Category: Smart Home

Lots of homeowners are investing in modern technologies like smart assistants (such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home), smart speakers, and internet-connected security cameras. And while all this technology makes life easier at home, it also raises concerns as more people worry about things like getting hacked, being spied on, and having their identity stolen. We surveyed hundreds of Americans across the country to get a sense for how much people trust the new-age technology filling their homes, and what kind of concerns these modern gadgets raise as far as privacy and personal security.

Smart thermostats provide a huge convenience: many models allow you to create a heating and cooling schedule. Others can actually learn your preferences, like whether you sleep hot and prefer your home at a cool 68 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Smart home thermostats also help save you money on heating and cooling costs.

See which home automation systems we think belong in your home in 2019, and learn why we thought Amazon Echo was the best in our in-depth review.

Smart lights come with a wide range of features that can simplify your life at home. Find out which smart lights we recommend.

Controlling your home with voice commands is an exciting part of home automation, and the Apple HomePod allows Apple users to do just that. The Apple HomePod is a powerful speaker that provides an immersive sound experience, regardless of where it’s placed in your home. It integrates seamlessly with your Apple HomeKit system and because it is Siri-enabled, you can ask Siri to play music, turn on lights, lock the door, and more—provided you have the smart devices to respond to those commands…

When I first got my Google Home, I was so excited that I could control my home with simple voice commands a la Tony Stark. It was like stepping into the future. But then I realized I couldn’t control my lights, change my thermostat settings, or take advantage of the other home automation conveniences that Google Home provides without first getting some smart home gadgets to connect it to. With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of the best smart products that work with Google Home so you can take control of your home…

You don’t have to choose between Zigbee and Z-Wave. Philips Hue and August both work with Alexa and Google, so if you’ve got an Amazon Echo device or a Google Home you don’t really have to worry about which protocol your devices use.

Want to make your house smarter? Smart outlets offer some of the best and easiest ways to begin automating your home. See our top picks from Wemo and TP-Link.

The CUJO Smart Firewall is an undeniably adorable piece of hardware designed to improve your in-home online security. As I’ve equipped my home with more internet-connected technologies like a smart thermostat, smart TV, and a few modern gaming consoles, I’ve also been wondering how I can protect these devices that traditional firewalls cannot…

Caséta Wireless by Lutron is an easy, DIY lighting system that supports up to 50 devices. Read our review to find out if it is a good system for your home.