out some of the best deals.
Amazon continues slashing prices on its Instant Pots deals
After the Christmas rush, bargains await people who previously focused on finding gifts for others. Amazon cut prices on some of the most popular Instant Pot multi-function programmable pressure cookers. If you're flush with gift cash or hoped someone would give you an Instant Pot but they didn't, now's your chance.
Kenmore explains why glass washing machines lids are spontaneously shattering
A consumer advocacy group claims the glass lids of Kenmore top-load washers shatter spontaneously and that Sears, the Kenmore brand owner, is slow to resolve the problems. According to Elliott Advocacy, the same complaint with other machines came to light earlier in 2018. The Kenmore brand belongs to Sears.
Here’s what smart home security looks like for the super rich
If you think smart home security is getting high-tech for the average person, just wait until you see what the ultra-rich folks are up to. From personal bat caves to bulletproof shutters and laser curtains, there are security solutions for every possible doomsday scenario — if you have the money.
Instant Pot is crazy popular, but should you give its blender a whirl?
The Instant Pot Ace Blender can cook your foods and mix them in the same gadget, allowing you to make hot foods like soups, purees, and rice milks. I tested out the Ace, and I have heck of a lot to say about the device. Should you buy the Ace or steer clear? Check out my Instant Pot Ace Blender review.
Amazon offers $10 or 20 percent off already slashed best-seller smart home deals
On the last day of Prime free 2-day shipping Amazon unleashed a new promotion for already-discounted best-selling smart home devices. Smart10 and Smart 20 check out codes on select products get an extra $10 or 20 percent off. This is a limited time offer that could disappear at any time, so act fast.
How Alexa and Google Home can lend a hand over the holidays
Smart speakers with voice assistants, such as Alexa and Google Home, can be especially helpful during the holiday with these tips and tricks. From setting timers to shopping for deals to playing your favorite festive music and movies, let your Alexa or Google Home device give you a helping hand in life.
Lighthouse security camera company shuts down, offers refunds to customers
Security camera company Lighthouse AI is shutting down. The startup that promised advanced artificial intelligence and 3D sensing in its cameras came up short in its commercial ambitions and is calling it quits. Customers will have until January 25, 2019, to request a refund.
Tapplock one+ review
The Tapplock one+ smart padlock combines style and substance with sleek lines and fingerprint control while waterproofing and weather resistance deliver all-season protection. And with a battery life that supposedly lasts a year, you’ll rarely have to charge the device.
Which A.I assistant is smarter than the others? One company found the answer
This year's results are in for Loup Ventures' annual Smart Speaker IQ test. The test, which consists of 800 annually updated questions, measures how well the digital voice assistant employed by each device understands each question and answers each question correctly. Who won? Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, or Cortana?
Watch this NASA engineer own porch pirates with a glitter bomb package
NASA engineer Mark Rober had a package stolen from him and the police wouldn't do anything about it, so he took matters into his own hands and built a glitter bomb package to thwart would-be robbers. His bit of vigilante justice includes launching glitter into the air and releasing fart spray.
Amazon sends a user someone else’s Alexa recordings by mistake
When you have a voice assistant, you have to know that it's listening at all times. However, the expectation is that it's only listening to you. One Amazon Echo user in Germany was accidentally given more than 1,700 recordings from someone else, sparking concerns about privacy.
Like a proud parent, Amazon recounts everything Alexa achieved in 2018
Four years after its initial launch, Amazon Echo's Alexa voice assistant continues to gain capabilities, add skills by the tens of thousands, and work with additional devices. The Alexa team highlighted 2018's developments including more languages, new partnerships, and the growing emphasis on visual features.
Looking to buy an Echo device for Christmas? Many are now out of stock
Amazon Echo devices are some of the hottest gifts of this holiday season. In fact, they're so hot that they're actually becoming hard to find. After Amazon slashed the prices during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the voice assistant speakers have been out of stock ahead of the year's biggest holidays.
Home alone again, Macaulay Culkin gets some help from Google Assistant
Macaulay Culkin plays a grown-up Kevin McCallister in Home Alone-themed Google Home Hub commercial. Kevin recreates memorable bits from the movie but this time Google Home Hub helps him check his calendar, order pizza, add to his shopping list, and even scare off bandits casing the same house used in the original film.
Alexa’s top skills of 2018 are here to assist you in any way you can imagine
Amazon announced the Alexa Skills of the Year 2018, a collection of 24 skills Amazon's Alexa team considers the top skills for games, family fun, wellness, and daily habits. Amazon encourages customers to create their own skills. The Custom Q&A Skill Blueprint lets anyone create new Alexa skills by answering questions.
These are the best Amazon Echo and Google Home deals just in time for Christmas
Smart home and smart speaker inventories at major retailers are dwindling. If you're searching for smart home gifts for delivery before Christmas, don't delay or you may miss out. We found the best deals on Amazon and Walmart for Amazon Alexa and Google Home products still in stock for fast delivery.
4 reasons you should buy the Amazon Echo Input
Do you have an older, great-sounding speaker that you want to add the Alexa voice assistant to? Amazon has got you covered with the Echo Input, a small, puck-like device that connects to non-smart speakers via Bluetooth or auxiliary. Here are four reasons to buy the device.
Walmart discounts the Roomba 618 just in time for last-minute holiday shoppers
Normally priced at $269, the iRobot Roomba 618 robot vacuum is currently on sale for just $229 from Walmart during the retailer's last-minute gift sale. With free two-day shipping, you can even get it before Christmas wif you act fast. Just don't wait too long or this deal will be gone.
The best last-minute smart home gifts of 2018
Looking for a cool tech gadget to buy for someone during the holidays? With the holidays quickly approaching, we sorted through the gadgets we researched and tested throughout 2018 to determine which gadgets would make the best gifts. These are our picks for the best last-minute smart home gifts for 2018.
Save up to $200 on Roomba and other robot vacuums before Christmas
We've found the best discounts on robot vacuum cleaners from Amazon and Walmart with brands such as Roomba, Shark, Eufy, and Ecovacs Deebot. Whether you're buying Christmas gifts, adding to your smart home, or need a little extra help around the house, these fourteen deals can help you save up to $200.
Holiday shopping: Here are the final dates for Amazon’s free shipping promotion
If you're shopping with Amazon this holiday season, time is fast running out if you want your gifts delivered before December 25. Tuesday is the final day for some of Amazon's free shipping options, and then those options start falling away — for Prime members, too. Here are the dates you need to know.
These activists are hacking housing problems in NYC using apps and data
Affordable and safe housing is at a crisis level in America's largest cities and now a loose association of coders and activists in New York City is tackling their own challenges by collecting and disseminating data via apps to help tenants combat shady landlords and unfair housing practices.