Lockbox for fridge keeps medication and alcohol away from kids, wins hackathon
A fridge with a locking drawer to keep kids away from meds, liquor, and food they shouldn’t eat; a washing machine sensor that triggers alerts for overloads; and a dishwasher handle that recirculates hot air to dry wet dish towels won top prizes at the FirstBuild Hack the Home competition.
SimpliSafe Home Security System review
These days, there a lot of do-it-yourself home security systems out there. How do you choose? Simplisafe’s latest offering brings together beautiful hardware and the ability to customize your home security package.
5 lessons from Amazon’s head-spinning, head-splitting Alexa fiesta
What, no Alexa-enabled kitchen sink? Yesterday’s surprise Alexa announcement was a deluge of fast-paced devices and software announcements. Here are five takeaways I have on the event and the devices that were announced. (Hint: one of them predicts Amazon world domination).
A study says kids and security spur people’s smart home purchases
Smart home devices are getting more common, and more households are inviting everything from smart assistants to internet-connected thermostats and appliances into their homes. Why? According to a survey sponsored by Home Depot, the growth is primarily being driven by children and security.
Amazon’s partnership with SideChef makes Alexa your sous chef
As if Amazon's week hasn't been busy enough, the company announced this week that it's furthering its partnership with interactive cooking platform SideChef to integrate its cooking guidance into Echo devices, including voice guidance, photography, video demos, and voice commands.
It cooks! It blends! Instant Pot strikes again with a blender that can cook
From the creators of the popular Instant Pot multi-purpose electronic pressure cooker comes the Instant Pot Ace Blender, which lets you cook and blend soups, purees, and the like in one pitcher. This $99 multitasker should save counter space and dishwashing time for recipes involving cooking and blending.
Forget smart locks: Locky makes your keys smarter
Smart lock alternative Locky uses Bluetooth-equipped cases and smartphone apps to turn conventional keys into home security assistants that track key use, alert you to unlocked doors, and help you find misplaced keys.
Here’s how to pre-order everything Amazon announced this week
Amazon announced a whole bunch of new devices Thursday, from updates to its line of Echo speakers to all-new products like the AmazonBasics Microwave and Smart Plugs. Most of the devices aren't available quite yet but if you head over to Amazon, you can pre-order them—and just might get a bonus.
Amazon gives the Ring Stick Up Camera a 1080 HD upgrade
During Amazon's wild day of new product announcements, the company managed to sneak in an upgrade to a product made by the recently acquired Ring. Amazon revealed an update to the Ring Stick Up Camera that includes a new body design and an improved, 1080 HD camera to livestream any action caught on cam.
Amazon ups its smart home game with a new Echo Show, microwave, and clock
Amazon dropped a whole bunch of new devices on the smart home market this morning at its annual hardware event in Seattle including a completely redesigned Echo Show, an AmazonBasics smart microwave, a new security platform, an Alexa-enabled analog clock, and a Ring-friendly security camera.
Amazon’s horde of new Alexa-powered audio gear includes subwoofer, new amplifier
Amazon's quest to take over the world with its Alexa voice assistant just got a bit closer to realization, as the company unleashed an army of new devices at its live event today, including multiple new audio devices. We've got the low-down on all of the new products here.
Special-edition Instant Pots pay tribute to Pioneer Women with flowery designs
Food Network star Ree Drummond launched the Pioneer Woman Instant Pot in two different floral patterns exclusively at Walmart. Drummond's special edition multicooker functions as a pressure cooker, rice cooker, slow cooker, sauté pan, steamer, and warmer. It also includes a booklet with some of her favorite recipes.
Voice technology is useful, in demand, and not moving fast enough
A new survey about voice technology commissioned by IT analytics company AppDynamics indicates that enterprise companies aren't keeping up with millennials' demand for advancements in voice technology, and need to adapt to consumer behaviors and needs sooner rather than later.
Amazon might open 3,000 cashier-free Amazon Go stores by 2021
A new report by Bloomberg indicates that Amazon's head honcho Jeff Bezos is considering upending the convenience store and quick service restaurant market by opening up 3,000 of his experimental, cashier-less Amazon Go stores by 2021, a move that could reinvent the shopping experience in urban centers.
Holy mistaken identity! Nest Hello doorbell pegs Batman T-shirt as intruder
Nest Hello can identify faces that appear at your door, making it great at stopping unwelcome guests from entering. But in this case, it was a little too good at its job. The smart doorbell's camera mistook a man's Batman T-shirt for an intruder and locked him out of his own home.
Is Amazon tweaking its search algorithms with a new A.I.-driven shopping site?
Amazon has quietly rolled out a new shopping experiment in a test site called Scout, which uses a visual platform to display products. It allows users to like and dislike products to tweak their recommended products in seven shopping categories including women's shoes, home furniture, and kitchen and dining products.
Google Assistant will now help SimpliSafe keep homes secure
SimpliSafe has added Google Assistant voice commands to its home security control system. With SimpliSafe's new Google Assistant integration, customers can use a single voice command to configure their home security components when they leave home, ensuring that all the doors are locked and the lights are on.
