The tug of war between design and performance is no more pronounced than in the world of high-performance audio. However, the stereotype of the stereo—a set of oversized black boxes and nest of boa-constrictor cables, is only a stereotype, at least when implemented by a design-minded dealer and installer. Dave Lalin, owner of the high-end […]
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Automated Lighting Gets Friendly
Home systems integrators are awesome. They really are. They’re masters at designing and installing complex electronic systems into homes that mesh perfectly with you and your family’s schedule, routines, and lifestyle. But as with anything you purchase for your home, there’s bound to be a breaking-in period, when you learn to use the system—and possibly […]
Get the Guide8 Top Products for Your Smart Home
House of Marley Wireless Speakers Apparently, House of Marley wants to be jammin’ with the audiophile crowd. The company recently released One Foundation wireless speakers. This high-end option is obviously designed for discerning listeners—at least the ones with $1,000 to burn on a wireless Bluetooth speaker. However, this isn’t just some ordinary Bluetooth speaker. It’s […]
Get the GuideInsteon Packs All Sorts of DIY Home Automation into Connected Kit
The DIY home automation solution includes everything you need to smarten up your home.
There are a variety of DIY home automation products that are designed to put you on the path to a much smarter home. Some offer security features, while others are basically just some type of dongle that can sneak a little control into everyday appliances. Insteon offers a really scalable solution, with an endless amount […]
Get the GuideHome Automation Creeps into Mainstream
A YEAR AGO is when it started, with a splurge on a wireless speaker system for our newly purchased home. Then a few months later, it was a web-enabled, tiny portable security camera—a product which, much to my annoyance, allowed my husband to access it remotely and talk to me through it. At this point, […]
Get the GuideChamberlain Puts WiFi into DIY Home Automation Garage Door Opener
The latest DIY home automation gadget will soon support Apple HomeKit and Siri voice commands.
The latest DIY home automation gadget will soon support Apple HomeKit and Siri voice commands.
Get the GuideA Pound of Ham and a Home Automation System
When Insteon, the Irvine, Calif.-based developer of hundreds of automation and control products, announced recently that it would be selling many of its smart home devices at Meijer, I couldn’t help but think about deli meat. At the time, I needed a pound of shaved honey ham to make sandwiches for my kids’ school lunches. Oh, and we were also almost out of coffee. Then there were the track spikes my son needed for his running shoes and a birthday card for my brother. Meijer, which moved into my neck of the woods a few years ago, has become a convenient spot to pick up miscellaneous items, including groceries, on the fly.
Get the GuideYour First Home Automation Project: Where Do You Start?
Your first home automation project should be something that solves practical problems or automated common daily tasks; or it could just be something fun.
By now you’ve probably read about many of the new smart home automation products on the market, seen some impressive new gadgets and heard that the Internet of Things is taking over the home. So you’re ready to begin your first home automation project. Where do you start? Visiting or talking to a local CE […]
Get the GuideKichler Lighting Puts Control on Any Wall with Z-Wave Dimmer Switch
Wireless technology and this switch make accessing your Kichler Lighting easier than ever before.
Wireless technology and this switch make accessing your Kichler Lighting easier than ever before.
Get the GuideQuirky Ascend Smartens Up Garage Door with DIY Home Automation
This DIY home automation device can be used with almost any existing garage door.
This DIY home automation device can be used with almost any existing garage door.
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