Erika Prafder
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Erika Prafder is Digital Trends’ Home contributor. She is a veteran writer, with over fifteen years of experience covering home, parenting, health and education topics for The New York Post, as well as producing gift and product guides for this news outlet and others. A time-pressed, working mother of three, she enjoys reporting on home tech products that simplify and enhance life at home. A resident of East Atlantic Beach, New York, Prafder blogs on parenting topics at prafderparenting.blogspot.com
Want to keep your smart lock secret? Friday has an inconspicuous solution
This smart lock is sleek and futuristic, allowing users wireless, keyless entry in to their homes.
Light tunes up: Zedcon’s strip of LED lights sync with your music
Connected through your smart phone, Zedcon's small, yet functional controller can alter alter individual bulbs in its digital LED strips to any of 16 million color options, leaving others in the same band unchanged.
Dim, baby! Amazon Echo can now control smart lights and switches
Amazon's Echo, a voice-recognition speaker, can now control smart-home devices with the power of speech. Turn on your Philips Hue lights or activate whatever's plugged in to your WeMo Switch.
This electricity-free fridge could help reduce the world’s food spoilage
A new refrigeration device is powered by sun and water, helping to reduce the world food spoilage problem.
Countertop smartens up the appliances and wearables you already own
Orange Chef's Countertop is a smart kitchen scale that syncs with your Vitamix and Crock-Pot through adaptors, turning these appliances smart. The scale gives detailed nutritional information and suggests recipes, too.
Like Uber for dumpster rental, Thumbster makes spring cleaning a snap
Available now for Android and iOS devices, Thumbster is basically like Uber for waste removal. Just download the app, choose the size of dumpster you need, and pick the date you'd like it to arrive
Oh, boil. Appkettle brings your water to the perfect temp, right on time
This smart tea kettle is app-enabled from your smart device. Control temperature, volume, and brew time from your phone.
Marriage material? This dating expert analyzes suitors based on their fridges
An online refrigerator dating site can analyze potential suitors by the contents of your fridge.
Grill anywhere: Soft silicone sides let this BBQ fold down to fit in a backpack
This portable BBQ folds in to your backpack. It's high-tech heat resistant fabric seals in heat while cooling down externally to the touch.
Light up your space and mood with new portable, LED accent piece
Philips Lighting unveiled Hue Go, a portable LED lighting device that changes colors on demand from your smart phone or manually.
Nearly out of beans? Your coffee maker will soon order you more, thanks to Amazon
Amazon.com announced a new Dash Replenishment Service that digital reorders household supplies.
Who’s cooking tonight? New survey shows how Americans’ habits rank worldwide
A new survey reveals home cooking preferences within 22 counties. The findings will be of interest to home and kitchen appliance manufacturers.
You can plug your USB cable right into this outlet, no adaptor needed
This coverplate charger makes juicing up a snap. SnapPower is a built-in smart device charger/outlet all in one.
Brilliant! New graphene bulb lights the way for more durable and energy-saving future
A new, more energy efficient and cheaper to produce lightbulb source using graphene material will soon be commercially available.
Telling the time is just the beginning for this wall-projecting smart clock
This smart, customizable clock can tell the time, weather and synch to your smartphone device.
Getting hot in here? Dyson’s fan heater spreads its cool factor around
Dyson's new fan heater uses patented technology to switch from personal to room control
Test drive your dream home: Appliance retailer lets you try before you buy
A new-concept appliance retailer lets consumers try before they buy.
$100? $150? $200? This site tells you how much to rent your Airbnb property for
BeyondPricing uses proprietary software system to analyze rental market and provide data-based information on listing prices.
No rain gear left behind: This umbrella sends an alert when you forget it
This smart umbrella won't hang you out to dry. The app-enabled rain gear alerts you when you've left it behind.
Expert online meal planning with health and budgets in mind
A new expert meal planning service from online grocer RelayFoods.com aids in healthy, budget-friendly food prep and purchase
Get floored with new portable interactive projector for kids
Kids will have a ball with Lumo, the interactive game projector.
How does your garden glow? Solar-powered lights illuminate your landscape in color
A solar-powered, smart lighting system can illuminate your yard in full color using a Bluetooth enabled app
K-Cups’ serving size too small? Keurig introduces pods that will fill up your mug
Keurig has introduced new coffee pods for on-the-go consumers. The new product is compatible with the company's 2.0 brewing system.
What’s cooking in the kitchen? Check on Jenn-Air’s smart oven from the living room
A new smart wall oven allows for dinner at your fingertips. Jenn-Air's wireless, new dual convection appliance gives home cooks a break with automation features.
Want a smart home without a big investment? This $30 smart outlet might be for you
This Smart Outlet allows users to control home appliances from their smart device. A proximity sensor ensures energy efficiency when you're not using room. Schedule routine appliance tasks in advance.
Turn up the heat and other home management tasks with new smart thermostat
Trane's new smart thermostat serves as automation hub of your home. The system can power lights, doors, heating and cooling systems from inside or remotely.
Door’s open! WiFi video doorbell also opens or locks up your abode from anywhere
A new WiFi video doorbell from Blueguard also allows homeowners to gain entry and close up their home from a smart device.
How to test your Lumber Liquidators floors for formaldehyde
Lumber Liquidators is sending thousands of formaldehyde test kits to concerned consumers after the airing of a 60 Minutes episode.
Keep your filthy hands off the controls with this foot-activated sink
Smart Water digitizes water temperature and volume control in the bath or kitchen. The new technology from Dornbracht remembers pre-set settings and saves energy.
Dance party in the house: A new app syncs your color-changing lights with music
Light DJ Pro creates a dance floor in your living room. App-enabled technology allows users to customize light colors, patterns and tempo from smart device.
Did you forget to water your plants? This smart watering can will remind you
Smart watering can reminds you to hydrate green life. Built-in app references data on plant care, detects external temperature and adjusts watering schedule accordingly.
Filter this! This coffee system offers cold brew on the go
BodyBrew's Bod coffee system is a cold-brew maker with portable elements, so you can grab a less acidic cup of coffee on the go. The only catch? The process takes between 12 and 24 hours.
Watch what you eat: New Electrolux oven has a cam to capture culinary conquests
With new smart oven, Electrolux stakes claim in connected home appliance market
6 cool home gadgets from the International Home + Housewares Show
The International Home + Housewares Show is a great venue for finding awesome gadgets that you'll definitely want to remember in December.