Images of Google Home Hub leak ahead of company’s October hardware event
Google Assistant has the capability to work with displays. A set of leaked images suggest Google plans to take advantage of this feature with their new Home Hub, an Echo Show-type device. The images depict a device with a 7-inch display on a mounted speaker unit.
Restaurants may soon have chefs who know all about you before you walk in the door
Chef Eric Rivera started serving multi-course meals to two people at a time inside his home. He recently expanded with Addo, a combination of restaurant and incubator for unestablished chefs and bakers. Using Instagram, a ticketing system, and questionnaires, Rivera thinks he has some ideas on how young chefs can attract new customers.
Who needs Stitch Fix? Maison Me uses A.I. to custom design clothing just for you
A new Silicon Valley-based startup called Maison Me is deploying a new custom-designed clothing service that combines an A.I.-driven chatbot, hand-drawn sketches, video profiles, and smart manufacturing to produce design-to-order clothing that's cost competitive with standard retail outlets.
Alexa can now tell you the odds of the next big football game
Alexa can now answer questions about your favorite NFL teams and players, such as what team is favored to win the upcoming game or what player has racked up the most distance over the course of their career. According to staff, this is just the start of Alexa's planned sports knowledge.
Amazon creates a bigger toy box with its new Alexa Gadgets Toolkit
Amazon is building a bigger toy box with the release of its new Alexa Gadgets Toolkit, a collection of self-service programs and gadget interfaces that facilitate direct pairing and connectivity, communication, and over-the-air updates between interactive devices and their paired Echo device.
Armenian startup Bluenero is fishing for funds for a smart aquarium
A start up operating out of the Republic of Armenia has launched a successful Indiegogo campaign to design and manufacture a smart aquarium that will automatically feed fish, monitor water quality and water levels, and let customers look at their fish via an HD camera.
Samsung SmartThings Wi-Fi review
Collaboration with Plume ensures Samsung SmartThings Wi-Fi is quicker than its predecessor, but a lack of wired connectivity and fragmented controls means it’s not for everyone. Find out more in our review.
Amazon reportedly will introduce an Alexa-enabled microwave, amp, and more
Amazon's Fall 2018 Alexa device rollout is about to begin, according to informed sources. Look for an Alexa smart microwave, an amplifier, receiver, and subwoofer, and even an Alexa voice-responsive device for your car. Amazon isn't revealing details, but the company is maximizing its voice-command presence.
California passes bill that regulates security for Internet of Things devices
California recently became the first state in the country to pass a bill that regulates Internet of Things security. The bill requires manufacturers to include "reasonable security" measures on devices produced in the US. This bill is the first of its type on both a state or federal level.
Amazon Go, the checkout-free convenience store, opens in Chicago
Amazon's checkout-less convenience store, Amazon Go, is now open in Chicago. It's the first of the stores not located in the company's home city of Seattle. The stores feature a high-tech system that allows shoppers to simply "grab and go" without having to stop at a checkout.
The Alea Air can keep your air clean and adjust the temperature in every room
You probably don't give much thought to the air you're breathing, but you should. You consume it all day long, so it better be safe. Alea's Air, a smart vent system that uses sensor-filled vents and machine learning, will make sure that your air quality is superb in every room of your home.
Bonaverde Berlin brewing system review
The Bonaverde Berlin Brewing System lets you roast, grind, and brew coffee beans. But is the cup of Joe worth ditching your regular coffee maker?
LG’s new Styler takes the wrinkles out of your clothes without an iron
LG continues their bid to create the ultimate connected laundry room with the LG Styler, a device that steams and sanitizes clothing. Twenty-minute cycles freshen clothes and remove allergens. The Styler is available from most major retailers for $1,999.
Amazon wants Alexa to figure out how to fulfill users’ without help from Skills
There are more than 50,000 Alexa skills that allow Amazon's popular voice assistant to perform all sorts of tasks. Now, the company is planning on killing off those skills -- or at least the need to install them. Alexa will eventually be able to find skills that fit a person's request all on her own.
It’s Echo season. Our guesses on what Amazon could unveil
Over the past two years, Amazon has announced new Echo hardware in September. We have no idea if it's planning a similar announcement this year, but if so, here are our best guesses for what it will come up with. This list is a combination of evidence-based guesses and our wish list.
Dyson gives its 360 Heurist vacuum the ability to see in the dark
It's been three years since Dyson introduced the 360 Eye robot vacuum, but it's back and better than ever with a new update. The Dyson 360 Huerist vacuum has an upgraded processor that improves its performance and a new LED lighting system that allows it to better navigate in the dark.
Need shelter from Hurricane Florence? Airbnb hosts are offering free rooms
As Hurricane Florence threatens to crash down hard on the east coast of the United States, Airbnb hosts in safe regions are offering up free rooms to those fleeing the storm. There are more than 300 hosts from Pennsylvania to Alabama who are participating in the Airbnb Disaster Response Program.