Three big names in technology – Amazon, Google, and Apple – now officially have smart home speakers available to purchase. Each speaker, at its core, has the same basic end goal: become a fully integrated part of the household. That being said, each brand is going about that end goal in a slightly different way. If you’re starting to research the Amazon Echo, Google Home, and Apple HomePod, here are a few of the more obvious differences to consider in your early stages: Available Models Each smart home speaker brand has its own line of products. The Amazon Echo is the most robust, while the Ap ..read more

While there may be no “right” time to do a smart house upgrade, there are definitely a few times in a homeowner’s life when they should consider adding that upgrade to their to-do list. Of course, there are plenty of smart home automation products that don’t require any major work and can be installed at any time, however, even those low maintenance products could benefit from being paired with some of the higher maintenance ones. Here are a few times when it makes sense to upgrade to a smart home, if you can fit it into your budget: Remodeling If you’re doing a remodel – big or small – you sh ..read more

Smart home technology is trendy these days, leaving many people wondering what it is and how it can fit into their lives. Here are five questions that you can ask yourself to help you determine your attitude toward smart home technology, and what your next steps should be. 1. Do you think investing in technology is a good use of your money? One thing you should know about smart home technology right off the bat is that it won’t be a one-time purchase. You’re either going to love it and want more, or you’ll eventually have to upgrade. It’s really no different than other technology in your home ..read more

For those that are looking to dip into the smart home craze, purchasing a digital smart home assistant is a great start. These devices can work independently, but work best when you pair them with other smart home devices that integrate for voice control. The two main products on the market right now are from Amazon and Google. Amazon offers the Echo – and its little sister, the Echo Dot – and Google offers its Home product. The two products are comparable; which one you choose really depends on which brand you are more loyal to and willing to integrate with. No matter which digital smart home ..read more

In a very short time, smart home technology has come a long way. Before technology advanced to the point it is at now, engineers were using what they had available to create products. Those products, back then, impressed us, and many of us still use them today. What has changed, though, is what impresses us today – we’re on a whole new level (even if we haven’t reached flying car status yet). Here’s a recap of then and now, the smart home technology that has impressed us through the years. Then: Self-Cleaning Ovens Now: Smart ovens that you control remotely. And that send you alerts about thin ..read more

With each new year comes a new set of resolutions. If you’re tired of watching your resolutions slide further and further away as the year goes on, consider get a smart partner – smart home technology that is. If this is the year that you’re finally, totally, 100% serious about your common resolution, here are some ways that smart home tech can help keep you on track for longer than the first three months of the year. Resolution: Be More Organized Smart Home Tech Partner: Smart Locks, Smart Home Assistant Part of being organized is having less things to try to remember yourself. If you start t ..read more

If you’re thinking about investing some of your hard-earned money into making your life more convenient with smart home technology, your first step is to do your research. Technology should never be an impulse buy. Here are three ways for you to research smart home technology before you make a purchase: Research Online If you’re reading this, you’re already off to a great start. Check out blogs, tech sites, video reviews, news coverage and anything else you can find online about smart home technology and the products that you are considering. Chance are that if you have a specific question abo ..read more

I recently saw a story about a smart lock startup that had made some financial decisions that resulted in the company locking up its doors – before it had even had a chance to ship its product and truly launch in the smart home space. Haven’t heard of Otto before? That’s not surprising; they were more in the luxury smart home space than they were in the mainstream smart home space, where you can find brands like August and Kevo. Touting that their product was something that you could mistake for an Apple product, the $700 product would have given users a few options to access their homes, incl ..read more

With an influx of new products and a spotlight during the holidays, smart home products are having a moment. As with any new product category, there are a lot of questions surrounding this technology for its newest users. There are so many applications for smart home automation that it is worth doing the research. There are products that work for the general population, products that work best for a segment of the population, and ways for almost anyone to use them, from parents to pet owners and from the elderly to those with specific needs. For those that are new to smart home products, here ..read more

Need a gym or general fitness atmosphere by loathe going to the actual gym? Hate feeling like you’re working out when you’re working out? More interested in anything when it has to do with technology? The answer might be to use a virtual reality set at home for your fitness. Virtual headset have hit mainstream in a big way, and consumers can finally get their hands on this technology for all their gaming and entertainment needs. Using virtual reality for fitness is a nice combination of gaming and entertainment that helps those that are easily bored break out of the monotony of traditional wor ..read more