Category: Smart Home

Being the leaders in smart speaker technology, we lay out the pros and cons of both Google Home and Amazon Echo, and decide which one is best for your home.

IFTTT—If This, Then That—is a free web-based service that helps your apps and smart devices communicate with each other. IFTTT uses applets to define triggers (if this) to execute an action (then that). For example, if your phone senses you’re back in your home, then your Nest Cam will stop recording.

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.

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.

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

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.

When I was a kid, a whole-house intercom system was something that only existed in my most elaborate fantasies. I dreamed of the day that I’d no longer have to scream, “Dinner’s ready!” up the stairs to my siblings, but instead simply push a button to accomplish my assigned task.

My childhood fantasies aside, whole-house intercom systems can be a great help to multiple types of households. People who have limited mobility, for example, can use voice-activated intercoms to easily communicate with a family member in another room.

Curious about how home automation makes it possible to control your lights, doors, and heating from your phone? Learn about the many benefits of home automation.