Skip to main content

The whole package? Tiny device promises to be smart home hub, router, and more

router smart home hub cloud storage can one device rule nuzii header
The connected home began in fits and starts. There were smart thermostats with Nest, connected light bulbs, and Wi-Fi-enabled smoke alarms. For a while, all these devices were operating independently, but hubs such as Wink promised to unify smart homes. Now comes NUZii, which dubs itself “the world’s first smart-life hub.”

NUZii can get all your smart devices talking, but the hub wants to be your one-stop shop for everything: cloud storage device, music player, security system, and router. Soap also offers a hub-as-router but with not quite as many features.

“We’ve seen an influx of connected devices that all do amazing things, but they all function independently,” said creator Simon Watfa. “We’ve created a product that will harness the power of these smart devices and allow users to control them from one central location.”

NUZii’s list of features is impressive: HD webcam, temperature and humidity sensors, motion detection, malware protection, and encrypted cloud storage. Everything is controlled through NUZii’s app, sending users alerts and updates as conditions inside their home change.

Though it starts of smart, NUZii promises to get smarter, learning your favorite music and temperature preferences. It connects to your phone and can start playing Taylor Swift as soon as you walk through the door — provided you’re not trying to stream her songs.

The device is pretty small, too; check out the video above to see the four-inch-tall hub fit in a pocket. It’s definitely an advantage over other hubs.

Right now, NUZii is crowdfunidng on Kickstarter. The early bird price starts at $75; the device will retail for $130. That’s cheaper than something like Piper, which is designed solely as a security system, but it remains to be seen whether NUZii is a jack of all trades and master of none.

Jenny McGrath
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jenny McGrath is a senior writer at Digital Trends covering the intersection of tech and the arts and the environment. Before…
Your Google smart home devices just got a lot less talkative
A person standing in a living room while looking at a Google device.

Smart assistants are an indispensable part of any smart home, making it easy to give hands-free commands and control a variety of gadgets. Google is looking to further streamline the performance of its smart assistant, with the expansion of chime alerts to cut down on how talkative your Google Nest gadgets are when responding to instructions.

For example, after asking Google to turn on a fan, you’ll now be able to hear a quick chime to confirm the assistant has heard your instructions. Previously, confirmation would come in the form of a short sentence, such as “OK, turning on your fan.”

Read more
Google partners with ADT to launch new smart home security system
Google and ADT collaboration.

Google has partnered with ADT to bring its lineup of smart home gadgets to a new DIY home security system -- ADT Self Setup. The unique package allows you to choose from a variety of Google devices to add to your home, all of which offer full support for the new ADT+ smartphone app.

The goal of the collaboration is to offer the customer service and security of ADT with the premium products developed by Google. The ADT Self Setup system can be modified to include the Nest Cam, Nest Thermostat, Nest Mini, Nest Hub Max, Nest Doorbell, and several first-party ADT products like the ADT Motion Sensor and ADT Smart Home Hub.

Read more
How to factory reset your Google Nest Hub
The Google Nest Hub Smart Display on a nightstand.

Factory resetting your Google Nest Hub isn’t something you’ll do very often. In fact, most people will probably never encounter a reason to reset their Nest Hub. But if you’re running into trouble with your device or are preparing to sell it, then you’ll be glad to know Google gives you a simple way to carry out the task.

Here’s a breakdown of how to factory reset a Google Nest Hub, along with a few reasons you may need to do so.

Read more