There have been many times during my career as a home technology journalist that I wished that some of the items in my home were just a tad smarter. Take my patio umbrella. When it’s open, any change of wind speed and direction can lift it out of its base and toss it across the […]
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Optoma UHD51A 4K Projector Controllable by Amazon Alexa
One of the first Amazon Alexa-controlled projectors, the Optoma UHD51A delivers 4K home theater images at $1,699.
Combining two of the hottest technologies in consumer electronics, the affordable $1,699 Optoma UHD51A projector offers 4K images and Amazon Alexa voice command capabilities. Related: See a Star Wars 4K Home Theater Through the projector’s companion SmartProjection for Smart Home skill, a fully voice-controlled home theater room that includes audio, projection screens, lighting and video can be set up. “Optoma’s leadership in the […]
Should Smart Home Devices Talk to Your Insurance Company?
The majority of homeowners like the idea, here are some smart home devices that can do the job.
Parks Associates research indicates that almost 60 percent of U.S. broadband households with insurance are likely to buy smart home devices with detection/prevention features and nearly 50 percent of U.S. broadband households with insurance are interested in having loss detection/prevention devices that communicate directly with their insurance company. “Twenty to thirty percent of U.S. broadband households […]
Netgear Debuts Mesh Router with Built-in Cable Modem
One box from Netgear delivers mesh Wi-Fi and cable service; potential money saver.
When you’re trying to save space and money, one box is always better than two. Netgear is following through with this philosophy with the introduction of its Orbi Tri-Band WiFi Cable Modem Router System(CBK40). From this one box, you get a mesh Wi-Fi router and a cable modem. With the 2-in-1 Orbi Tri-Band WiFi Cable […]
Polk Smart Speaker Features Google Assistant, Chromecast
$199 Polk Assist smart speaker can be controlled by voice through Google Assistant and stream music through Chromecast.
Smart speakers are widely available from a variety of manufacturers; so are speakers that can playback streaming content. Polk Audio has combined the two features in one device, delivering voice control and whole-house music streaming. Related: Top Reasons People Use Smart Speakers Bringing 45 years of audio engineering to the smart-speaker category, the new $199 Polk Assist […]
Amazon Alexa Now Unlocks Your Front Door
The newest feature enabled by Amazon Alexa is unlocking the door via voice command.
When Amazon Alexa and other voice assistants hit the market hard a few years ago, one of the first features that popped into my head was using your voice to unlock a smart door lock. I thought this was a REALLY bad idea, a HUGE security risk. It seems, though, that commanding smart door locks […]
Smart Upgrades for Your Bathroom Shower
Think beyond mirror TVs and dimmable lighting for the master bath; customizable shower systems offer another stream of revenue.
The master bathroom has transformed from a utilitarian space into a luxurious spa-like retreat. As homeowners spend more time relaxing in and more money on improving their bathrooms, amenities like mirror TVs, colored, dimmable lighting and built-in speakers have become must-have items. But there’s an area you might be missing in your plan of attack: […]
Home Lighting Trends: Smarter, Stylish, and Sun-Kissed
Home lighting is looking brighter than ever as fixtures and bulbs learn your habits, track the sun and regulate your circadian rhythm.
Home lighting is one of the most dynamic elements of a smart home. Over the past several years, it’s undergone some major improvements. Energy-efficient LED bulbs all but wiped out their incandescent predecessors. The operating systems of whole-house lighting solutions went from that of a closed architecture to an open platform to enable cross-communication with […]
8 Reasons Why Chromecast Products Are Worth Installing
Chromecast with Google Home voice control is gaining ground as a great streaming music option to AirPlay, Bluetooth, and Play-Fi.
By Dan Allen Today, 10 percent of U.S. homes with Internet service have a voice-controlled speaker (like Amazon Alexa, Google Home or Apple HomePod). Just one year ago, that number was 3 percent. According to a report from Juniper Research, smart devices like the Google Home will be installed in 55 percent of U.S. households by the year 2022. Over […]
Nokia Sleep Tracker Automates Your Home
Sleep trackers have been around for some time, and they all do pretty much the same thing: monitor quality of your sleep by measuring sleep interruptions and REM phases. At the Consumer Electronic Show 2018, Nokia brought something new to the table. Its Wi-Fi enabled Nokia Sleep Sensor and companion Health Mate App (iOS and […]
