Smart Home

Your Eufy Camera Might Be Uploading Unencrypted Pictures

The Anker-owned Eufy lineup of smart cameras is one of the few options available for people who would just rather have locally-stored data instead of putting everything on the cloud. Unfortunately, that cloud-free life might …

Arol Wright 3d ago

Can I Hook Up a Generator Directly to My House?

It might be tempting to hook a generator directly up to your home’s electrical system during a power outage, but there’s a right and wrong way to do it. And the wrong way can cause fires and even kill people, so it’s best to …

Jason Fitzpatrick 3d ago

Your Google Smart Speaker Is a Bluetooth Speaker, Too

There are a few different ways to play music, podcasts, and other audio on a Google Nest or other Assistant smart speaker. Bluetooth is the least-discoverable option, but it’s an excellent way to play audio from a phone, comp…

Corbin Davenport Nov 22nd

Which Smart Speaker Has the Best Audio Quality?

Despite their audio-focused nature, people rarely talk about the actual audio quality of Google Assistant, Amazon Echo, and Apple smart speakers. Which one should you get if you want the best-sounding audio experience?…

Joe Fedewa Nov 20th

The 25 Best Smart Home Gifts for 2022

If you’re shopping with the intent to expand a friend’s stable of smart home devices or bring a relative’s home into the 21st century, you can’t beat these gifts.

Jason Fitzpatrick Nov 18th

How Much Money Will Unplugging My TV and Accessories Save?

TV sets and all the various support devices and accessories can carry a surprising phantom load, adding to our electric bills even when we’re not using them. Here’s how much you can save by unplugging them….

Jason Fitzpatrick Nov 13th

These Smart Fitness Mirrors Can Beat Up Your Other Mirrors

Smart fitness mirrors are one of those products that imply you mean business when working out. It’s not like having an old exercise bike covered in a pile of laundry and cobwebs. They’re tall and narrow and it would be diffi…

Chason Gordon Nov 11th

4 Simple Ways to Combat Energy Vampires and Save Money

Nobody wants to spend money on wasted electricity. Here are some simple ways to cut back on the waste around your home and lower your electric bill.

Jason Fitzpatrick Nov 10th

Anker Just Made a Better AirTag Than Apple

Apple introduced the AirTag in 2021 as a small Bluetooth-powered tag for tracking items for $29. Anker has now introduced a tracker compatible with the same Apple “Find My” network, and it might just be better than Apple’s ow…

Corbin Davenport Nov 8th

Should You Turn Your Water Heater Off While On Vacation?

If you’re headed out of town for a while, you might be curious if you can turn off your water heater to save a little money. Here’s what to consider before you do.

Jason Fitzpatrick Nov 8th

Do You Really Want a Smart Mirror in Your Bathroom?

It’s safe to say that people who purchase smart mirrors generally like looking at themselves since they’re using a product that — because it has features — extends the amount of time you look in the mirror. Snow White proba…

Chason Gordon Nov 7th

What Temperature Should I Set My Water Heater At?

It’s tempting to set your water heater temperature back to save money, but before you do that, read this to ensure you’re getting optimum comfort and savings without risking your health.

Jason Fitzpatrick Nov 6th

How Much Money Does Upgrading to LED Christmas Lights Save?

If you’re considering upgrading to LED Christmas lights, you might be curious how much the change saves you. Here’s the difference between the two lighting types over the course of a holiday season.

Jason Fitzpatrick Nov 5th

How Smart Contact Lenses Could Make Grocery Shopping Way Less Forgetful

People probably wouldn’t forget something at the store if they taped a grocery list to their eyeballs, not that I’m recommending that. But a new prototype from smart contact lens maker Mojo would do something pretty similar….

Chason Gordon Nov 3rd

Eve Rolls Out Matter Support With Free Updates

If you have Eve products integrated into your smart home, good news. Eve is rolling out free updates to over a dozen products starting with these three popular models.

Jason Fitzpatrick Nov 3rd

Nanoleaf Announces Budget-Friendly Matter-Compatible Bulbs and Lightstrips

Great news for fans of economical smart home lighting excited about the new Matter smart home standard. Nanoleaf is adding Matter support to its Essentials line.

Jason Fitzpatrick Nov 3rd

You Can Use Power Tool Batteries on Your Dyson Stick Vacuum

Whether you’re tired of how little run time your Dyson stick vacuum has, or you’d prefer not to replace a worn-out battery with an expensive proprietary one, here’s a novel solution: use power tool batteries instead….

Jason Fitzpatrick Oct 30th

Try These Last Minute Halloween Smart Home and Tech Tricks

It’s almost trick-or-treat time, and your home’s spooky ambiance is, well, anything but. Here’s how to quickly turn the gear you have laying around—like your TV, smart speakers, and smart bulbs—into some almost instant Ha…

Jason Fitzpatrick Oct 30th

9 Alexa Tricks to Try This Halloween Season

If you’re one of the millions of people with an Echo speaker, Ring doorbell, or both, there are plenty of smarthome tricks for you to take for a spin this Halloween.

Jason Fitzpatrick Oct 29th

7 Google Home or Nest Tricks for Easy Halloween Fun

Don’t forget about your smart home when planning your Halloween decorations and activities. Your Google Home or Nest device has some Halloween tricks up its sleeve.

Jason Fitzpatrick Oct 28th

Serious About Lowering Your Electric Bill? You Need a Watt Meter

If rising energy prices have you wincing when it comes time to pay your electric bill, you might be interested in investigating how much power all the gadgets and appliances in your home use. For that, you need a watt meter….

Jason Fitzpatrick Oct 25th

Save Counter Space by Under-Mounting Your Smart Display

Love using your Nest Hub or Echo Show in the kitchen but hate losing counter space? Use one of these handy under-cabinet mounts to get it off your counters.

Jason Fitzpatrick Oct 23rd

Sorry, That Smart Dishwasher Won’t Unload Itself

Everyone has their own method for loading the dishwasher. Some people like to angle their dishes toward the center, some keep spoons separate to prevent them from hugging each other out of solidarity, and some (me) purposely …

Chason Gordon Oct 21st

9 Common Energy Vampires Running Up Your Electric Bill

Who wants to pay good money for electricity they’re not even getting any benefit from? Here are some common energy vampires to look for around your home.

Jason Fitzpatrick Oct 21st

Use These Smart Plugs, Strips, and Outlets to Save Money

You might be surprised to learn how much power various things around your home use when nobody is, well, using them. By plugging them into a smart plug or power strip, you save money (while saving yourself a hassle in the pro…

Jason Fitzpatrick Oct 18th

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