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Smart Home Features

7 places where air quality sensors are most effective at home

Airborne pollutants are a fact of life but many harmful types can seep their way into our homes. Here's how an air quality monitor can help.
Roborock S7 robot vacuum cleaning a rug on a hardwood floor.

Which robot vacuum should you buy on Prime Day?

Robot vacuums are so handy when it comes to saving us time, and with Amazon Prime Day, you certainly can expect deals on popular models.
swann digital ecosystem provides powerful home security tools smart camera

7 things you didn’t know security cameras could do

Security cameras keep an eye on your home and property, but they can also see in the dark, recognize visitors, and much more.
your package handler doesnt care about smart delivery box yale phase 5

Your package handler doesn’t care about your high-tech smart delivery box

A delivery box powered by a smart lock only helps if your package handlers actually use it. I found that out the hard way.
Ring Smart Spotlight

Amazon Sidewalk is coming soon. Here’s how it will improve smart home devices

Launching on June 8, Amazon Sidewalk promises an expanded Wi-Fi network for you, your devices, and your community. Here's what to expect from the new service.
iRobot Roomba 692 Robot Vacuum.

7 things you didn’t know robot vacuums could do

Robot vacuums can keep your floors clean, but they can also keep an eye on your home, empty themselves, and much more.
Google Pixel 5

Everything Google didn’t announce at Google I/O 2021

A lot was announced at Google I/O 2021, but a lot wasn't. Here's what wasn't announced, but might show up in the next few months.
Sundar Pichai Google I/O 2021

Google I/O 2021: All of the biggest announcements

Google I/O is back as a virtual event, and it's packed full of amazing new products and updates.
Sundar Pichai Google I/O 2021

Smart Home at Google I/O 2021: Everything new

Google announced a handful of new smart home innovations at the return of the company's annual I/O event. Here's a breakdown of the latest innovations.
Google & Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai

Google I/O 2021: How to watch the keynote today

The Google I/O 2021 keynote is coming up quickly. Here's what to expect and how to watch it.
Homepod Mini Lifestyle Shot.

7 things you didn’t know the Apple HomePod Mini could do

The Apple HomePod Mini sounds great, but is capable of doing a lot more than people realize.
August Wi-Fi lock being installed.

7 things you didn’t know a smart lock could do

More than your typical lock-and-key assembly, today's smart locks can do everything from automated locking to video monitoring. Read on for more lock secrets.
The Ring Video Doorbell 3 installed near a door.

7 things you didn’t know a video doorbell could do

Video doorbells let you see who is at your door and serve as a line of defense against package theft, but they can do a lot more than that.
EZVIZ C6W

Here’s the real difference between HDR and non-HDR footage in security cameras

Does it really matter if our home security cameras are HDR-capable? Allow us to weigh in on the subject.
The Google Nest Hub on a table.

7 things you didn’t know your Google Nest Hub smart display could do

Your Google Nest Hub smart display has a lot of lesser-known features that you should take advantage of.
Wyze Cam microSD update

Using your security camera’s local storage? Here’s how much space you’ll need

Your security camera footage will require different amounts of space depending on its compression algorithm, frame rate, resolution, and more.
Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) side.

7 things you didn’t know your Amazon Alexa smart display could do

Your Alexa-powered smart display has a lot of features you might not know about, like the ability to make restaurant reservations.
Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen) with Clock on table.

7 things you didn’t know Alexa could do on an Amazon Echo smart speaker

Your Amazon Alexa smart speaker is jam-packed with features, many of which are lesser-known but incredibly useful.
nest-audio-lowes-listing

5 things you didn’t know your Google Assistant smart speaker could do

Google Assistant smart speakers have a lot of features you might not know about, like the ability to listen for breaking glass.
Rise garden is like a living sofa table

I didn’t think I could grow veggies at home, but a smart garden showed me how

Rise gardens is an indoor hydroponic garden with Wi-Fi and built-in LED lights that lets you grow anything, anywhere.
LIFX Mini Color bulb installed in ceiling

Weather alerts may be the smartest use of smart lights. They can save your life

Tie the National Weather Service RSS feed to your smart lights for a visual weather alert system.
The SimpliSafe SimpliCam on a table.

Why privacy shutters on security cameras make all the difference

Privacy shutters provide assurance that your camera is not watching you, but not all privacy shutters are created equal. Some types have clear advantages.
Hex Home Wi-Fi Motion Sensor

Hex Home gives us a glimpse of how Wi-Fi is used for motion detection

Security cameras can be invasive inside of the home, which is why Home Hex offers an intriguing alternative with motion detection through Wi-Fi.
Wyze Cam microSD update

Here’s why it’s beneficial to use local storage with your security camera

Local storage offers benefits that cloud storage does not, including lower cost, better data security, and the potential for better-quality video recordings.
The Coway Airmega purifier.

Should you continue to buy air purifiers to protect you from the coronavirus?

The coronavirus (COVID-19) is still a global health concern, even with a vaccine. Should you still continue to buy air purifiers for protection?
Apple HomePod mini in hand

You shouldn’t be shocked that the HomePod Mini has a hidden sensor

The Apple HomePod Mini was recently discovered to have a temperature and humidity sensor. It might shock you, but hidden sensors are more common than you think.
Guardline Driveway Alarm

Secure your property with this top-rated driveway alarm from Amazon

Secure your home, garage, and property with the easy to set up Guardline Wireless Driveway Alarm Kit from Amazon.
Roborock S7 robot vacuum and mop cleaning carpet.

New Roborock S7 Robot Vacuum is coming to Amazon this month

The Roborock S7 robot vacuum is a top-of-the-line mopping-vacuum hybrid and goes on sale at Amazon this month.
Xandar Kardian Radar Technology

Google Nest Hub teases radar tech as the future of smart home privacy

Radar tech can measure the number of occupants in a space with more accuracy than motion sensors and has the potential to be the future of the smart home.
walmart slashes prices on all original google nest home devices hub 2

Everything we know about the next Google Nest Hub

Here is everything we know about the rumored new Google Nest Hub smart display, including potential features, price, and release window.
Roomba on floor with dog.

Are robot mops safe when children and pets are present?

Robot mops are convenient, but do they leave behind harmful chemicals that might put children and pets at risk?
5G mobile network

5G’s arrival has great implications for the smart home’s growth

The speed and low latency of 5G networks holds a lot of potential for improving smart home devices and giving users better control overall.
new irobot roomba 694 robot vacuum roomba694 cleaning living room

The new iRobot Roomba 694 is the robot vacuum you want to buy in 2021

The new iRobot Roomba 694 is an affordable entry-level robot vacuum and it ships for free!

Are your kids choosing video games over homework? Smart home tech can help

Video games are big distractions with remote learning, so here are some way smart home tech can help to make sure they're doing homework.