The new SmartThings Wifi from Samsung is a wireless mesh networking system with a full-fledged SmartThings home-automation hub built in. So while it controls smart-home devices via ZigBee, Z-Wave, IP and Bluetooth, it also extends Wi-Fi signals around the house with Plume AI technology. Plume, which sells its own Wi-Fi mesh networking products called Pods […]
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Home security, home automation, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are three facets of home technology that go great together. The classic example of security and automation in synch: When security sensor trips lights automatically flash. When that security system connects to the Internet, or is IoT-enabled, you can be alerted of the situation on […]
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It’s an age-old problem: One part of the house is warm and comfortable while other areas feel like an icebox. In homes with multiple levels, that one thermostat on the main floor is only able to monitor the temperature of that area. The temperature of the upper level, consequently, has no relevance on how the […]
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One of the best ways to deter burglars and vandals is to make your house seem occupied and active. But how do you accomplish this while you’re away on vacation, short of hiring a house sitter? A new device from Mitipi promises to give your vacant home a dose of domestic reality. It can make […]
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At least 13 people died as the result of a devastating fire in a Bronx apartment building last week. Could simple IoT (Internet of Things) devices prevent such disasters in the future, or at least slow the spread of flames and reduce casualties? During CES 2018, it makes sense to explore some new smart-home solutions […]
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For the past few years, tunable white lighting has been all the rage in the commercial lighting industry, but the category is only now appearing in smart homes. White LED lights come in a variety of color temperatures, ranging from reddish (warm) to bluish (cool). The tint of the light can affect your moods and […]
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Ring, the popular maker of video doorbells, has completely undermined the traditional security-monitoring business with its new Ring Protect DIY security and home automation system. The hub, featuring ZigBee, Z-Wave, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, on-board siren, 24-hour battery back-up and cellular radio, is cheap to begin with. A starter kit costs $199 for the Ring Protect Base […]
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Nest had a big press conference in San Francisco on Sept. 20, which I skipped because I figured it would be another thermostat or camera. Well, there was a camera, but the big announcements were the new Hello video doorbell and more importantly the Nest Secure security and home automation system with optional monitoring by […]
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Origin Acoustics’ new Valet audio amplifier, which debuted last week in San Diego at the Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) Expo, is all kinds of WOW. It takes a bunch of inexpensive Amazon Echo Dots and turns them into elegant sources for a premium whole-house music experience. The solution is unique. There’s nothing […]
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Satellite dishes are ugly, they can be perilous to install and maintain, and they can easily lose alignment with the slightest of wobbles. For these reasons, you might want to install one in the attic, but it needs a clear view to the bird in the sky. Enter Hauk Technology, exhibiting an innovative new system […]
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